The Bay

The Bay is what it is and you can’t fault it. It’s a satisfying knotty, plotty hour. You believe in everyone and everything just enough to get by.

If only The Bay could create a lead character half as particular as the young Morse, or indeed as distinctive as Morecambe Bay, then it might be more memorable.

It’s a decent whodunit to get you through a long January, but it won’t be joining any lists of great detective dramas.

I’m not exactly gagging for more, but I am intrigued to see a lead heroine being quite so hard-faced.

I was never mad on this drama to be honest, but this was a well-written episode and Thomason has made a strong start. How many viewers will last the full six episodes remains to be seen.

At least The Bay was like Broadchurch in several good ways, too, including the most vital component of any good TV drama – I wanted to know what happens next.

Cliche-ridden and knackered before the end of the first episode of a six-hour story arc, The Bay really isn’t good enough, not even for passing the time in lockdown.