Sanjeev Bhaskar

The Split Up is a spin-off from the hit BBC drama The Split and will follow another family’s law firm.

A spin-off from the hit BBC drama The Split has received a significant update.

Fans were gutted when the legal series starring Nicola Walker and Stephen Mangan wrapped up after three seasons in 2022, followed by a two-part special last year. Now, fresh information about the upcoming show The Split Up has emerged, including casting announcements.

The original programme featured Annika star Nicola as Hannah, grappling with the breakdown of her marriage to Nathan (Stephen) whilst juggling affairs, romance and complicated relationships, all while managing her family’s law practice alongside the chaos created by her two sisters and mother.

The Split Up will now centre on a different family law practice, this time based in Manchester and focusing on the British-Asian elite Kishan family.

The six-episode series will explore “the high-stakes world of Manchester’s divorce law circuit, where one family of lawyers, the Kishans, reigns supreme,” according to the previous announcement, reports Wales Online.

It adds: “Kishan Law is a British-Asian high net worth family law firm in Manchester, noted for its clientele and its reputation.

“They are the ‘go to firm’ for Manchester’s elite who come to them for their excellence, integrity, and discretion.

“But the future and legacy of Kishan Law hangs in the balance when a family secret from the past comes to light, throwing their professional and personal lives into turmoil.”

The line-up for the series has already been unveiled, and it’s now been confirmed that The Good Place star Jameela Jamil is coming on board.

When the announcement was posted on social media featuring a photo of Jameela with leading lady Ritu Arya, the She-Hulk actress responded: “I love her.”

“My two favourites together,” one supporter wrote, whilst another added: “OMG can’t wait. Love you both!!!”

“Very excited for this,” a third person commented.

Jameela is joining The Umbrella Academy’s Ritu Arya, Unforgotten’s Sanjeev Bhaskar, alongside Aysha Kala (Virdee), Arian Nik (Film Club), 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).

Celebrity guest appearances will also feature Lenny Henry and Jane Horrocks.

The BBC revealed: “The fast-rising star of Kishan Law is Aria Kishan (Ritu Arya), poised to step up and take the mantle from her father Dhruv (Sanjeev Bhaskar). However, the death of her mother has cast a new light over these plans for Dhruv, who has begun to wonder if his daughter can, or should, take on this responsibility single-handedly.

“Aria’s relationship is placed under scrutiny too with the wedding for long-term partner Neal (Danny Ashok) on the horizon, but with their personal and professional so entwined it’s unclear if their relationship can withstand any more pressure – a problem further compounded when a former secret flame (Dimitri Leonidas) arrives in Manchester unexpectedly.

“Alongside her siblings Maya (Aysha Kala) and Kav (Arian Nik), Aria must navigate the splits that divide family and those we love – and ask herself: who should you live your life for?”

Creator Ursula Rani Sarma expressed: “Having admired The Split and Abi Morgan for years, I was honoured to be asked to bring The Split Up to life. As a writer passionate about representation, it’s a dream come true to place a contemporary British South Asian family centre stage. Diversity deepens our understanding, enriches our stories, and reflects the true fabric of our society.

“It’s thrilling to watch our amazing cast led by Ritu and Sanjeev bring the Kishan family to life. I can’t wait for audiences to meet them and to witness the drama as it unfolds.”

Abi Morgan chimed in: “The chance to take all that was loved about The Split and use it to inspire the next generation of British South Asian talent, to create a new family of dynamic lawyers spilling over with all the messiness of life, both personally and professionally, has been a brilliant challenge, beautifully realised by lead writer Ursula Rani Sama. I hope audiences will take it to their hearts.”

The Split is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

EXCLUSIVE: Stand-up comic Maisie Adam is taking on the new series of Channel 4’s Taskmaster – but admits that it wasn’t always plain sailing in an exclusive chat with The Mirror

Given her chilled on-stage persona, you might think stand-up comic Maisie Adam never gets flustered. But she discovered a much angrier side to herself on Taskmaster.

The 8 Out O f 10 Cats star felt like a competition winner when she joined the cast of the hit Channel 4 series, alongside Unforgotten ’s Sanjeev Bhaskar, Inside No. 9 ’s Reece Shearsmith and comedians Ania Magliano and Phil Ellis. But she admits the show brought out some “deep-rooted anger” that she took out on hosts Greg Davies and Alex Horne.

“It’s really fun going into the tasks at the time, but I was so shocked at how stressed I got with each one,” she confesses. “I didn’t realise I was such a panicky person.

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“I was very quick to blame Alex and his silly little clipboard and quite quick to get personal with him. I would also protest to Greg if I thought he’d been unfair with the points-awarding.

“I know I can be competitive but competitiveness mixed with a total lack of ability is a dangerous mix to have exposed to you with a mirror held up.”

Maisie credits her husband Michael Dobinson, who works in the tech world, for keeping her grounded. The pair got married in 2023, shortly before she took part in that year’s Soccer Aid.

“He’s very supportive and likes to watch stuff that I’ve been on, but it’s really nice that he isn’t in comedy. If you’re both in it, it can sometimes be a bit of a bubble. You forget there’s a real world out there,” she admits.

