The Split is dividing opinion in our household – which is exactly the point

The Split is dividing opinion in our household

A BBC One drama about the complicated love lives of high-flying lawyers has prompted mixed reactions from our reviewer’s family

By Evie Prosser

*Spoiler alert: the following article contains plot information for Series One and Two of The Split*

If you enjoy superior soaps like Succession, Downton Abbey and The Crown, the chances are you’ve already fallen in love with The Split.

    It’s classic lifestyle porn at its very best: sumptuous West London houses, breath-taking interiors, Range Rovers and Audis in abundance.  

The drama is being aired weekly on BBC One, or you can follow my example and binge the whole lot on the iPlayer (and politicians think the TV Licence is a waste of money – honestly!).

It follows the lives and loves of a family of high-flying lawyers. It’s classic lifestyle porn at its very best: sumptuous West London houses, breath-taking interiors, Range Rovers and Audis in abundance. All the kids are educated at private school, obvs. And pretty much all of the grown-ups are desperately, heart-breakingly unhappy.

This is the set-up for the two series that have aired so far. Lead character Hannah Stern, played brilliantly by the ever-reliable Nicola Walker, has a marriage that’s, well, complicated.

In Series One she learns that her husband of 19 years (barrister Nathan, who Stephen Mangan plays with a characteristically sure touch) signed up to an online platform that matches wannabe cheats with partners. He’s slept with his match four times.

That’s not the whole story, of course: Hannah holds a torch for a partner in her law firm, Christie, who trained with her and Nathan. In a shocking twist, it’s revealed towards the end of the series that she slept with Christie the night before marrying Nathan.

Add in the complexities of Hannah’s decision to leave her family firm and join a competing practice and you have the perfect recipe for some high-quality escapism.

Series Two offers more of the same. At the start, Hannah is engaged in an illicit affair with Christie while she tries to patch up her marriage. And, as the truth gradually reveals itself, including Hannah impulsively telling Nathan about her eve-of-wedding indiscretion, you can imagine the fallout.

The Split is dividing opinion in our householdAll of which has led to some frank exchanges of views in our household. I’m very much on the side of Hannah: her husband went out of his way to cheat on her, while she’s spent two decades of marriage quelling her desire to bed Christie.

My partner, meanwhile, is in Team Nathan. He reckons signing up to the cheating website was a reaction to Hannah’s unspoken love for Christie. Sees it as a classic “always-been-three-people-in-this-marriage” situation that made his decision to seek solace in the arms of another woman inevitable, if not excusable.

And so our viewing of The Split has been interrupted by frequent pausing while we debate the moral conundrums at its heart. Do two wrongs make a right? Are you better to confess to misdemeanours, even though you know doing so will cause untold hurt? Do you follow your head or your heart when choosing a life partner?

Part of the genius of Abi Morgan’s peerless writing is that she’s happy to leave viewers – and her characters – dwelling in the moral murk. She’s not interested in neat answers, tied up carefully with bows by the end of the series to bring a satisfying sense of resolution.

Instead, each episode, each series, ends with further uncertainty, creating a deep sense of unease that helps you imaginatively enter into the lives of the characters. When Hannah confronts the end of her relationship with Nathan, you’re right there with her in flashbacks to his compassionate parenting of their three children, juxtaposed with his irrepressible rage at her for breaking his heart, set against his own duplicity.

All of which means there are no easy answers in The Split. But on one thing we can all agree: the most cheerful, well-balanced people in the series are Hannah’s hard-up little sister and her devoted husband. Tellingly, they’re the only characters to have eschewed life as high-flying lawyers.

Turns out the old adage about money and status not making you happy rings true. Who knew?

© Just Recruitment Group Ltd

Published: 21 February 2020

If you enjoyed this article, you may like: I spent £8.99 on a book about silence so you don’t have to

You may also enjoy: Five of the best sitcoms to cheer up your winter

Jobs currently available

New job
Workshop Fitter
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Location: Clacton-on-Sea
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: JC16
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing business, based near Clacton-on-Sea, to recruit a Workshop Fitter to join their long-standing team.

Duties include:

  • Precise fitting of mechanical and potentially electrical components according to technical drawings and specifications.
  • Operating and utilising a variety of engineering tools and equipment with expertise and safety.
  • Contributing to the overall build process from sub-assembly to final machine completion.
  • Working collaboratively with the experienced team to ensure top-quality output.

Key skills required:

  • Proven experience in a manufacturing or engineering workshop environment is essential.
  • Demonstrable knowledge of engineering tools and equipment, and a track record of using them effectively.
  • Skilled in fitting parts together and building complex machinery with accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Able to thrive in a fast-paced environment and take pride in your work.

Please note that, due to the company’s location, you will need to drive.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
New job
Order Processing Administrator
Sector: Public Service and Administration
Location: Witham
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: JC15
About the role

Just Recruitment is partnering with a well-established and successful business in Witham to recruit an Order Processing Administrator to join their long-standing team.

The role will primarily focus on uploading orders and quotes, accurately interpreting dimensions from drawings, and demonstrating a keen eye for detail to ensure items are produced with the right first-time approach, meeting customer requirements.

