The BBC has confirmed that Annika, starring Nicola Walker, has been cancelled after two series, but fans of the actress have been told to watch another of her dramas.
An “outstanding” legal drama ought to be top of the viewing list for Nicola Walker enthusiasts following confirmation of Annika’s cancellation.
The BBC has revealed the cherished detective programme will not return for a third instalment, despite concluding with an unresolved storyline.
Nicola, 55, had brought DI Annika Strandhed to life for two seasons, leading the fictional Glasgow-based Marine Homicide Unit, however, fans will be gutted to know she won’t be back.
A spokesperson previously stated to RadioTimes: “We are incredibly proud of the success of Annika on U+Alibi, but there are no current plans for a third series.”
Nevertheless, admirers of the Unforgotten and The Last Tango in Halifax performer now have the opportunity to immerse themselves in The Split alternatively, reports Wales Online.
The Spooks veteran portrayed Hannah alongside Stephen Mangan’s Nathan in Abi Morgan’s courtroom drama.
The programme initially broadcast in 2018 and ran for three series, concluding in 2022 before a two-part special shot in Barcelona last Christmas.
It chronicled the Defoe dynasty and their legal practice, as they navigated romance, bereavement, infidelity, domestic upheaval, and the challenges of contemporary matrimony.
The Split cultivated a devoted fanbase, achieving an remarkable 90% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
One devotee praised the programme as “outstanding”, adding: “Nicola Walker is simply incredible. I did not know about her until seeing this show, I raced to watch other shows she has been in also because she is THAT GOOD.”
One viewer expressed: “This show is such an incredible, refreshing take on family, love, marriage, and the trials / rewards of life. There isn’t a villain and no character is without their flaws. By the end of episode one, you’re invested and it’s a slow, emotional progression with smiles and a few tears throughout.”
“Am addicted to this show,” a third confessed, while someone else wrote: “This show absolutely captivated me. Even when I wasn’t watching it, I was thinking about it. It involved family drama, lovers drama, and work drama. It was absolutely brilliant.”
Nicola previously spoke of The Split’s success in an interview with Metro, revealing the moment she knew it was a hit.
She revealed: “I realised they were enjoying it when I started getting people in the supermarket and on the tube coming up to me and saying, these are quotes, it happens quite a lot: ‘I wish you’d have done my divorce,’ and then telling me about their divorces.’
“I occasionally had to say, ‘I actually don’t know that much about family law, I’d be a terrible family lawyer’.
“And then people saying whether or not they were team Christie or team Nathan, that started happening quite a lot. And I thought, ‘oh, people are enjoying this as much as we enjoy filming it’.”
Although The Split concluded with a two-part Christmas special, fans can look forward to a spin-off following a brief halt in production.
The Split Up is set to commence production this year, and is a six-part drama that will showcase “the high-stakes world of Manchester’s divorce law circuit, where one family of lawyers, the Kishans, reigns supreme,” the release previously teased.
It continues: “Kishan Law is a British-Asian high net worth family law firm in Manchester, noted for its clientele and its reputation.
“They are the ‘go to firm’ for Manchester’s elite who come to them for their excellence, integrity, and discretion.
“But the future and legacy of Kishan Law hangs in the balance when a family secret from the past comes to light, throwing their professional and personal lives into turmoil.”
The Split is available to watch on BBC iPlayer