“Comedy is quite a self-absorbed job. It’s always about you, whether you’re funny or not. It’s quite a validation-seeking profession. I would worry that if I was with somebody who was also in comedy, we’d end up asking each other for feedback.”

Maisie is more than happy not to talk about her work when she’s at home with Michael.

“I guess some people really enjoy being able to both relate to the same frustrations and highs and lows of their job, but some, like me, can’t imagine anything worse than discussing it when you’re in your own home,” she says.

“There’s comedian Maisie and there’s Maisie at home. I quite like getting home and turning off Maisie the comedian and just being a football-obsessed normal person.”

Maisie has been on TV panels with comedy greats and has interviewed football legends on her Big Kick Energy podcast, but Taskmaster gave her the chance to finally spend time with her childhood hero: host Greg Davies.

“My mum and dad took me to see Greg when I was 14 at our local theatre,” she says. “He had this bit about a student who got locked in a storage cupboard from when he was a teacher. It was the first time I’d seen live stand-up comedy where I’d been literally bent double and my ribs hurt from laughing. Tears were streaming down my face.

“If you’d told that person that 15 years later she’d be on Taskmaster with him, that would have blown her mind. I couldn’t bring myself to fangirl over him on set – I didn’t want him to feel awkward, so I played it cool.”

But it was hard to stay nonchalant when dealing with wardrobe malfunctions throughout the series.

“My plan was to be like Sandy from Grease – she does whatever it takes to come out on top. She changes herself and takes up smoking to win the top prize. In that case it’s a man, which doesn’t reflect well any more.

“The difficulty was, I didn’t blow the budget when it came to getting the outfit. It was cheap and synthetic, so I slipped on everything because of the cheap shoes – and the flammable leggings would catch on everything.”

As a result, Maisie’s trousers regularly fell down on the show. “It was mortifying and it got progressively more humiliating and, dare I say, depressing as the studio records went on,” she cringes.

“This was going to be a common theme – flashing my underwear thanks to a pair of synthetic leggings on the biggest comedy show I’ve been waiting years to be booked on. That’s probably my number one regret.”

Taskmaster airs Thursdays at 9pm on Channel 4.

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Taskmaster creator Alex Horne has teased a new series of the Bafta-winning Channel 4 comedy.

Taskmaster creator Alex Horne has teased big changes in store for the Channel 4 programme’s 21st season.

For the uninitiated, the long-running comedy series sees a batch of five celebrities pitted against each other as they take on various bizarre tasks to be crowned the winner.

From filling an egg cup with their own tears, attempting to make a bridge out of straws, rubbers and chewing gum, to hula hooping on stage in front of a live audience, or making a creepy nursery rhyme, Taskmaster really has seen it all.

The series, hosted by Greg Davies and “Little” Alex Horne as his assistant, first aired in 2019, and over that time has seen more than a hundred celebrities take part, including Munya Chawawa, Judi Love, Joe Lycett, Katherine Ryan and Bob Mortimer.

The latest season featured Fatiha El-Ghorri, Jason Mantzoukas, Matthew Baynton, Rosie Ramsey and Stevie Martin battle it out, with Ghosts actor Mathew crowned the winner.

And although season 20’s line-up has only just been announced, with the series yet to air later this year, Alex has already teased the following instalment.

In an interview with Radio Times , he shared: “There are two things that are new. We’re filming somewhere as well as the house – somewhere that’s pretty mad.”

He then added: “And we have a special guest this series from somewhere exotic who you’ll recognise. That’s all I can say.”

He went on to tell the publication: “20’s coming out soon. All going well. We’re just in the middle of filming the next one and I’m still enjoying it. I’m still weirdly finding it exciting.”

Though there’s no telling who that could be, fans were left delighted when the season 20 line-up dropped.

It will see Ania Magliano, Maisie Adam, Phil Ellis, Reece Shearsmith and Sanjeev Bhaskar go head to head to be named champion, while a New Year ’s special is also presumed to air, with past specials having seen the likes of Claudia Winkleman, Sir Mo Farah, Carol Vorderman, Martin Lewis and Rylan Clark take part.

After a teaser showing the five new comedians filming a task for season 20, as part of the line-up announcement, fans were left delighted.

One wrote: “My prayers have been answered I have wanted maisie adam on taskmaster for so long.”

Another said: “Oh this is going to be GOOD!!”

“FINALLY REECE OH MY GOD IVE WAITED MY WHOLE LIFE FOR THIS,” a fourth commented.

Meanwhile, Horrible Histories star Mathew reflected on his win in a recent interview with Metro, and revealed his plans to return.

“I’m just really happy. I was having so much fun…,” he shared.

After a suggestion of returning for the Champion of Champions series, which has the previous winners battle it out against each other, he added: “I did start thinking, oh, it would be really nice [to win] because winning means a repeat of the experience. The number one thing about winning is thinking, Oh, great, I get to go back.

“I guess the only sadness about getting to go back is that I won’t be sat with those guys [the season 19 contestants] because they were so much fun.”

Taskmaster is available to watch on Channel 4.