Although we love watching a budding romance unfold, sometimes the bitter breakdown of relationships can make for even better television. Nicola Walker’s divorce drama The Split was such a success it led to the superb spin-off, The Split Up, and we've devoured the first series. Now the BBC is treating us to The Split's latest chapter with a second series, and it’s going to be unmissable.
The drama, which first aired earlier this year, centres on a family law firm in Manchester. With love triangles, secrets and deception, the personal lives of the lawyers are every bit as messy as their clients. This next instalment revisits the firm's "unfinished business", and deliver some more dilemmas. We can't wait.
Are you excited to get back into the courtroom? Here’s everything you need to know about The Split Up series 2, including the plot, how to watch it and why it’s must-see TV.
What is The Split Up about?
The six-part spin-off of Nicola Walker’s hit The Split (pictured above) swaps London for Manchester and focusses on a well-respected family law firm called Kishan Law. The Kishans are the first port of call for the city’s elite heading for divorce. But beneath their polished exteriors, the family are dealing with their own dilemmas. As well as their messy love lives, they’re still grieving Raina, the family matriarch and Dhruv's wife and his children's mother.
Leading the cast is Rita Arya who plays Aria - she’s smart, driven and her whole life has been mapped out for her. She’s been with her partner Neal Sharma (Danny Ashok) since she was a teenager and they’re in the midst of wedding preparation. She’s also gearing up to take over from her father Dhruv Kishan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) as the head of the firm. However, when her dad makes an unexpected decision about the future of the company, and an old flame Luke Christos (Dimitri Leonidas) re-enters her life - she's left questioning everything she thought she knew about herself.
Aria's older sister Maya (Aysha Kala) left the firm to raise her two children, but we meet her at a time when she’s contemplating returning to work. The decision certainly isn't made any easier when a secret her husband Michael (Tom Forbes) has been hiding is revealed and rocks her entire life.
The most laid-back and happy-go-lucky of the bunch is Kav (Arian Nik). He’s been struggling to pass his legal exams and is tired of being underestimated by his family. He gets swept in by the charm of gossip journalist Ashok Khan (Mawaan Rizwan) - but is Ashok only using Kav to get the secrets of Manchester's top families? As for patriarch Dhruv, he’s keeping a secret about his past in India - and the weight impacts his health.
Warning - there are spoilers for the first series below.
What will The Split Up series 2 be about?
The previous series ended on Aria's much-anticipated wedding day, with the family's reputation hanging in the balance. Dhruv's long lost daughter Zoya, with whom he was recently reunited, has a nasty ex-partner who's threatening the father with blackmail. Meanwhile, Kav seems to finally have found his place in the family - as well as love.
However, there were plenty of unanswered questions: will Neal really leave Manchester and go to London? Will Neil and Arya’s marriage last?
The series’ creators have t we’ll get the answers we’ve been waiting for. The synopsis promises: “more loves, losses, secrets and lies for the Kishan family to unravel and contend with in the legal heart of Manchester.”
“I am delighted that The Split Up has found its audience and home at the BBC and look forward to what is next for Kishan Law under Ursula Rani Sarma and her brilliant creative team,” the creator of The Split and the series’ executive producer Abi Morgan added.
“Family and relationships are endlessly fascinating, and it’s been wonderful to see audiences fall for the Kishans in all their complexity,” Jane Featherstone, the series’ executive producer added. “For me, and my fellow EP, Bryony Arnold, working with Abi Morgan and Ursula Rani Sarma has been such a joy, and our remarkable cast have brought these characters to life with real humour and heart. We’re incredibly proud of the whole team and thrilled to be working with the BBC on a second series - there’s plenty of unfinished business at Kishan Law.”
Who’s in the cast of The Split Up?
The BBC has just announced the second series of The Split Up, so we don’t have a complete casting slate yet. Series 1 of The Split Up includes:
- Ritu Arya (The Umbrella Academy) as Aria Kishan
- Sanjeev Bhaskar (Unforgotten) as Dhruv Kishan
- Aysha Kala (Virdee) as Maya Kishan
- Arian Nik (Film Club) as Kav Kishan
- Danny Ashok (Dinosaur) as Neal Sharma
- Dimitri Leonidas (Those About To Die) as Luke Christos
- Mawaan Rizwan (Juice) as Ashok Khan
- Sindhu Vee (Matilda the Musical) as Harshika Sharma
- Shalini Peiris (The White Lotus) as Zoya Bassu
- Tom Forbes (Queenie) as Michael Lanigan
Is there a trailer for The Split Up series 2?
While we await a trailer for The Split Up series 2, you can get a flavour of the drama from series 1’s trailer.
Is The Split Up any good?
Yes - if you’re a fan of character-led family sagas and messy love stories, The Split Up is the perfect series to cosy up with. As the drama unfolds, you can’t help but feel like another member of the Kishan family as you become invested in all their relationship conundrums, arguments and family sagas. Without giving anything away, Aria’s love triangle was the most compelling storyline torn between her head and heart, and the jury's still out on whether she made the right decision.
How can I watch The Split Up series 2?
While the BBC hasn’t yet shared a release date for The Split Up series 2. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we’ll share it here. In the meantime, you can catch up on series 1 on BBC iPlayer now.
What other legal dramas can I watch now?
For an explosive legal drama, we couldn’t recommend War more. The series follows a high-stakes divorce battle between Hollywood A-lister Carla Duval (Sienna Miller) and her tech-titan husband, Morgan Henderson (Dominic West). It’s messy and glamorous television. War airs on Sky Atlantic and is available to watch on NOW, with new episodes airing every Friday on Sky Atlantic and NOW at 9pm. If you’re after a courtroom drama, try The Rainmaker. The American series follows rookie lawyer Rudy Baylor (Milo Callaghan) who loses his job with a top firm on his first day, and moves to an underdog firm where he goes head-to-head with his former employers over a suspicious hospital death. You can watch The Rainmaker now on ITVX.