Nicola Walker hints at more specials of The Split
Following The Split Barcelona
As well as news earlier this year that popular BBC drama The Split would be getting a spin-off show, bosses later delighted fans by revealing the hit drama was set to return for a two-part special, featuring most of the original cast!
Set two years on from series three, production for the two-part special started in May, with the likes of Nicola Walker, Stephen Mangan, Fiona Button, Annabel Scholey and Deborah Findlay all returning. The two-part special aired over two nights in December 2024, and now actress Nicola has hinted there could be more in the future.
Speaking to Digital Spy, Nicola, who plays Hannah Defoe in the series, said: "I think what we’re going to do is specials every year, as a cast that is what we’d all like to do but that’s just actors talking.
"We all love working together and it was gorgeous that it was a wedding that was going to be in Barcelona, that was gorgeous, too. But honestly they could have said we’re staying in a dark studio somewhere in a very cold part of England and we’d have still been very pleased."
Going on to speak about the potential of any more series, she added: "Listen, I never say never because I love those characters and I love those actors and it’s always a joy to go back to them. I think it has been great having that break away, but I love them so who knows maybe I’ll come back to them again someday,
"But right now it was just nice to take them away on an exotic, fun break from the office and the world of the series of The Split and give people a real treat for Christmas."
Here's everything you need to know about The Split Barcelona...
What is the special about?
The special is called The Split Barcelona, created and written by multi-award winning Abi Morgan.
BBC bosses say of the two part special: 'Two years on, formidable family lawyer Hannah Defoe (Nicola Walker) and her family are back and have gathered for a beautiful wedding at a magnificent vineyard, nestled in Catalonia’s wine region.
'Set across one sun soaked weekend, The Split will encompass break-ups, reunions and like all good weddings, plenty of romance. As the sun rises over the glorious Spanish countryside, Hannah is compelled to banish the ghosts of her past and open herself up to the possibility of love again. Can she find the courage to take the leap into a new future?'
Creator Abi Morgan said: “In a world of brutal break ups and tantalising make ups, the Defoe family are invited to a destination wedding of their own, promising all that audiences have grown to love about The Split. Problematic prenups, scandalous wedding crashers, and low flying marriage proposals, as rom com meets gone wrong, in a chaotic and riotous weekend that guarantees to crack open the heart, before the last of the guests have gone home.”
Is there a trailer?
BBC bosses released the trailer on Monday 9th December, alongside the caption: 'Love, legacy, and modern marriage. Can Hannah find the courage to take the leap into a new future?'.
Check out the first look photos below:
The Split Barcelona
The Split Barcelona
The Split Barcelona
The Split Barcelona
The Split Barcelona
The Split Barcelona
The Split Barcelona
The Split Barcelona
The Split Barcelona
The Split Barcelona
The Split Barcelona
The Split Barcelona
The Split Barcelona
The Split Barcelona
The Split Barcelona
The Split Barcelona
How can I watch it?
The Split Barcelona aired on Sunday 29th December and Monday 30th December.
Both episodes are available on BBC iPlayer now.
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama said: “We know The Split’s millions of fans found it hard to break up with the Defoes, so before we delve into the heady world of The Split Up we couldn’t resist an extra treat in the form of these exquisite, sun-drenched specials from the wonderful Abi Morgan.”
Who is in the cast?
Fans will be pleased to know a number of The Split cast returned for the Spanish extravaganza, including Nicola Walker, Stephen Mangan, Annabel Scholey, Fiona Button, Deborah Findlay, Ian McElhinney, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Elizabeth Roberts and Alex Guersman.
Viewers were also introduced to brand new character Archie Moore in the two-part special, played by Percy Jackson actor Toby Stephens.
What is The Split spin-off show?
It was announced earlier this year that The Split would be getting a spin-off series called The Split Up, a six-part show which features the high-stakes world of Manchester’s divorce law circuit, where one family of lawyers, the Kishans, reigns supreme.
The Split Up will feature both a new city and a new family from The Split, and it's understood none of the original cast will feature in the new drama.
Speaking about The Split Up, Abi Morgan said: “After the success of The Split, it’s been great to see The Split Up take shape in lead writer Ursula Rani Sarma’s capable hands, reinvigorating all that audiences love. A new legal family, grabbing at life in a new city, battling new legal cases, as the professional and personal deliciously collide. A brilliant new cast of characters caught in the messiness of love, marriage, deception and divorce, make it their own. It is ripe to be taken into the hearts of anyone who loved the show.”
Despite the initial news, it's now being reported filming for The Split Up has been 'paused indefinitely' due to editorial reasons.
Check out all of the TV shows we can't wait for the return of:
Emily In Paris
That's right, after things got pretty interesting for Emily Cooper as we saw her set up camp in Rome, starring actress Lily Collins answered our prayers as she confirmed that a fifth season is officially on the way - hitting Netflix on Thursday 18th December.
Stranger Things
Netflix bosses confirmed in January 2023 that the fifth and final series of Stranger Things had officially started production - and at the 2025 Tudum event, confirmed that the series will be released in three parts. Volume 1 landed in the UK on 27th November, followed by Volume 2 on 26th December and the final ever episode on 1st January 2026.
