Donna Air joins The Split cast

Donna Air will make her TV comeback in \'The Split\'.

The former \'Byker Grove\' actress has signed up to star in the second series of the BBC One drama alongside fellow newcomer Ben Bailey Smith, and the pair will play celebrity power couple Fi and Richie Hansen who are involved in a messy, public divorce.

Series one stars Nicola Walker, Stephen Mangan, Deborah Findlay, Fiona Button, Annabel Scholey, Rudi Dharmalingam and Barry Atsma will also return for a second season.

Production has already begun on the run, which is helmed by Abi Morgan, who created and wrote the series.

She said: "Sitting on set on the first day of filming I am always reminded what a joy and privilege it is to do what we do - tell stories.

"Returning for the second series of \'The Split\', the world of high-end law and the stories of love, marriage and divorce in the metropolis ricochet through the lives of Hannah and her sisters.

"Relationships are challenged, friendships are tested and the lines between work and home blue. It\'s great to be back."

The show focuses on the Defoe sisters, Hannah (Nicola), Nina (Annabel) and Rose (Fiona) and their formidable mother Ruth (Deborah), who are all London-based lawyers.

And while they were rivals in season one, they will be together at newly merged law firm Noble Hale Defoe in the new series.

Executive producer Jane Featherstone said: "I love these characters so much and can\'t wait to spend time with them again as we watch them struggle through life\'s complicated relationships."

Donna has also starred in soap \'Hollyoaks\', TV drama \'Hotel Babylon\', and films \'The Mummy Returns\' and \'The Counsellor\'.