Under Salt Marsh (2026)
A haunting Welsh crime mystery where a drowned child and a vanished niece force a former detective to confront the secrets her community has buried.
Under Salt Marsh - Series Information
- Original Title: Under Salt Marsh
- First Air Year: 2026
- Last Air Year: 2026
- Created by: Claire Oakley
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Crime, Mystery
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 6
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: January 30, 2026 (United Kingdom - 15)
- Networks: Sky One, Sky Atlantic, Sky Max
- Production Companies: Sky Studios, Little Door Productions
- Production Countries: United Kingdom
Under Salt Marsh - Plot
Morfa Halen is a tight-knit Welsh town 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 8-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.
Under Salt Marsh - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the storm-shrouded world of Morfa Halen come to life:
No secrets are safe from the storm.
Where to Watch Under Salt Marsh
Looking for where to watch Under Salt Marsh?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
Under Salt Marsh - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Claire Oakley
Main Cast
- Kelly Reilly
- Rafe Spall
- Jonathan Pryce
- Naomi Yang
- Harry Lawtey
- Bevan Thomas
- Leisa Gwenllian
Writers
- Nikita Lalwani
- Claire Oakley
- Jonathan Harbottle
Executive Producers
- Elwen Rowlands
- Claire Oakley
- Megan Spanjian
Under Salt Marsh - FAQs
Is Under Salt Marsh based on a true story?
Under Salt Marsh is an original work of fiction, not based on a specific true story. Creator Claire Oakley drew on the atmospheric landscape of coastal Wales to craft a tense, character-driven crime mystery, grounding its emotional realism in the social fabric of a tight-knit community facing both human and environmental threats.
Who plays Jackie Ellis in Under Salt Marsh?
Kelly Reilly plays Jackie Ellis, the former detective turned schoolteacher at the heart of the story. Reilly, widely known for her role as Beth Dutton in Yellowstone, brings formidable intensity to the role of a woman haunted by a past case who is suddenly thrust back into the darkness she tried to leave behind.
Is Under Salt Marsh worth watching?
Absolutely worth your time. Under Salt Marsh combines a gripping cold-case mystery with a richly atmospheric Welsh setting and a powerhouse lead performance from Kelly Reilly. The six-episode format keeps the pacing tight, and the looming storm serves as a brilliant metaphor for the secrets threatening to consume the entire community.
Where can you watch Under Salt Marsh in the UK?
Under Salt Marsh airs on Sky One, Sky Atlantic, and Sky Max in the United Kingdom. For a full breakdown of streaming and viewing options available in your region, JustWatch is the most reliable place to check current platform availability.
What is the setting of Under Salt Marsh?
The series is set in Morfa Halen, a fictional Welsh coastal town wedged between mountains and a rising sea. The landscape is central to the show's identity — brooding, beautiful, and slowly being swallowed by nature. A once-in-a-generation storm gathering offshore adds a ticking-clock urgency to the unfolding mystery.
Who created Under Salt Marsh?
Under Salt Marsh was created by Claire Oakley, who also serves as an executive producer and writer on the series. Oakley is known for her work in British film and television, and Under Salt Marsh marks a significant step into prestige TV drama, blending crime thriller conventions with a deeply literary sense of place.
What are the cold case details in Under Salt Marsh?
Three years before the main story, Jackie Ellis's niece Nessa disappeared in Morfa Halen — a case that was never solved and ultimately cost Jackie her career as a detective. When a young boy named Cefin is found drowned, the echoes of Nessa's disappearance resurface, suggesting the town's secrets run far deeper than anyone admitted.
What shows are similar to Under Salt Marsh?
Fans of Under Salt Marsh will likely enjoy The Pembrokeshire Murders, Luther, and Five Days for their similarly atmospheric British crime storytelling. The Chelsea Detective and Whitstable Pearl offer a slightly lighter but equally compelling coastal mystery tone. For darker, character-driven drama, Dalgliesh and Thorne are strong picks.
More About Under Salt Marsh
Explore further details about Under Salt Marsh on these authoritative sources.