Watch the official trailer for Under Salt Marsh
Everything you need to know about Under Salt Marsh
● Under Salt Marsh is a Sky Original crime drama that follows Detective Eric Bull as he investigates the death of a nine-year-old schoolboy amid a brutal weather crisis on the rural Welsh coast. ● It becomes clear the case is intricately connected with the death of another child years prior – the niece of Jackie Ellis, Bull’s former detective partner who now works as a local schoolteacher. ● As suspicions rise and secrets within the community come spilling out, Bull needs to act fast before the torrential rain not only washes away evidence, but the small coastal community of Morfa Halen as a whole. ● Rafe Spall stars as Detective Bull, with Kelly Reilly joining him in season 1 as primary school teacher and former partner, Jackie Ellis. ● First launching in January 2026, an as-yet-untitled second series following Detective Bull’s next case has been confirmed.
What is Under Salt Marsh about?
Under Salt Marsh is a gripping Sky Original crime thriller set in the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen, a tight-knit community precariously nestled between towering mountains and a fast-encroaching sea that threatens its very existence.
As a once-in-a-generation storm begins to gather far out at sea, former detective turned teacher Jackie Ellis discovers the body of her nine-year-old pupil, Cefin, seemingly drowned. The discovery sends shockwaves through the community, reviving the ghost of an unsolved cold case that rocked the town three years prior – the disappearance of Jackie’s niece, Nessa, which cost her career.
Cefin’s death summons Jackie's former partner, Detective Eric Bull, back to Morfa Halen to lead the investigation into a community he failed once before. Convinced the cases are linked, Jackie and Bull must reconcile and race to uncover long-buried secrets inside Morfa, before the storm breaks and all the evidence is gone for good.
An intimate and cinematic story, Under Salt Marsh takes audiences into the heart of a community bound by nature and fractured by an unthinkable crime.
Under Salt Marsh was released exclusively on Sky Atlantic in August 2026.
Who stars in Under Salt Marsh?
Leading the cast of Under Salt Marsh are:
- Kelly Reilly (Yellowstone, Here) as Jackie Ellis
- Rafe Spall (The English, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) as Detective Eric Bull
- Jonathan Pryce (The Crown, Slow Horses) as Solomon Bevan
Naomi Yang (Nightsleeper, Wolfe) as Jess Deng
Joining them are:
- Harry Lawtey (Industry, Joker Folie à Deux) as Dylan Rees
- Dinita Gohil (Sandman, Greed) as Nisha Jones
- Brian Gleeson (Bad Sisters, Phantom Thread) as Mac Jones
- Kimberley Nixon (Fresh Meat, Life and Death in the Warehouse) as Shell Hill
- Mark Stanley (Happy Valley, The Reckoning) as Danny Hill
- Dino Fetscher (Fool Me Once, Foundation) as Gareth Evans
- Lizzie Annis (The Witcher: Blood Origin, Extraordinary) as Cara Rees
- Rhodri Meilir (Pren Ar y Bryn/Tree On A Hill, Craith/Hidden) as Ned Bevan
- Julian Lewis Jones (House of the Dragon, Wheel of Time) as Osian Northam
- Gwïon Morris Jones* (Dal Y Mellt, The Winter King) as Eddie Bevan
- Morgan Watkins (Noughts and Crosses, Kingsman: The Secret Service) as Kieran Benbow
- William Thomas (Torchwood, We Are Seven) as Owen Ellis
- India Mullen (Normal People, Brassic) as Lydia Taman
- Eiry Thomas (Keeping Faith, The Bench) as Irene Hassan
- Janeks Babidorics (Brassic, We Were The Lucky Ones) as August Antonov
- Dritan Kastrati (Mobland, Kraven the Hunter) as Victor Antonov
- Julian Lewis Jones (House of the Dragon, Wheel of Time) as Osian Northam
- Marilyn Cutts (Death Valley, Home Invasion) as Carys Northam
- Martyn Ellis (Moonflower Murders, The New Adventures of Robin Hood) as Jim The Chippy
- Newcomer Amara Atwal as Nessa
- Newcomer Jack Thomas-Humphreys as Cefin Hill
- Newcomer Osian Emlyn as James Rees
Find out more about characters here
How many episodes of Under Salt Marsh are there?
Under Salt Marsh has run for six episodes to date.
Each episode is approximately an hour in length.
Find out more with our season 1 guide here
Will Under Salt Marsh return for a second series?
Yes! In August 2026, Sky confirmed that a continuation of Under Salt Marsh has been given the go-ahead.
However, it will no longer be set in Morfa Halen, or even Wales, and instead will be moving to a remote mining village in Scotland for a series two.
The series will also shift focus slightly, following Detective Bull on his latest case. It’s not yet known if any other characters from series one will make an appearance.
At the time of writing (September 2026) the series doesn’t have an official title, but is set to begin filming in 2027.
Creator and Executive Producer Claire Oakley, said; “I am thrilled to be taking the series to another unique part of the UK where we explore a gripping mystery and unearth buried secrets. Rafe Spall brought Eric Bull’s idiosyncrasies to life so brilliantly in the first series that taking his character onwards is an absolute pleasure.”
Meghan Lyvers, Managing Director for Scripted Originals at Sky, said: “Under Salt Marsh deeply connected with our audiences, and we’re delighted to be returning to the world Claire Oakley created for a new chapter.
“Claire is an exceptional storyteller, with a remarkable ability to create richly drawn characters and a powerful sense of place, and we can’t wait to see where she takes audiences next.
“Rafe brought such complexity and humanity to Bull in the first series, and it’s fantastic to have him back at the heart of this new story. A huge thanks to Claire, Elwen and everyone at Little Door Productions for continuing to be such brilliant partners.”
Read what Rafe Spall had to say about playing Detective Bull here
What is the age rating of Under Salt Marsh?
Under Salt Marsh has been given a rating of 15 – meaning it has been deemed unsuitable for children and younger audiences.
This is due to the show containing:
- Depictions of dead bodies – including that of young children.
- Some use of swearing
- Some scenes of violence
- Dark themes that some may find upsetting
Want to know more about Under Salt Marsh?
If your breath was taken away by the incredible scenery of Under Salt Marsh, you can find out more about the filming and locations here.
And make sure to check out our interviews with the cast and crew here: ● Rafe Spall Q+A ● Kelly Reilly Q+A ● Naomi Yang Q+A ● Harry Lawtey Q+A ● Jonathan Pryce Q+A ● Kimberley Nixon Q+A ● Dino Fetchser Q+A ● Brian Gleeson Q+A ● Claire Oakley (Creator and Writer) Q+A ● Elwen Rowlands (Executive Producer) Q+A ● Stevie Herbert (Production Design) Q+A ● Abbi Collins (Stunts) Q+A
How to watch Under Salt Marsh on Sky
As a Sky Original, Under Salt Marsh is available to watch exclusively on Sky and NOW.
It is not available on Netflix, Prime Video, or Disney+.
Under Salt Marsh is available to watch now on Sky Atlantic and NOW.
