The Split Up expected to begin filming in October after delay during pre-production last year

Work on Sister’s spin-off of its hit BBC1 drama The Split has resumed following a delay last year, Broadcast has learned.

The Split Up was announced in February 2024 and was expected to start filming in October that same year. However, a decision was taken by Sister and the PSB during pre-production to delay the start of filming to give the team more time to finesse the creative direction of the series, with the project pausing in September.

Broadcast understands filming is now expected to start in Manchester this October after work continued on the show’s development and scripts – led by spin-off creator Ursula Rani Sarma and The Split’s creator Abi Morgan. The BBC is expected to give further updates on filming dates in due course.

The Split Up is produced by Sister’s northern arm and Morgan’s Little Chick Productions.

The original decision to pause the project was taken for editorial reasons and was made before the full casting and crewing up started. Fewer than 10 people were working on it at that stage.

The Split Up was first announced as a 6 x 60′ – minute drama centred around a new set of characters in a family of leading Manchester divorce lawyers.

At the time Rani Sarma said of the commission: “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.”

The original series of The Split has run for three series with a two-part special The Split: Barcelona airing in December.

This article first appeared on our sister site, Broadcast.