The Split spin-off series finally unveils first look at cast of characters including Unforgotten favourite
The spin-off will revolve around an entirely new set of characters in Manchester.
The BBC has unveiled the first look at the cast of The Split Up, which includes Unforgotten’s Sanjeev Bhaskar.
The six-part legal drama, which is a Manchester-set spin-off of Abi Morgan’s series The Split, is created by Ursula Rani Sarma and revolves around Kishan Law – a high net worth British South Asian family firm led by Bhaskar's character Druv, who attract Manchester’s elite.
However, when a family secret from the past comes to light, their professional and personal lives are thrown into turmoil, and the future of the firm is left hanging in the balance.
Bhaskar is joined by series lead Ritu Arya (The Umbrella Academy), who plays his daughter Aria (pictured below).
The series also stars Aysha Kala (Virdee) and Arian Nik (Film Club) as Aria's siblings, Maya and Kai.
Rounding out the cast are 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).
Meanwhile, guest stars will include Lenny Henry (Three Little Birds), Jane Horrocks (Bloods) and Jameela Jamil (The Good Place).
Filming on The Split Up was initially due to kick off in October 2024 in Manchester, but plans to shoot the spin-of series were paused for "editorial reasons" in order to give the team more time to hone the creative direction of the series.
Production began in October 2025 – approximately one year on from its original target.
Kaamil Shah, who is acting as a writer on The Split Up, previously teased that the show will be "really sexy".
Speaking exclusively to Radio Times for a Pass the Mic interview, he said: "I think it's really sexy. I'm really proud to be working on a show that's genuinely got heart-stopping moments of British Asians being messy, having relationship dramas, affairs and all of these fun things. So I'm really excited to be working on that."
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Authors
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
