The BBC has unveiled first-look images for ‘The Split Up’, a brand-new six-part legal drama heading to BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Filming wrapped in Manchester in January, and the series expands the universe of ‘The Split’ with a fresh family at the centre of the legal storm.
Created by Ursula Rani Sarma (Bodkin, Delicious), with story and characters based on ‘The Split’ by Abi Morgan (Eric, The Split), the drama shifts the focus to Manchester’s high-net-worth divorce circuit and a formidable British-South Asian family firm at its heart.
The newly released images introduce us to Kishan Law, a powerhouse practice representing the city’s elite. Leading the charge is Ritu Arya (The Umbrella Academy) as Aria Kishan, a rising star preparing to inherit the mantle from her father Dhruv, played by Sanjeev Bhaskar (Unforgotten). Also central to the family dynamic are Aria’s siblings Maya and Kav, portrayed by Aysha Kala (Virdee) and Arian Nik (Film Club), alongside Aria’s long-term partner Neal, played by Danny Ashok (Dinosaur).
At the centre of the drama is a family already under pressure. The death of Aria’s mother casts a long shadow over succession plans, leaving Dhruv questioning whether his daughter can, or should, take on leadership alone. Meanwhile, Aria’s upcoming wedding to Neal is complicated by the fact their personal and professional lives are deeply intertwined. Matters only grow more tangled when a former secret flame, played by Dimitri Leonidas (Those About To Die), arrives unexpectedly in Manchester.
The cast also features Mawaan Rizwan (Juice), Sindhu Vee (Matilda the Musical), Shalini Peiris (The White Lotus) and Tom Forbes (Queenie). Guest stars include Lenny Henry (Three Little Birds), Jane Horrocks (Bloods) and Jameela Jamil (The Good Place).
Produced by SISTER in association with Little Chick, the series is executive produced by Abi Morgan, Jane Featherstone, Bryony Arnold and Ursula Rani Sarma, with Nawfal Faizullah for the BBC, and co-executive produced by Shamim Sarif. Additional episodes are written by Sumerah Srivastav (Missing You), Kaamil Shah (Count Abdulla) and Sonali Bhattacharyya (Chasing Hares – Young Vic/Theatre Uncut). The series is directed by Shamim Sarif (YOU) and Khurrum M Sultan (Vera), with Natasha Romaniuk serving as producer and Kasheina Vencatasawmy as associate producer. BBC Studios is handling global sales.
‘The Split Up’ does not yet have a premiere date, but will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
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