While we knew that The Bay had been renewed for its sixth season, ITV have now announced that filming on the new episodes is officially underway. Along with the happy news, it’s also been revealed just who will be returning for the sixth instalment – and it could give us a window into some of the storylines to come.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a season of The Bay without our lead and so, Marsha Thomason (Cobra) is back as Morecambe MIU’s Family Liaison Officer, DS Jenn Townsend. Although Tony was facing an overstretched staff last season and we last saw him taking some indefinite time off from the job, it’s been confirmed that Daniel Ryan will be reprising his role as DI Anthony ‘Tony’ Manning.
Andrew Dowbiggin (Coronation Street) will also be returning as DS James ‘Clarkie’ Clarke while the show’s more recent addition of Olwen May will similarly be reprising her role as DC Louise ‘Lou’ McClaren.
Suzanne Packer (Casualty) shall also be returning as Jenn’s mum, Anne Townsend, who we saw Jenn having some major issues with last season after the death of her father.
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Other returning cast members also include Tara Lynne O’Neill (The Full Monty) as Tony’s partner Sinead and Jacob Butler (Coronation Street) as Kieran, Manning’s son.
The synopsis for the new season reads: “Morecambe’s Major Investigation Unit is back to investigate the murder of teenage foster child, Logan Marsden. As the case unfolds, divisions in the local community add further strain to the case, and suspicion shifts from people closest to him to figures linked to a criminal operation in the area – revealing hidden dangers and unexpected connections.
“Away from the case, Jenn and Manning are dealing with personal challenges at home, testing their resilience and professionalism as they fight to get answers for Logan and his family.”
One notable omission on the cast list thus far is that of Jenn’s partner Chris, who is played by Barry Sloane. The deputy headteacher and Jenn had blended their families and were living together, with the last season underlining some strains in their relationship as Chris started to seek support elsewhere with one of the teachers at his school.
Nevertheless, Jenn and Chris weathered that storm – on top of their mounting loads of work – but it seems as though season 6 could potentially signal the end of that relationship. With Georgia Scholes not being listed as returning as Chris’s daughter Erin Fischer either, could Chris and Jenn’s happy family life have drawn to a close?
That could very well be the “personal challenges” suggested in the series synopsis but we’ll just have to wait and see. Seeing as Sloane has more recently starred in BBC’s The Cage and is set to feature in the new season of House of the Dragon, it very well may be a case of the fact that the actor’s schedule just couldn’t align for this season of The Bay.
Another cast member that doesn’t look to be returning is Erin Shanagher, who starred as DS Karen Hobson. Last season, we saw Karen at the centre of a gross misconduct investigation and suspended.
When Tony asked if he should have a word with their superintendent, she did say she didn’t know whether her heart was in her policing job anymore so it looks as though Karen could’ve very well left the force.
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As for new faces joining The Bay, it’s been confirmed that Claire Calbraith (Mr Bates vs the Post Office) and Alec Newman (Dept. Q) will be joining as Rebecca and Joe Hollis, Logan’s foster parents.
On the announcement of the start of filming season 6, series writer and executive producer Daragh Carville said: “It’s an honour and a pleasure to return to Morecambe for series 6 of The Bay.
“Once again the indomitable Marsha Thomason will lead the team alongside the mighty Daniel Ryan, and together with a brilliant guest cast they’ll be delving into a compelling new story, a murder mystery that begins with a shocking discovery in a fairground on the prom.”
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The Bay season 1-5 are available to stream on ITVX.
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