Scripted

In the roles of three sisters, played by Nicola Walker, Annabel Scholey and Fiona Button in the UK original, confirmed cast includes Barbora Bobulova, (David di Donatello winner for Cuore Sacro - Sacred Heart), Miriam Dalmazio (Anna), and Marina Occhionero (Monterossi), and Lunetta Savino (Saturn In Opposition) plays their mother, and Massimo Ghini (The New Pope) will play their father – Deborah Findlay and Anthony Head respectively. In the roles of Stephen Mangan and Barry Atsma, Thomas Trabacchi (Nico, 1988) and Giorgio Marchesi (Medici) respectively.

Production is already completed, and the series is set to premiere in 2022.

Italy will be the third market to license the format after it was announced earlier this year that Turkish production company MF Yapim, part of the Medyapim family, would adapt the series as Evlilik Hakkinda Her Sey (All About Marriage) for free-to-air channel FOX TV in Turkey. Korean broadcaster JTBC also licensed the format in 2020.

The Split originally broadcast in the UK on BBC One and co-produced with Sundance TV in the US. The fast-paced world of the divorce circuit provides the high-stakes backdrop to the story of three sisters, each navigating complex relationships at work and at home. In February 2021 a third and final series of The Split was confirmed. The second series, which averaged over six million and over 19 million streams, became the third most watched drama series on BBC iPlayer in 2020.

André Renaud, Senior Vice President - Global Format Sales at BBC Studios said: “The Split is a moving and compelling study of the universal themes of love, marriage and divorce – all of which audiences around the world will no doubt be able to relate. It’s a privilege for us that Palomar and Rai Fiction have chosen The Split as their next project, and I eagerly look forward to how they, the key talent, and the creative teams will explore this series for Italian audiences next year.”

Marco Camilli Head of content at Palomar said: “Working on one of the most successful series of another European country is always a complex and excellent challenge. And with a series written by Abi Morgan and aired by BBC, this is more than just a challenge, it is a huge responsibility. Thanks to the fantastic job of our talents and thanks to the precious collaboration with Rai Fiction which – like all of us at Palomar - has firmly believed in the project from the very beginning, we are more than confident that the Italian audience will love Studio Battaglia, its characters and its world”.

This is the second scripted format sale in Italy after the 2020 licence of modern romantic-comedy I Want My Wife Back, locally known as Ridatemi Mia Moglie, was picked up by Sky Italia and produced by Sky and Colorado film.

The deal was brokered by Tommaso Muffato, Sales Executive at BBC Studios.

The Split is one of the unscripted format titles available to international customers at BBC Studios Showcase which takes place from 28th February to 2 March. Other scripted formats include Doctor Foster, Criminal Justice, Luther and The Office.


photo Matteo Graia