ITV has confirmed the fate of hit drama The Bay after series four’s cliffhanger ending aired in April, so will there be a new series of the drama?
Many fans were hoping The Bay would return for series 5 as DI Tony Manning was told his team might be entirely cut due to budget troubles after the end of the most recent series. Here’s what we know about the future of the Daragh Carville drama…
***WARNING: Spoilers for the series 4 finale of The Bay ahead***
ITV confirms The Bay will return for series 5
It’s good news for fans of The Bay as ITV confirmed the drama will return for series 5. A spokesperson for ITV said: “We’re delighted to be returning to Morecambe for another series of The Bay. The series is a huge success story for ITV and we’re grateful to Catherine Oldfield, Daragh Carville and the team at Tall Story Pictures for continuing to create compelling stories and characters.”
It seems that DI Tony Manning finds a way to fight for the Morecambe MIU as the team takes on a new case. The fifth series will focus on the “emotionally complex” life of a divided family. Jenn Townsend and the team are forced to tread carefully with the father and the mother of a victim who are bitterly divorced. As they try to solve the case, they have to keep the whole family onside.
We’re delighted to be returning to Morecambe for another series of The Bay.
Executive Producer Catherine Oldfield added: “Daragh and I couldn’t be happier to be heading back to Morecambe with Marsha and the team for another case. We love making the show and so we’re delighted to be producing another series for ITV and viewers at home and abroad.”
ITV confirmed that filming will begin on the series later this year. Further casting will also be announced in due course. Series regulars Marsha Thomason, Daniel Ryan, Erin Shanagher, Andrew Dowbiggin and Thomas Law are expected to return.
What happened in series 4?
The fourth series saw DS Jenn Townsend (Marsha Thomason) support a family after their mother, Beth Metcalf, was lost in a devastating house fire. As Jenn’s colleagues realised the fire was an arson attack, all sorts of theories were made about who did it.
While suspicion initially fell on Beth’s husband, Dean, it was eventually revealed that Morecambe local Terry McGregor’s stepson Lewis burned the house down. Terry previously had drama with Dean over a business contract, and Lewis burned down the house to prove what “he was made of” to his step-father, ultimately killing Beth Metcalf.
Elsewhere in series 4, DI Tony Manning was told he’d have to make cuts to his team. The decision was left on a cliffhanger. Tony made it clear he would not make cuts to the team. The possibility of the department shutting down was left hanging in the air.
Marsha Thomason previously shut down speculation about the end of the show
Digital Spy asked Marsha Thomason if this was a hint at the ending of the show. But she explained: “Listen, do you think they’re trying to end the show? No. They want these shows to go on as long as possible. That’s just more about the state of policing, all the cutbacks all the time. That’s what that’s about.”
Series 5 could potentially explore the future of the department, as the team attempts to carry on as normal. And could all the talk of cutbacks also potentially foreshadow the exit of some of the cast members?
Watch this space for further updates on series 5 and the return date for the new series of the drama.
Read more: Unforgotten will return for series 6, ITV confirms, as it shares update about show’s future
So, are you excited for series 5? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think.