Two Weeks in August on BBC One: 'Tantalising erotic' drama about an 'illicit kiss' which turns a dream holiday into a nightmare
A "relentlessly polite" woman "begins to act on her deepest desires"
Two Weeks in August promises to be BBC One’s “British White Lotus”, combining a glamorous UK cast, with exotic locations, and a dramatic plot bulging with secrets. Count us in.
When “relentlessly polite” wife and mum Zoe goes on a Mediterranean break with her family and some friends, it turns into a holiday nightmare.
The “tantalising erotic BBC drama” stars TV favourites such as Jessica Raine, Damien Molony, Nicholas Pinnock, Antonia Thomas, Leila Farzad and Hugh Skinner. So we know we’re in good hands.
Created & written by The Shrink Next Door’s Catherine Shepherd, the “group holiday gone wrong” dark comedy drama is arriving soon. So here’s everything you need to know about Two Weeks in August on BBC One, including plot, cast, start date, and locations.
What is the plot of BBC One’s Two Weeks in August about?
Two Weeks in August transports us to Greece, where Zoe and her family go on holiday and reconnect with a group of university friends. She dreams of “rediscovering joy in her life”.
But, in so-called paradise, she does something very out of character – she shares an illicit kiss with one of her companions. And, far from being forgotten, the act quickly turns the dream vacation into a nightmare…
Jessica Raine’s Zoe begins to “act on her deepest desires” and the holiday she hoped for becomes a reckoning for a group of adults who refuse to grow up.
The synopsis tells us: “Then they discover they are trapped on the island, and become faced with real life-or-death situations. The group soon turn on each other to find out who is to blame. Is Zoe responsible for the drama and destruction around her or, as heaven turns to hell, are bigger forces at play? We are in Greece after all, the land of the ancient Gods…”
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Talking about her character, Jessica says: “At the beginning of the series, it’s clear that Zoe is a woman on the cusp of breaking. She’s relentlessly polite and I found that hilarious to read [in the script]. I could see this woman tamping down her real feelings to make everything okay within the friendship group; it was obvious she was in trouble.”
When does the BBC One drama start?
Two Weeks in August starts on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 9pm on BBC One.
Episode two follows straight after at 9.45pm. With more episodes landing on the following Saturday.
How many episodes is it and when are new episodes released?
All eight episodes of Two Weeks in August drop on Saturday, May 23, 2026 on BBC One. However, if you want to watch on linear TV, then you can tune in on Saturdays. This release schedule is subject to change.
- Episodes 1 and 2 go out on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 9pm and 9.45pm on BBC One.
- Episodes 3 and 4 follow on Saturday May 30, 2026 at 9pm and 9.45pm on BBC One.
- Episodes 5 and 6 on Saturday June 06, 2026 at 9pm and 9.45pm on BBC One.
- The final two episodes will go out on Saturday June 13, 2026 at 9pm and 9.45pm on BBC One.
Who’s in the cast of Two Weeks in August on BBC One?
Jessica Raine stars as “people pleasing” teacher and mother Zoe, a woman who gives in to her desires on holiday in Greece. She’s best known for her roles in Call the Midwife, The Devil’s Hour, and Wolf Hall. Line of Duty fans will remember her for her all-too brief role as the ill-fated DC Georgia Trotman.
Bergerac and The Split star Damien Molony plays Zoe’s troubled husband Dan. His depression “hangs heavily over the trip, as cracks in their marriage begin to show”.
Fortitude’s Nicholas Pinnock plays family ‘friend’ Solomon. He spends much of the holiday struggling to disconnect from work and the demands of his career.
The exciting ensemble cast also includes:
- Better’s Leila Farzad as Nat.
- W1A’s Hugh Skinner as Jacob.
- Misfits’ Antonia Thomas as Jess, who struggles to reconnect with the group.
- Baby Reindeer’s Tom Goodman-Hill as James.
- The Outlaws’ Dolly Wells as Flick.
Where is Two Weeks in August set and filmed?
Two Weeks in August is “set on a sun-soaked Greek island”, and we see the group of friends attend a party in a luxury Greek villa. As the holiday begins to unravel, Two Weeks in August gradually weaves in Greek mythology “increasing the group’s tense dynamic”.
Mythological figures known as The Fates or Moirai appear throughout the series and become increasingly central to Zoe’s emotional unravelling. In Greek mythology, The Fates are three women who control the thread of human life, deciding how long a person lives.
However, cast and crew actually filmed the eight-part series in Malta and Gozo. With regards to comparison to The White Lotus, writer Catherine Shepherd said: “The White Lotus is about people who are super rich, whereas Two Weeks in August focuses on relatively normal people with normal concerns.”
Read more: The 15 best BBC dramas to stream on BBC iPlayer right now
