‘Under Salt Marsh’ Renewed for Season 2 With Rafe Spall Returning

“Under Salt Marsh” is returning for a second season at Sky.

The crime drama has been greenlit for an “as-yet-untitled second chapter” with Rafe Spall reprising his role as Detective Eric Bull, Sky announced on Wednesday. The six-episode season will pick up as Detective Bull “moves to a remote Scottish mining village sinking under the weight of its own secrets, where a murder investigation brings him closer to the truth about his own past,” according to a press release. Season 2 is set to film in Scotland in 2027.

The show’s first season, which premiered in January, starred Kelly Reilly, Naomi Yang, Harry Lawtey and more alongside Spall as he investigated the mysterious death of an 8-year-old student. It became the biggest Sky Original launch since the Eddie Redmayne-starring “Day of the Jackal,” as well as Sky’s biggest entertainment title of the year to date with a 28-day audience of 2.5 million.

“Under Salt Marsh” hails from creator, writer and director Claire Oakley and is produced by Little Door Productions in association with Sky Studios. Alongside Oakley, writers include In-Sook Chappell, Jonathan Harbottle and Scott Graham. The series producer is Zoranna Piggott. Executive Producers are Elwen Rowlands for Little Door Productions and Oakley, with Megan Spanjian for Sky.

“I am thrilled to be taking the series to another unique part of the U.K. where we explore a gripping mystery and unearth buried secrets,” Oakley, who teased a potential Season 2 to Variety in February, said in a statement. “Rafe Spall brought Eric Bull’s idiosyncrasies to life so brilliantly in the first series that taking his character onwards is an absolute pleasure. And I’m delighted to be continuing the partnership with Little Door and Sky.”

Added Meghan Lyvers, managing director of scripted originals at Sky: “‘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.”

Elwen Rowlands, executive producer and CEO of Little Door, said the second season is a “brilliant new story,” adding: “It’s been hugely exciting to see audiences respond to the series’ rich sense of place, complex characters and compelling storytelling. With Rafe Spall returning as Detective Eric Bull, this new series introduces an engaging new community and mystery, while expanding the emotional and cinematic world that made the first series so special.”