The Traitors
Series four of The Traitors will begin at 8pm on 1st January 2026! A fifth series has also now been confirmed, as well as a second celebrity edition.
Red Eye
ITV/STV crime drama Red Eye become one of the station's biggest shows in 2024, so it's no surprise it was commissioned for a second series. Filming started in March 2025, with Martin Compston joining the cast, and now we know it will begin on 1st January 2026.
The Night Agent
After series two dropped on Netflix in January, bosses were quick to confirm The Night Agent would return for a third instalment, with Gabriel Basso as FBI agent Peter Sutherland. Production for series three started in February 2025, and bosses have now confirmed it will return on 19th February.
Ted Lasso
Following the end of series three in 2023, fans were crying out for a fourth series of comedy show Ted Lasso! On Friday 14th March, main actor Jason Sudeikis confirmed the exciting news, revealing it was in early production! There's no release date just yet.
Hijack
Following series one back in June 2023, Apple TV bosses have now confirmed Idris Elba will return for a second series of Hijack! It's now been revealed that series two will begin on 14th January 2026!
Vigil
Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie reprising their roles as DCI Amy Silva and DI Kirsten Longacre in BBC drama Vigil. With filming now taking place in Scotland. fans could see series three land in early 2026.
The Day of the Jackal
Series one of thriller The Day of the Jackal has broken viewing records for Sky Atlantic, so there's no surprise that bosses were quick to renew the show for a second series, before the first was even over! Although there's no air date just yet, filming is expected to take place in 2025.
Line of Duty
Now that the BBC have confirmed there's going to be a seventh series of award-winning crime drama Line of Duty, fans are counting down the months! Filming is due to begin in Spring 2026, so we could expect it to land in the second half of 2026.
After The Flood
Actress Sophie Rundle played the role of Joanna Marshall in series one of ITV/STV drama After The Flood. The show was so popular it was immediately renewed for a second series, with Alun Armstrong, Jill Halfpenny, Ian Puleston-Davies and Matthew McNulty joining the cast. Filming for series two started in March 2025, so we suspect it could arrive later this year.
Amandaland
Following the first series of Motherland spin-off show Amandaland, BBC bosses were quick to renew comedy series Amandaland for a second series. Lucy Punch will return as Amanda, alongside Joanna Lumley and Philippa Dunne. Filming for series two started in October 2025, with bosses also announcing a Christmas special!
Unforgotten
After series six aired in early 2025, ITV/STV bosses were quick to recommission crime drama Unforgotten for a seventh series, with Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sinéad Keenan set to return. There's no official start date just yet, but we imagine it will be early 2026.
Bridgerton
On the same day bosses announced the show had been renewed for a fifth and sixth series, Netflix also confirmed the hugely-antipcated fourth series would land in 2026. Part one will land on 29th January 2026, with part two dropping on 26th February 2026.
This City Is Ours
Following the first series which aired in 2025, This City Is Ours has been renewed for a second series, with filming taking place now! Julie Graham, James Nelson-Joyce and Jack McMullen will all return. There's no start date just yet, but we imagine it will be sometime in 2026.
The Masked Singer
Bonkers entertainment show The Masked Singer UK has officially been renewed for another season, due to air in early 2026.
At Home With The Furys
Following the popular first series back in 2023, Netflix bosses confirmed a second series of At Home With The Furys in May 2025. Filming with Tyson Fury, his wife Paris, and the couple's seven children is underway now.
The Bear
Following the fourth series arriving in June 2025, bosses have now confirmed The Bear will return for a fifth series! Although there's been no start date given just yet, the show typically begins every year in June.
Gangs of London
Following the third series earlier in 2025, which ended on a major cliffhanger, Sky have now confirmed Gangs of London has been commissioned for a fourth series. Although there's no start date just yet, filming is due to begin in January 2026.
Peaky Blinders
Much to the shock of everybody, Steven Knight revealed in October 2025 that the show will be returning for two more series! The series will be all about a new generation of the Shelby family, so it's not a given that Cillian Murphy will reprise his iconic role as Tommy Shelby. It'll be filmed in Digbeth, Birmingham. There's no release date just yet!
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
After the monumental, global success of TV series Game of Thrones, it's no wonder that bosses over at HBO have confirmed yet another spin-off series. Based on the series of novels by George R. R. Martin, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will weave into the storylines we already know from both the original series and House of the Dragon. The show will air on HBO in January 2026.
The Celebrity Traitors
After the record-breaking first series in October-November 2025, BBC bosses have now confirmed The Celebrity Traitors will return for a second series in 2026!
All's Fair
After becoming the biggest Hulu Original scripted series premiere in three years, Ryan Murphy's All's Fair has now been renewed for a second series! Starring Kim Kardashian, Sarah Paulson, Glenn Close, Naomi Watts and Niecy Nash, production begins in Spring 2026.
Trigger Point
After three hugely-successful series of ITV drama Trigger Point, the show will return for a fourth series in 2026! Although there's no release date just yet, we do know that filming is now complete!
All three series of The Split are available on BBC iPlayer now, along with The Split Barcelona.
Now read:
BBC legal drama The Split is getting a spin-off series
All of the TV shows we can’t wait to return
Date confirmed for Outnumbered Christmas special as original cast reunite