The Bay season 5 release date and cast as Jenn Townsend 'tested like never before'

The Bay is coming back to ITV with a fifth season and it will see family liaison officer Jenn Townsend deal with a divided family whilst managing her own personal grief.

Giving an overview of the season, executive producer Catherine Oldfield said: "Jenn’s back to work after the death of a family member and so perhaps isn’t in the most solid emotional state. But she’s keen to just get back to work and possibly this is because if she doesn’t stop to think about her loss then she can avoid having to deal with what it really means.

"When the body of a young woman is found murdered in a lock, Jenn finds herself in the middle of divorced parents where there’s a lot of history and bad blood. Her diplomatic skills are going to be tested like never before."

There has also been a slight change in the police department with the addition of a new character, Lou McClaren. She was seconded to Morecambe's MIU from Lancaster and is a highly experienced cop.

Here is all you need to know about the new season including the release date, cast and more.

Viewers do not have long to wait until the new season as it starts on Sunday, March 2 on ITV at 9pm.

All of the episodes are an hour long and they will also be available to watch on ITVX.

The season is made up of six episodes and they will air weekly at the same time of 9pm.

The episodes follow the tragic death of Hannah Dawson, whose divorced parents have their worlds turned upside down by the news.

By the end of the season, when crucial evidence in the case is found, Jenn and the team discover someone close to Hannah has been withholding vital information from them all along.

The usual trio will return including Marsha Thomason as Jenn Townsend, Daniel Ryan as Tony Manning and Andrew Dowbiggin as Clarkie.

Erin Shanagher also returns as DS Karen Hobson, with the newest member of the team, Lou McClaren, played by Olwen May.

Jenn's mum Anne Jackson is played by Suzanne Packer, with her children Conor and Maddie played by David Carpenter and Emme Hayes.

Hannah's parents, Julie Ashworth and Steve Dawson, are played by Leanne Best and Neil Maskell. Her grandfather Tommy Campbell is played by David Troughton.

Writer Daragh Carville said of the new season: "This series I was interested in telling the story of a divided family where the parents of the victim are divorced acrimoniously and there's bad blood and history there.

"Obviously, that makes it more difficult for our central character, Jenn, the family liaison officer, because now she has to liaise with a broken family.

"She has to go between the parents and compare and contrast what she's learning in those different areas."

The Bay season 5 airs on Sunday, March 2 on ITV at 9pm