Kelly Reilly Returns to Lead Sky’s Gripping Crime Thriller ‘Under Salt Marsh’ in Riveting Premiere

By Entertainment Correspondent, January 30, 2026 – Hanoi Entertainment Gazette

Kelly Reilly, the acclaimed star of Yellowstone, makes a powerful comeback to British television this evening with the premiere of Sky’s highly anticipated six-part crime drama Under Salt Marsh. The series, which has generated significant buzz since its trailer debuted late last year, launches exclusively on Sky Atlantic and the streaming service NOW at 9pm tonight, January 30, 2026. Created, written, and directed by Claire Oakley, the atmospheric thriller blends tense mystery with emotional depth, set against the dramatic backdrop of a fictional Welsh coastal town on the brink of destruction.

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Kelly Reilly and Rafe Spall star in gripping new Sky Original …

Reilly stars as Jackie Ellis, a former detective who abandoned her career in policing to become a primary school teacher in the remote community of Morfa Halen. The town, precariously positioned between towering mountains and an encroaching sea, faces constant threats from rising tides and extreme weather. As a once-in-a-generation storm gathers force offshore, Jackie discovers the lifeless body of her eight-year-old pupil, Cefin, apparently drowned in the marshlands. What appears at first to be a tragic accident quickly unravels into something far more sinister, forcing Jackie to confront painful memories from three years earlier: the unsolved disappearance of her niece, Nessa, which shattered her professional life and personal relationships.

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The discovery draws in Detective Eric Bull, portrayed by Rafe Spall, Jackie’s estranged former partner from her detective days. Their reunion is fraught with tension, as old wounds reopen amid accusations of past failures in the niece’s case. Eric, still haunted by the unresolved mystery, leads the official investigation, but Jackie’s intimate knowledge of the community and her determination to protect her students pull her back into the fray. As the storm intensifies, threatening to erase vital evidence with flooding and erosion, the pair must race against time to uncover the truth before the town is torn apart—both literally and figuratively.

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Sky Under Salt Marsh plot, cast list, Welsh filming locations and …

The series excels in its portrayal of a tight-knit Welsh community fractured by grief and suspicion. Morfa Halen feels vividly alive, with its windswept marshes, sheep-dotted fields, and resilient inhabitants who embody a mix of isolation and interdependence. Oakley’s direction captures the bleak beauty of the North Wales landscape—filmed in locations like Barmouth, Gwynedd—using the relentless weather as a metaphor for the characters’ inner turmoil and the broader anxieties of climate vulnerability. The storm isn’t just a plot device; it heightens the urgency, symbolizing how external forces can expose buried secrets and force reckoning.

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Reilly delivers a standout performance as Jackie, channeling a grounded intensity that contrasts sharply with her more fiery Yellowstone role. Critics have praised her for conveying profound pain and resolve, with one review noting her ability to make viewers feel the weight of Jackie’s guilt and determination. Spall brings complexity to Eric, whose professional demeanor masks lingering regret and unresolved feelings toward his ex-partner. Their chemistry crackles with authenticity, built partly on their prior collaborations in theater and television.

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Sir Jonathan Pryce revisits ‘land of my fathers’ in Under Salt Marsh

The supporting cast adds substantial depth. Jonathan Pryce, in a poignant return to Welsh roots, plays Solomon Bevan, Cefin’s grieving grandfather and patriarch of a local farming family. His portrayal of quiet devastation and community authority lends gravitas to the ensemble. Other notable roles include Naomi Yang as Jess Deng, Dinita Gohil, Brian Gleeson, Kimberley Nixon as Cefin’s mother Shell, Mark Stanley as father Danny, and Harry Lawtey in a key supporting part that introduces further layers of intrigue.

Early reviews describe Under Salt Marsh as “engrossing” and “perfect winter telly,” highlighting its blend of classic crime elements with deeper explorations of loss, resilience, and community bonds. It stands out in the growing wave of Welsh noir dramas, offering more than a standard murder mystery by weaving in themes of climate anxiety and personal redemption. The first two episodes premiere tonight, with subsequent installments airing weekly on Fridays.

As viewers settle in for what promises to be one of Sky’s standout series of the year, Under Salt Marsh delivers tense, character-driven storytelling that lingers long after the credits roll. In a landscape of predictable procedurals, this atmospheric thriller reminds us why great crime drama endures: it uncovers not just whodunit, but the human cost of truth.