The BBC and production company Sister released first-look images from The Split Up, an upcoming six-part legal drama set in the world of Manchester’s high-net-worth divorce circuit for flagship network BBC One and the BBC iPlayer streaming service.
The Split Up stars Ritu Arya (The Umbrella Academy), Sanjeev Bhaskar (Unforgotten), Aysha Kala (Virdee), Arian Nik (Film Club), Danny Ashok (Dinosaur), Dimitri Leonidas (Those About To Die), 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).
The story and characters were created by Ursula Rani Sarma (Bodkin, Delicious), based on The Split, created by Abi Morgan (Eric). Sister is producing the drama in association with Little Chick.
The first-look pictures revealed on Thursday provides a first glimpse at “the Kishan Law family, a powerhouse British-South Asian family firm, and the go-to for the city’s elite,” according to the BBC. “At its center is Ritu Arya as Aria Kishan, a fast-rising star of Kishan Law, poised to step up and take the mantle from her father Dhruv (Bhaskar) and Aria’s siblings Maya (Kala), Kav (Nik), and partner Neal (Ashok).”
A synopsis reads: “In The Split Up, the death of Aria’s mother has cast a new light over succession plans for Dhruv, who has begun to wonder if his daughter can, or should, take on this responsibility single-handedly. Aria’s relationship is placed under scrutiny too, with the wedding to long-term partner Neal on the horizon, but with their personal and professional lives so entwined it’s unclear if their relationship can withstand any more pressure – a problem further compounded when a former secret flame (Leonidas) arrives in Manchester unexpectedly. Alongside her siblings Maya and Kav, whose own relationships and loyalties are far from straightforward, Aria must navigate the splits that divide family and those we love – and ask herself: who should you live your life for?”
The Split Up is executive produced by Morgan, Jane Featherstone, Bryony Arnold, 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 being directed by Shamim Sarif (You) and Khurrum M Sultan (Vera). Natasha Romaniuk (Outrageous) serves as producer and Kasheina Vencatasawmy (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as associate producer. BBC Studios is handling global sales on the series.
