Fans of The Split have declared they "can't wait" after the BBC released a brand-new trailer for the highly anticipated spin-off, The Split Up. The original series, starring Nicola Walker, centred on a female-led family law firm and the trials and tribulations surrounding her crumbling marriage, running from 2018 until 2022, followed by a two-part special in 2024.
Devoted fans were left heartbroken when the legal drama drew to a close, but their disappointment was short-lived as the BBC swiftly announced that The Split Up would be arriving to fill the gap. Set in Manchester, the new series will delve into "the charged world of Manchester's high-net-worth divorce circuit" and the Kishan Law family - "a powerhouse British-South Asian family firm, and the go-to for the city's elite".
Ritu Arya takes the lead as Aria Kishan, who is preparing to take the reins of the firm from her father Dhruv (Sanjeev Bhaskar), with the cast further bolstered by Aysha Kala, Arian Nik and Danny Ashok, portraying her siblings and partner, reports the Mirror.
The BBC's synopsis tantalisingly teases: "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?"
The ensemble also features Mawaan Rizwan, Sindhu Vee and Shalini Peiris, with guest appearances from Lenny Henry and Jameela Jamil.
In a first look trailer, Aria is caught off guard when a mysterious stranger from her past enters the office, only to find out he's become the firm's new senior associate. She also warns her partner: "No more surprises, please," as they speak of their upcoming wedding.
The trailer goes on to show her confronted with her past, with buried memories of a past romance coming to light and threatening to disrupt everything, as she takes a moment to catch her breath, looking out at the Manchester skyline.
Viewers have already delivered their verdicts, with one writing: "This looks great. Can't wait for the first episode." Another said: "This looks fantastic, well excited," as a third added: "Ahhhhh omg I can't wait."
Executive producer of The Split and The Split Up, Abi Morgan, previously told Metro it would be "a fitting evolution" of The Split, saying: "I suppose the best thing I can say is that the new show will be in a new city with a new group of writers running it. But it is also really exciting to have Ursula Rani Sarma at the helm, and it's been really enjoyable to see her voice and the voice of the writers grow, and I'm just excited to see what comes next. So I think it will be a very fitting evolution of The Split."
The Split is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
