Harsh Vardhan
The filming of the BBC show ‘The Split Up’ is set to commence in Manchester, England, in September. The series is a spin-off of the popular legal drama ‘The Split.’ Ursula Rani Sarma is the creator of this six-episode show and the original series’ creator Abi Morgan is on board as an executive producer.
The show delves into the world of a new family of legal experts – the Kishans. Operating as a prominent British-Asian high-net-worth family law firm in Manchester, Kishan Law is renowned for its clientele and impeccable reputation. Serving as the go-to firm for Manchester’s elite class, the establishment is known for its excellence, integrity, and discretion. However, the future and legacy of Kishan Law face uncertainty when a long-buried family secret resurfaces, sending shockwaves through both their professional and personal lives.
Series creator Rani Sarma is known for writing two episodes of Peacock’s mystery series ‘Smother’ and three episodes of Acorn’s comedy-drama series ‘Delicious.’ In addition, she co-wrote the short film ‘Robot & Scarecrow,’ which depicts a love story between a robot and a scarecrow who find each other at a summer music festival. The screenwriter also penned multiple episodes of ‘Red Rock,’ a crime drama that centers around a bustling Dublin Garda station.
“I watched ‘The Split’ with admiration over the years, and I was honored 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, humor, 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. It has 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,” Rani Sarma shared in a statement.
Abi joined Rani Sarma, stating, “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. 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 three-season original series was aired on BBC between 2018 and 2022. The first two installments of the legal drama premiered on SundanceTV in the United States before moving to BBC America for season 3. The series starred Nicola Walker, Stephen Mangan, Fiona Button, Annabel Scholey, Barry Atsma, and more.
Manchester, the setting and main location of the series, previously hosted the shooting of Netflix’s ‘Fool Me Once’ and ‘Bodies.’
