The Split Spin-Off: BBC's 'The Split Up' Halted Indefinitely Just Weeks Before Filming

A BBC spin-off legal drama has been halted in a shock U-turn just weeks before filming was due to take place.

Bosses working on The Split have paused production on its sister series The Split Up.

Filming was due to take place in Manchester this October but it's now on ice as producers "resolve creative issues" according to Deadline.

However, the publication added that Beeb bosses remain 'committed' to the spin-off series.

The Sun understands the decision to delay filming was taken during the pre-production stage.

Beeb producers made the call before casting got underway, with approximately just 10 members of production working on the series at the time.

The original series followed the lives of three sisters in and out of the courtroom as they represented clients going through divorces and also dealt with their own private heartbreak.

Nicola Walker, Annabel Scholey, Fiona Button and Deborah Findlay all starred in the drama alongside The Fortune Hotel's Stephen Mangan.

Fans last saw the Defoe family back in 2022 as the third and final series aired.

But earlier this year it was announced how a spin-off would bring the clan back to screens.

The Sun has contacted the BBC.

Viewers spent series three wondering if Hannah would be able to reconcile with husband Nathan after they faced a painful split when they both committed infidelities.

However, the final episode saw the estranged lovers finally seal their divorce.

The Split Up: What We Know So Far

The Split Up is set to follow a new legal family, the Kishans, and the moment their firm's future and legacy is thrown into question, after a family secret from the past comes to light.

A New Family Takes the Lead

The Split Up will follow the Kishans, a high-end British-Asian divorce firm based in Manchester.

The BBC has said that the series will explore themes of "parental expectations, the forces that keep families together and the truths that tear them apart."

The Split: A Look Back

The Split, which aired on Sundance TV and BBC America in the U.S., ran for three seasons and was one of the BBC’s most popular new dramas of recent years, selling to nearly 120 territories.

It will return for a two-part special, set in Barcelona. Nicola Walker returns as divorce attorney Hannah Stern, while Toby Stephens is joining the cast. Creator Morgan wrote Netflix’s Benedict Cumberbatch series Eric and Oscar-winner The Iron Lady.

The Split is available to watch on BBC iPlayer

Creative Pause for The Split Up

The show was originally set to start filming in Manchester in October, but RadioTimes.com has learned that it was delayed for editorial reasons – before the full casting and crewing up process began – in order to give the team more time to hone the creative direction of the series.

It is understood that the production had fewer than ten crew members and heads of department working on it when the series was delayed.

The BBC remains committed to the drama, which is produced by Sister’s northern arm and Morgan’s Little Chick Productions. A new shoot date has yet to be agreed.

What the Showrunner Had to Say

The Split Up is being executive produced by The Split creator Abi Morgan but comes from creator and showrunner Ursula Rani Sarma, who said when it was first announced: "I watched The Split with admiration over the years and I was honoured 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, 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."

Looking Ahead to The Split Special

The upcoming two-part special of The Split will see Nicola Walker return as Hannah, and follow her and her family as they gather for a wedding at a vineyard in Catalonia's wine region.

The Future of The Split Up

While filming has already completed on two specials for The Split, fans will have to wait a while longer than expected for spin-off series The Split Up to air.

The BBC remains committed to The Split Up, but has delayed it due to editorial reasons.

While we wait for more news on the spin-off, we can look forward to the return of the original The Split in a two-part special later this year. The special will see Hannah, her sisters, and their mother travel to Barcelona for a wedding, and promises to be full of "break-ups, reunions and… plenty of romance."