The Split
TUE 29 May, 9pm BBC1 Drama
Divorce lawyer Hannah Stern (Nicola Walker) has a lot at stake as the drama concludes. Both she and her mother, Ruth (Deborah Findlay), are in court as clients Goldie (Meera Syal) and Davey McKenzie (Stephen Tompkinson) try to reach a settlement. Also, Hannah and husband Nathan (Stephen Mangan) appear to be on the rocks…
The harsh realities of divorce hit top lawyer Hannah Stern and her family on professional and personal levels, as The Split concludes this week.
It’s a big day for both Hannah (Nicola Walker) and Ruth Defoe as Hannah’s client Goldie McKenzie (Meera Syal) and her soon-to-be ex-husband Davey (Stephen Tompkinson), represented by Ruth, are in court to reach a financial settlement in their divorce.
Hannah’s ordered to secure a victory for her company, Noble & Hale, but with her family’s law firm, Defoe’s, at risk of going under, Ruth can’t afford to lose.
Decision time
‘Defoe’s has got a huge tradition and Ruth feels a responsibility to continue it as a legacy for her daughters,’ says Deborah Findlay, who plays the mum.
‘Hannah was the one Ruth could count on in the family, and professionally.’
When it comes to the crunch, will Hannah put business before her family?
Later, it’s clear all is not well between Hannah and husband Nathan (Stephen Mangan), and Ruth offers her motherly advice. Will Hannah try to save her marriage? Or is her attraction to colleague Christie (Barry Atsma) just too strong?
‘This series explores such an adult view of life,’ says Deborah. ‘What’s ironic is that although these people are divorce lawyers, their expertise does not feed into how they handle their own lives!’