The Split Up: everything we know

The Split Up's creators, Ursula Rani Sarma and Abi Morgan
Ursula Rani Sarma (left) and Abi Morgan (Image credit: Helen Warner / Ruth Crafer)

Prepare for plenty of courtroom drama and family feuds in The Split Up, a new six-part BBC One legal drama from the producers of The Split.

The spin-off is based on the popular Nicola Walker show created by Abi Morgan, but will feature new characters and a new story set within the high-stakes world of Manchester's divorce law circuit. 

With The Split also due to return to our screens for a two-part wedding special in the near future, there's plenty to look forward to for those who enjoyed Morgan's legal drama, which first aired on BBC One in 2018 and ran for three series. 

The new show, which follows the Kishan family, has been created by Ursula Rani Sarma (Smother, Delicious), yet Abi Morgan will be an executive producer alongside The Split alumni, Lucy Dyke and Jane Featherstone. 

“I watched The Split with admiration over the years," said Ursula Rani Sarma in a BBC statement. “So I was honoured to be asked to create The Split Up: a spin off which introduces a whole new family and city while still holding on to the warmth, humour and heartbreak of Abi Morgan’s original series."

Here's everything we know about The Split Up... 

The Split Up release date

The BBC confirmed The Split Up had been commissioned in February 2024, yet with some of the team involved in The Split's two-part special, which went into production in April, it could be a few months until cameras start rolling.

Yet if the show goes into production before the end of the year, we could see it on BBC One at some point in 2025. When we have a confirmed release date we'll be sure to let you know. 

The Split Up plot

Like The Split, the show will delve into the workings of a prominent divorce law firm. A synopsis from the BBC reads as follows... 

"Kishan Law is a British-Asian high net worth family law firm in Manchester, noted for its clientele and its reputation. They are the ‘go to firm’ for Manchester’s elite who come to them for their excellence, integrity, and discretion. 

"But the future and legacy of Kishan Law hangs in the balance when a family secret from the past comes to light, throwing their professional and personal lives into turmoil.

"The Split Up explores the weight of parental expectations, the forces that keep families together and the truths that tear them apart. Welcome to Kishan Law. Welcome to the family."

Executive producer Abi Morgan is pleased to be working on the new show... 

“After the success of The Split, it’s been great to see The Split Up take shape in lead writer Ursula Rani Sarma’s capable hands, reinvigorating all that audiences love," she explained in a BBC statement.

"A new legal family, grabbing at life in a new city, battling new legal cases, as the professional and personal deliciously collide. A brilliant new cast of characters caught in the messiness of love, marriage, deception and divorce, make it their own. It is ripe to be taken into the hearts of anyone who loved the show.”

The Split Up cast

There's no official casting news on on this show yet, but with Abi Morgan as an executive producer we're expecting some big name British Asian actors to be playing the Kishan family. 

"To be able to place a contemporary British Asian family, helmed by brilliant women, at the heart of a primetime drama series is a dream come true for me as a writer who believes strongly in the importance of representation on our screens," says Ursula Rani Sarma. "It's been a joy to work alongside Abi as well as Lucy Dyke, Jane Featherstone and Sumrah Mohammed at SISTER to bring it to glorious life.”

The Split Up trailer

There's no trailer for this one yet, but we'll be sure to update this page as soon as one lands. 

Sean Marland

Sean is a Senior Feature writer for TV Times, What's On TV and TV & Satellite Week, who also writes for whattowatch.com. He's been covering the world of TV for over 15 years and in that time he's been lucky enough to interview stars like Ian McKellen, Tom Hardy and Kate Winslet. His favourite shows are I'm Alan Partridge, The Wire, People Just Do Nothing and Succession and in his spare time he enjoys drinking tea, doing crosswords and watching football.