First look images for The Split Up, a new six-part legal drama filmed and set in Manchester for BBC iPlayer and BBC One, have been revealed. The Split Up stars a host of famous faces including 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). The series also welcomes a host of standout guest stars, including Lenny Henry (Three Little Birds), Jane Horrocks (Bloods) and Jameela Jamil (The Good Place).
Filming wrapped in Manchester in January and based on the new images revealed, eagle-eyed Mancs may be able to spot several recognisable locations in Manchester, such as Canal Street in Manchester’s Gay Village.
Everything you need to know about the new BBC legal drama The Split Up
Production and creation of The Split Up
With story and characters created by Ursula Rani Sarma (Bodkin, Delicious), the BBC legal drama is based on The Split, created by multiple award-winning Abi Morgan (The Split, Eric). In association with Little Chick, the series is produced by SISTER which has produced shows including Coldwater (ITV/Showtime), Eric (Netflix), Kaos (Netflix), The Power (Prime Video), This Is Going to Hurt (BBC/AMC), Landscapers (Sky/HBO), The Split 1-3 (BBC One/AMC+) and the Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning Chernobyl (Sky/HBO), and most recently Waiting for the Out (BBC One/BBC Studios), as well as the feature film The Woman in Cabin 10 (Netflix).
The plot of The Split Up
The new pictures reveal the first glimpse of the Kishan Law family – set within the charged world of Manchester’s high-net-worth divorce circuit – a powerhouse British-South Asian family firm, and the go-to for the city’s elite. At its centre 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, played by Sanjeev Bhaskar, and Aria’s siblings Maya (Aysha Kala), Kav (Arian Nik), and partner Neal (Danny Ashok).
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 (Dimitri 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?