BBC has released the trailer and confirmed a May premiere date for brand-new drama ‘Two Weeks In August‘, a sun-soaked ensemble series which appears to ask the important question: what if your idyllic Greek island getaway came with marital tension, friendship implosion, possible divine interference, and absolutely no easy route home? So, basically, a British group holiday, but with better weather and more ancient mythology.
The eight-part drama comes from Catherine Shepherd (Sally4Ever, The Shrink Next Door), who writes and creates the series, with Various Artists Limited (I May Destroy You, Such Brave Girls) producing for the BBC.
Set in Greece, ‘Two Weeks In August’ follows Zoe, a woman who heads off on holiday with family and friends hoping to rediscover some joy in her life. Unfortunately, paradise very quickly becomes less “relaxing poolside break” and more “emotional pressure cooker with sea views”, as an illicit kiss reopens old wounds and sends the group spiralling into chaos.
As the holiday begins to unravel, the group discover they are trapped on the island and forced into increasingly dangerous, life-or-death situations. With tensions rising, they begin turning on each other as they try to work out who is really to blame. Is Zoe the source of the destruction around her, or are bigger forces at play? This is Greece, after all, and the ancient gods do have form when it comes to messing with people’s lives.
Jessica Raine (The Devil’s Hour, Patrick Melrose) leads the cast as Zoe, alongside Damien Molony (Bergerac, Brassic) as Dan, Antonia Thomas (The Good Doctor, Still Up) as Jess, Nicholas Pinnock (For Life, The Book of Clarence) as Solomon, Leila Farzad (Kaos, I Hate Suzie) as Nat, and Hugh Skinner (Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, Fleabag) as Jacob.
Speaking about the series, creator Catherine Shepherd describes it as a character-driven story rooted in messy, recognisably human behaviour. “Most of the time, we’re walking that line between laughing and crying, and when something feels truthful, it’s usually a bit of both.”
The drama was filmed in Malta and Gozo, doubling for Greece, with Shepherd describing the island setting as “a character in its own right; it is beautiful, but a bit dangerous.” That tone seems to run right through the series, as what initially looks like an escape from ordinary life becomes the place where nobody can hide from the things they have been avoiding.
Jessica Raine says Zoe begins the story as “a woman on the cusp of breaking,” adding that she found the character’s relentless politeness both funny and troubling. She also highlights the show’s mythological edge, saying Catherine Shepherd’s use of Greek mythology was “the cherry on top,” with strange events around Zoe giving the drama an added layer of magical realism.
From the sounds of things, ‘Two Weeks In August’ sits somewhere between holiday-from-hell drama, dark comedy, psychological unravelling, and Greek myth-infused midlife meltdown. Or, to put it another way, exactly the sort of trip where you start by packing sun cream and end by questioning every friendship you have ever had.
‘Two Weeks In August‘ premieres Saturday, 23rd May 2026 at 6am on BBC iPlayer, and airs the same night at 9pm on BBC One.
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