The Split has become a huge success for the BBC in recent years, and following its three-season run (plus a two-part special), a spin-off was announced last year.
The Split Up focuses on a new family of lawyers called the Kishans, and has been touted as a "compelling" look into the "high-stakes world of Manchester’s divorce law circuit".
The six-part series is created by Delicious' Ursula Rani Sarma, who said upon its announcement that she "watched The Split with admiration over the years" and "was honoured to be asked to create The Split Up".
She described it as "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".
"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," she added.
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Director of BBC Drama Lindsay Salt said: "Abi Morgan’s The Split is one of our most-loved and talked about dramas and a favourite with viewers, and The Split Up, set in Manchester and brilliantly written by Ursula Rani Sarma, promises to be just as compelling.
"The Split Up is as full of joy, heartbreak and intrigue as the original, with a fantastic new family we’ll fall in love with."
However, there has been some uncertainty over whether the show is still happening, notably after reports last year casting doubt over the show's future.
Here is the lowdown on where things stand.
Is The Split Up happening?
Fans will be pleased to know that The Split Up *is* going ahead after all.
Following the show's initial announcement in February 2024, a Deadline report emerged in September that said the series had been "paused indefinitely", citing editorial reasons and time to resolve apparent creative issues.
However, it added that the BBC remained committed to the show, and in April this year, Broadcast Now confirmed that things were back on track, with the series in pre-production ahead of an October 2025 filming start date.
What will happen in The Split Up?
The series follows Kishan Law, "a British-Asian high net worth family law firm in Manchester" that is "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," the synopsis adds.
"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 show "explores the weight of parental expectations, the forces that keep families together and the truths that tear them apart".
No casting has been announced yet, and it is unconfirmed whether the show will cross over with The Split – though original series creator Abi Morgan told Digital Spy last year that there are discussions about seeing some familiar faces.
"Yeah, I think we're talking about that," she said. "I think it will be a show that will very much stand on its own, but invariably it's lovely to have built that audience and we’re excited to see that audience hopefully come to the new version of the show. Who knows."
Who is returning from The Split team?
While Sarma is overseeing the new show, there will be some continuity as original creator Morgan is on board as an executive producer.
"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 said last year. "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 executive producers Jane Featherstone and Lucy Richer are also on board in the same roles, as are Lucy Dyke as executive producer and Sumrah Mohammed as producer, who also worked on the original series.
Production company Northern Sister is producing, with Sister having overseen The Split.
The Split Up is yet to confirm a release date, but will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
