The Bay is returning to our screens in 2023 and the exact date has been revealed.

ITV’s fourth series of the show will see Marsha Thomason return as Morecambe CID’s Family Liaison Officer, DS Jenn Townsend.

Thomason joined the TV programme in series three, replacing Morven Christie as DS Lisa Armstrong, and was thrown in at the deep end as a body was found in the first episode.

In the new series, viewers can expect to see DS Jenn Townsend support the family of Beth Metcalf who dies in what is thought to be a targeted attack.

Great British Life: DS Jenn Townsend will help Beth Metcalf's family in series four of The Bay DS Jenn Townsend will help Beth Metcalf's family in series four of The Bay (Image: ITV/Jonathan Birch / © Tall Story Pictures 2023)

Metcalf was a young mum of four children and her husband struggles to come to terms with her death.

As the case is investigated, lies and secrets are discovered by the police.

Catherine Oldfield, Creative Director of Tall Story Pictures and Executive Producer of The Bay said: “Marsha’s arrival in series three elevated The Bay yet again and Daragh has delivered another thrilling story for our hugely talented cast to get stuck into.  We can’t wait to bring it to life once again set against the backdrop of Morecambe’s beautiful eerie skies and shore.”

The first series of The Bay aired in 2019 and averaged over 7 million views. It was created by playwright and screenwriter Daragh Carville who was born and raised in Northern Ireland but moved to Lancashire.

Speaking about why he initially chose Morecambe as the setting for his drama, Daragh said “Morecambe is a very distinctive place. It’s a classic British seaside town that has this faded grandeur to it. It’s beautiful and gritty and very evocative. I’ve only very rarely seen it represented in drama but felt this was a world I could write about.”

Manchester-born Marsha Thomason said about the filming location;  “Morecambe is a character in our show. It’s so iconic and so distinctive. It is a place unto itself. The character of this place really adds to the grit and the drama of the show.”

READ MORE: Why you should move to Morecambe

How to watch series four of The Bay

Series four of The Bay will air on ITV1 on Wednesday, March 8 at 9pm.

If you missed the previous episodes of the show, you can catch up via ITVX.