Rafe Spall will reprise his role as Detective Eric Bull in the second season of Under Salt Marsh, which moves from Wales to a remote Scottish mining village. The six-part series, created by Claire Oakley, will begin filming in Scotland in 2027 and air on Sky and NOW in the UK, Ireland and Italy.
The first season, which aired in January 2026 and was filmed in Wales, became Sky’s biggest entertainment title of the year to date, with a 28-day audience of 2.5 million. The new season follows Bull as he "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."
Creator and Sky Executives on the New Season
Creator Claire Oakley said she was thrilled to take the series to another unique part of the UK "where we explore a gripping mystery and unearth buried secrets." She added: "Rafe Spall brought Eric Bull’s idiosyncrasies to life so brilliantly in the first series that taking his character onwards is an absolute pleasure."
Sky’s managing director for scripted originals, Meghan Lyvers, said Spall's character was the perfect focal point for the yet-untitled new series, adding: "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."
Production Details and Fan Response
Elwen Rowlands, executive producer at Little Door productions, said: "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. 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."
The wider cast list has not yet been announced. The first season, set in the fictional North Wales village of Morfa Halen, starred Kelly Reilly as Jackie Ellis, a teacher and former detective who finds the body of her eight-year-old student. The discovery brought up an unresolved case from three years earlier concerning Jackie's niece, Nessa. The failure to find the girl cost Ellis her police career, and Bull, her former partner, led the investigation. Believing the two cases were connected, Ellis and Bull worked together to uncover hidden secrets before a storm wiped away any evidence.
Fans praised the first season on IMDb, with one writing: "Kelly Reilly leads the charge with an impressive performance rich with the messy pitfalls of grief, enduring love, and dogged determination. She and Rafe Spall unsurprisingly carry the show as two famously talented leads with great chemistry." Another added: "The reality is this is a superb drama. The characters are believable and the acting is universally outstanding. The plot is excellent and, unusually, without obvious flaws. The pacing is spot on. And the effects are fantastic. It's a quality piece of work and thoroughly enjoyable. It's a bit like Broadchurch and is not of dissimilar standard. It's that good."
A final fan called it a "masterpiece of atmosphere and performance," sharing: "Under Salt Marsh is a stunning achievement. The writing is rich and compelling, the scenery is wild and breathtaking, and the cinematography is beautiful throughout. Kelly Reilly is phenomenal, emotionally raw, deeply nuanced, and completely captivating. She carries the series with grace and power. This is gripping, thoughtful, immersive television at its very best. Ten stars without hesitation."