Duties include:

  • Vetting of customers' drawings and orders
  • Uploading orders and quotes onto the internal system
  • Ensuring all orders are checked within the agreed KPI’s
  • Sending orders to out-sourcing and responding to queries and questions that may arise
  • Processing delivery notes and invoices
  • Investigating and processing remake paperwork
  • Undertaking any administrative functions within the office as and when required

Key skills required:

  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Excellent organisational skills to manage the workload for the team
  • Confident with technical information (or confidence to learn)
  • Self-motivated
  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Computer literate (Excel/Word)

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
New job
Customer Service Administrator
Sector: Public Service and Administration
Location: Witham
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: JC7
About the role

Just Recruitment is partnering with a well-established and successful business in Witham to recruit a Customer Service Administrator to join their long-standing team.

You will be responsible for delivering a high level of customer service to both regular customers and internal stakeholders, including production, accounts, transport, and the sales team. You will work towards key KPIs to ensure that the highest standards of customer service are maintained and continuously improved.

Duties include:

  • Vet customer orders ready for processing onto the system.
  • This includes applying the correct delivery dates to suit the customer requirements whilst ensuring it fits in with the production dates, capabilities and delivery areas.
  • Proactive response to answering the telephone within 3 rings.
  • Enthusiastic attitude to deal with and resolve customers' queries or issues promptly.
  • Proactively follow up with customers to resolve queries if they have not responded. Ensure all verbal correspondence is confirmed in writing and the system is updated with correct information.
  • Support the end-of-month invoicing procedure, investigate and find any missing delivery notes.
  • Routinely speak to key accounts and regular customers to grow a productive working relationship with them.

Key skills:

  • Exceptional customer service skills - must have a friendly and positive phone manner.
  • Energetic, self-driven and motivated.
  • Excellent attention to detail.
  • Ability to continually multitask.
  • Ability to prioritise your time to plan and organise your day.
  • Ability to learn and absorb information.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5.00pm.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Logistics Administrator
Sector: Transport, Logistics and Shipping
Salary: £28,000 per annum
Location: Sudbury
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913731
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing business, based on the outskirts of Sudbury, to recruit a Logistics Administrator to join their team on a full-time basis.

The key purpose of this role is to support the warehouse/logistics team with all admin and office-based tasks, managing the transport and delivery of products as required.

Key duties include:

  • Managing stock levels and ensuring timely deliveries, reviewing sales orders and assigning which stock should be picked in line with first-in-first-out (FIFO) principles.
  • Monitoring warehouse activities, including shipping and receiving, making sure the quality of goods received and goods sent out is to the right standard and supported by the correct documentation.
  • Ensuring paperwork is filed and available to be accessed by any auditors.
  • Tracking deliveries in/out and providing updates to customers and sales colleagues.
  • Work closely with colleagues across different departments to ensure successful and timely delivery to customers, and that the company have the raw materials needed to successfully produce the finished product.
  • Requesting certificates of analysis from the quality team and ensuring the relevant pallet and delivery labels, as well as relevant paperwork, are attached to all deliveries to customers.
  • Carrying out regular stock takes of raw materials and finished products.
  • Calling off raw materials from 3rd party warehouses in line with production plans to ensure production never runs out of materials.

Role requirements include:

  • Proficiency in logistics systems and processes.
  • Experience in warehouse operations.
  • Knowledge of supply chain management principles.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills - you pick up the phone or speak to people in person where possible instead of sending an email.
  • Strong attention to detail.
  • Computer literate – able to follow processes across different systems and maintain records in Excel.
  • Excellent organisational and time-management skills, ability to organise own workload and manage time effectively to meet deadlines and lead times required for deliveries to different locations/customers.
  • Able to work autonomously or as part of a team, you take a positive, proactive, problem-solving approach to tasks.

The working hours for this role are Monday to Friday, 8am - 5pm.

This is an office/site-based role.

Due to the working location, you will need access to your own transport.

This role offers a competitive salary with company benefits, and it is an excellent time to join the expanding business.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Business Development Manager
Sector: Sales
Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 per annum
Location: Ipswich
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: JC14
About the role

Just Recruitment has a fantastic opportunity for a dynamic and results-driven Business Development Manager to join an exciting company based on the outskirts of Ipswich.

You will play a crucial role in driving the company's growth by developing and executing strategic sales plans, expanding the customer base, and ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction. This role is essential for achieving the company's sales targets and maintaining its competitive edge in the market.

Duties include:

  • Developing and implementing a business development sales plan to achieve company objectives, including: Team leadership, development, motivation, performance monitoring and reporting.
  • Carrying out outbound sales calls to meet sales targets/telemarketing.
  • Managing client sales appointments.
  • Client visits to determine needs and develop proposals to meet these.
  • Securing new sales orders via quotations, proposals and trials.
  • Identifying and targeting new business opportunities to expand the customer base.
  • Building and maintaining strong relationships with existing and potential clients.
  • Monitoring market trends and competitor activities to identify opportunities and threats.
  • Preparing, presenting sales reports and forecasts to senior management.

Skills required include:

  • Strong negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
  • Highly motivated, proactive, and able to work independently and with the sales team, willingness to learn.
  • In-depth understanding of sales performance metrics and data analysis.
  • Ability to travel as required and manage multiple priorities effectively.

Benefits include:

  • Competitive salary and looking to develop performance-based bonuses.
  • Supportive and collaborative work environment.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more