Do viewers want to stay with The Split or break up?

Susannah Alexander

Updated 24 April 2018 at 5:36 pm

BBC One launched its new drama The Split tonight (April 24) and its shocks really got viewers talking.

The series – from writer Abi Morgan – focuses on a family of lawyer sisters, the Defoes, who rule London's divorce scene.

Eldest daughter Hannah (Nicola Walker) found herself facing a frosty reception from her mum Ruth (Deborah Findlay) following her decision to leave the family firm for rivals Noble & Hale.

Her new job saw her pitted against her sister Nina (Annabel Scholey), as they represented a warring husband and wife in a bitter custody battle.

Things got even more dramatic when Hannah bumped into her father Oscar (Anthony Head) who walked out on the sisters when they were young.

And there was another shock in store when it was revealed that Hannah was having an affair with none other than her best friend Goldie's (Meera Syal) husband Davey (Stephen Tompkinson).

Viewers were horrified at married Hannah's behaviour:

She's having an affair with her husband!! #thesplit
- jennie wilks (@jenniewilks1) April 24, 2018

Ahh, she’s having an affair with her husband!! 😡😡 #TheSplit
- Gillian Hudson (@JillHudson21) April 24, 2018

NOOOO the friend is having a affair with the hubby #thesplit
- natalie (@natskat) April 24, 2018

Right. Time for Meera Syal to whoop her best friend #thesplit
- The Weekend Housewife (@Wkndhousewife) April 24, 2018

I just said she was at it with him and I was right what a b*tch #TheSplit
- Jeannie (@jeannie1202) April 24, 2018

#TheSplit Bloody brilliant, she’s going to represent the wife!! pic.twitter.com/Ni8kx80PvD
- Gillian Hudson (@JillHudson21) April 24, 2018

But it didn't stop everyone from loving actress Nicola Walker:

Nicola Walker is consistently one of the best actors on television full stop capital letter CONSISTENTLY#TheSplit
- Simon Marshall (@veryrareSimon) April 24, 2018

If Nicola Walker's in it, I'm watching it #TheSplit
- Rachael Townley (@rtownl) April 24, 2018

I love Nicola Walker but watching her in #TheSplit makes me miss #lasttangoinhalifax
- Amanda Wragg (@mrsfifties) April 24, 2018

#thesplit isn't @NicolaWalkerHQ utterly convincing as a lawyer? Anything with her in it is usually well worth a watch.
- Linda McGregor (@LoubyLou50) April 24, 2018

TV should be all Nicola Walker, all the time #TheSplit
- Debs (@sense8ionaI) April 24, 2018

The drama was pretty popular on the whole:

So far, so good. #TheSplit is accurate, gripping, drama. #divorce
- Gill Alexander (@gillalexander) April 24, 2018

Well this is rather bloody good #TheSplit
- Salfordmanda (@Salfordmanda) April 24, 2018

Loving #TheSplit! It's intriguing, unique and the cast is ⭐️!
- Sophie Chapman (@TwiggyBiscuit15) April 24, 2018

#TheSplit could be the first drama in a while to have such a fantastically diverse range of brilliant, relatable, realistic female characters across age groups. Not a stereotype in sight.
- Claire Simpson (@clairelsimpson) April 24, 2018

Absolutely brilliant. Nicola Walker was superb. Love the sisters and mother, too. Meera Syal was wonderful. Bet the entire series will end with the four women dancing together... hooked! 👏💞 #TheSplit
- Corey Terrett (@terrettcorey) April 24, 2018

Loving #TheSplit tonight on @BBCOne! Great cast and story so far! Love @MeeraSyal in everything she does! 😊👌#TheSplit
- ✨Little Parry✨ (@MadameCupcakes) April 24, 2018

Although, some viewers are committed to breaking up with it after this episode:

Time to split from BBC1, off to find something good to watch #TheSplit
- edinpotter63 (@edinpotter63) April 24, 2018

#TheSplit 5 more episodes of this. Think I’ll split.
- Grumpy Jedi (@Lazyfist) April 24, 2018

#TheSplit this has certainly #split Twitter!
- Carole (@carolelhww) April 24, 2018

Oh dear - hope people don’t think that’s how it’s done. So much wrong with #TheSplit
- Fox_vanessafox (@FVanessafox) April 24, 2018

The Split continues next Tuesday (May 1) at 9pm on BBC One.

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