The Bay renewed for third series and will film this summer

THE Bay is to return for a third series, The Sun can exclusively reveal.

ITV recommissioned the crime drama - that stars Morven Christie as DS Lisa Armstrong - after more than 7.2million people watched the first series.

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The third series has been commissioned by ITV’s Head of Drama, Polly Hill.

“We are delighted with the audiences’ response to The Bay and look forward to them meeting DS Jenn Townsend played by the fantastic Marsha Thomason, who joins the team in series 3,” she said.

Meanwhile Executive Producer Catherine Oldfield added: “Daragh and I couldn’t be more delighted by the audience response to The Bay.

"That ITV have recommissioned the show is fantastic and to get a talent as bright and brilliant as Marsha to lead the new series is beyond exciting."

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"We can’t wait to get back to Morecambe to start filming again in that beautiful part of the world.”

A source previously told The Sun: "It is a no brainer to bring the show back.

"Millions of people watched it and the expectation is that the second series will be even bigger."

The third series will film between March and July in the north west with pre-production well underway in Manchester already.

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At the end of the first series Lisa was suspended and left disgraced over her lies about sleeping with suspect Sean. 

The second series begins on January 20 and picks up a year later as Lisa is rebuilding her career. 

ITV teased: “After dealing with the repercussions of her actions from last year, DC Lisa Armstrong is given the opportunity to step up when asked to assist a murder investigation in Morecambe. 

“Tensions remain high as Lisa struggles to do her job whilst following the orders of her previously lower ranking colleague, Med. 

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“As the team tries to uncover why the victim was targeted, Lisa and her children are unknowingly stalked by a mysterious figure.”

Former EastEnders star Joe Absolom joins the cast of The Bay alongside DCI Banks star Stephen Tompkinson and Game of Thrones’ James Cosmo.