The Split Up: Fans Spot Lenny Henry Minutes Into The BBC’s New Legal Drama

Fans tuning into the first episode of The Split Up were in for an unexpected surprise when comedy legend Sir Lenny Henry appeared just minutes into the BBC’s new legal drama.

The six-part series is a spin-off of The Split, but rather than returning to the Defoe family, it introduces a completely new set of characters and moves the story to Manchester. At the centre is the Kishan family, who run a high-profile divorce law firm serving the city’s wealthy clients.

Lenny Henry Makes A Surprise Appearance

Henry plays Alex Edwards, an old friend of the Kishan family who turns to Aria Kishan for help after deciding to divorce his wife, Tash.

The case quickly takes an emotional turn when Alex reveals that photographs have emerged showing his wife allegedly having an affair with someone half her age.

Clearly devastated by what has happened, Alex reflects on the relationship they built together, telling Aria about meeting Tash when he was 19 while working in a chip shop.

For viewers, the appearance was particularly notable because Henry is better known for his long career in comedy and as the co-founder of Comic Relief. His casting had already been highlighted ahead of the series launch, alongside other guest stars including Jane Horrocks and Jameela Jamil.

A Reunion With Sanjeev Bhaskar

Henry’s appearance also reunited him on screen with Sanjeev Bhaskar, who stars as Aria’s father, Dhruv Kishan.

The pair have been friends for years, and Henry previously appeared in Bhaskar’s sitcom The Kumars at No. 42.

Speaking about Henry’s performance, Bhaskar said he had recently seen his friend and told him how impressed he was. He also suggested that the writing and direction helped bring a different side of Henry to the screen.

The reunion adds another layer to a series that is already drawing attention for its guest casting, with several familiar faces appearing as clients of the Kishan family’s Manchester firm.

Meet The Kishan Family

At the heart of The Split Up is Aria Kishan, played by Ritu Arya.

Aria is a rising lawyer who has been preparing to take over Kishan Law from her father, Dhruv, played by Bhaskar. But six months after the death of Aria’s mother, Dhruv begins questioning whether his daughter is ready to take on such a major responsibility.

Aria is also preparing to marry her long-term partner Neal, played by Danny Ashok. Her carefully planned future becomes increasingly complicated when Luke, a former flame played by Dimitri Leonidas, unexpectedly joins the family firm.

Her siblings Maya and Kav, played by Aysha Kala and Arian Nik, are also caught up in their own personal and professional struggles.

The result is a drama that combines the pressures of high-value divorce cases with the complicated relationships inside the family itself.

More Familiar Faces Are On The Way

Lenny Henry is not the only recognisable guest star appearing in The Split Up.

Jane Horrocks, known for Absolutely Fabulous and Little Voice, plays Alex’s wife Tash Edwards.

Meanwhile, The Good Place star Jameela Jamil appears as Nisha Mantri, another high-profile client of Kishan Law.

The guest appearances form part of the show’s case-of-the-week structure, with the Kishans handling the complicated divorces of Manchester’s elite while their own family relationships continue to unravel.

A New Chapter For The Split

The Split Up is created by Ursula Rani Sarma and is based on the world established by The Split creator Abi Morgan, who returns as an executive producer. The new series is produced by SISTER Pictures in association with Morgan’s Little Chick.

The spin-off premiered on BBC One on September 20, 2026, with all six episodes also made available on BBC iPlayer from the same day.

While the original The Split centred on the Defoe family, the new series takes the same world of divorce law in a different direction, introducing a new family, a new city and a fresh set of personal and professional complications.

And with Lenny Henry appearing almost immediately, viewers have already discovered that The Split Up has plenty of familiar faces waiting beyond the courtroom.