Sky has officially greenlit an as-yet-untitled second chapter of Under Salt Marsh, its breakout crime drama. The crime drama has been greenlit for an “as-yet-untitled second chapter” with Rafe Spall reprising his role as Detective Eric Bull. The renewal was announced on August 26, 2026, ahead of what has been one of Sky’s most successful drama launches in years.
What Is Under Salt Marsh About?
Under Salt Marsh hails from creator, writer and director Claire Oakley and is produced by Little Door Productions in association with Sky Studios.
Season 1 centres on schoolteacher Jackie Ellis (Kelly Reilly), who discovers that one of her students, Cefin Hill, has drowned. For Jackie, this death opens up old wounds — three years earlier, she was working as a detective until the disappearance of her niece led to her losing her job and the trust of her family. When her former partner Eric Bull (Rafe Spall) returns to investigate Cefin’s death, Jackie uncovers a mountain of lies that connects the current tragedy to her past one.
Under Salt Marsh premiered in January 2026 and was filmed in Wales, with the story taking place in Morfa Halen, a fictional coastal town in North Wales created for the series.
Under Salt Marsh Season 2: At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Show Title | Under Salt Marsh |
| Season | 2 (As-Yet-Untitled) |
| Platform | Sky / NOW (UK, Ireland & Italy) |
| Renewal Announced | August 26, 2026 |
| Season 1 Premiere | January 2026 |
| Creator | Claire Oakley |
| Returning Star | Rafe Spall (Detective Eric Bull) |
| Genre | Crime / Mystery / Thriller |
| Season 2 Episodes | 6 |
| Season 2 Setting | Remote Scottish Mining Village |
| Filming Location | Scotland |
| Filming Begins | 2027 |
| Studio | Little Door Productions / Sky Studios |
| International Sales | NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution |
| Rotten Tomatoes Score | 100% |
What Happens in Season 2?
Following the events of the first season, Bull will move to a remote Scottish mining village that is “sinking under the weight of its own secrets,” and a murder investigation brings him closer to the truth about his own past.
This time, the story will leave the fictional Welsh village of Morfa Halen behind and follow Eric Bull to Scotland. Production is scheduled to begin in 2027, while the second season remains without an official title.
Season 1 vs. Season 2: A Comparison
| Element | Season 1 | Season 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Morfa Halen, North Wales | Remote Scottish Mining Village |
| Lead Star | Kelly Reilly + Rafe Spall | Rafe Spall |
| Episodes | 6 | 6 |
| Filming Location | Wales | Scotland |
| Central Mystery | Death of an 8-year-old student | Murder Investigation |
| Focus | Jackie Ellis & Eric Bull | Eric Bull’s Past |
| Status | Aired (January 2026) | Filming 2027 |
Cast & Crew
The show’s first season starred Kelly Reilly, Naomi Yang, Harry Lawtey and more alongside Spall as he investigated the mysterious death of an 8-year-old student. Also joining the series were award-winning Jonathan Pryce (The Crown, Slow Horses), Naomi Yang (Nightsleeper, Wolfe) and rising star Harry Lawtey (Industry, Joker: Folie à Deux).
Kelly Reilly was at the centre of the first season, but she is not expected to return for the second season.
| Cast / Crew | Role / Department |
|---|---|
| Rafe Spall | Detective Eric Bull (Lead) |
| Kelly Reilly | Jackie Ellis (Season 1 only) |
| Naomi Yang | Supporting Cast |
| Harry Lawtey | Supporting Cast |
| Jonathan Pryce | Supporting Cast |
| Claire Oakley | Creator, Writer & Director |
| In-Sook Chappell | Writer |
| Jonathan Harbottle | Writer |
| Scott Graham | Writer |
| Zoranna Piggott | Series Producer |
| Elwen Rowlands | Executive Producer (Little Door) |
| Megan Spanjian | Executive Producer (Sky) |
Rafe Spall: The Anchor of Under Salt Marsh
Award-winning actor Rafe Spall (The English, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) stars opposite Kelly Reilly (Yellowstone, Here) in the gripping Sky Original crime thriller. Season 2 firmly places Spall at the very heart of the series. A 28-day audience of two and a half million turned up for what was billed as Reilly’s show, and it made Under Salt Marsh the biggest Sky Original drama launch since The Day of the Jackal — and the channel’s read of that number was that the retained asset, the thing worth rebuilding around, was Spall’s detective.
Viewership & Critical Reception
Season 1 debuted in January and became the Comcast-owned broadcaster’s biggest drama launch since The Day of the Jackal and its biggest entertainment title of the year to date, with a consolidated 28-day audience of 2.5 million.
Created by Claire Oakley, Under Salt Marsh made a strong impression, with the premiere racking up 1.8 million viewers in its first seven days. The show currently holds a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What the Creators Said
“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 said. “Rafe Spall brought Eric Bull’s idiosyncrasies to life so brilliantly in the first series that taking his character onwards is an absolute pleasure.”
“We’re incredibly proud to be returning to the world of Under Salt Marsh with a brilliant new story in Claire Oakley’s distinctive, atmospheric drama,” said Elwen Rowlands, Executive Producer and CEO of Little Door. “It’s been hugely exciting to see audiences respond to the series’ rich sense of place, complex characters and compelling storytelling.”
Where to Watch
Under Salt Marsh Season 2 will be released on Sky and the streaming service NOW in the UK, Ireland and Italy. NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution is handling international sales for the crime drama. The series also streams exclusively on Peacock in the US.
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