Published: 09:00 am, 17 February 2026

Updated: 09:39 am, 17 February 2026

A group in homemade fancy dress costumes walk up a path on a sunny day. They all look towards the camera.

(Image: Various Artists Limited / BBC / Robert Viglasky)

Get ready to soak up some Mediterranean sunshine in the first-look pictures for witty and painfully relatable eight-part drama series Two Weeks in August, coming soon to BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Made by the multi-award-winning Various Artists Limited (I May Destroy You, Such Brave Girls) the series follows a group of friends reuniting for a summer holiday.

Written and created by Catherine Shepherd (Sally4Ever, The Shrink Next Door), Two Weeks in August is a story about friends who reconnect and uncover more about themselves and each other than they ever expected.

Two people walk towards the camera on a sunny day. Overgrown branches are visible on either side of the path.

L-R: Jessica Raine, Damien Molony (Image: Various Artists Limited / BBC / Robert Viglasky)

A woman stands outdoors amongst wildflowers in a valley between mountains. The sun is shining and she looks into the distance.

Jessica Raine (Image: Various Artists Limited / BBC / Robert Viglasky)

The new pictures show Jessica Raine (The Devil’s Hour, Patrick Melrose) as Zoe and Damien Molony (Bergerac, Brassic) on a midday stroll, alongside Zoe contemplating life atop a rocky vista. Antonia Thomas (The Good Doctor, Still Up) as Jess relaxes by the pool while Solomon played by Nicholas Pinnock (For Life, The Book of Clarence), takes a dip.

Leila Farzad (Kaos, I Hate Suzie) and Hugh Skinner (Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, Fleabag) appear as Nat and Jacob, enjoying the villa’s view, and the group of friends are on their way to a party they’ll never forget – for better or worse.

A woman in a bikini reclines on a sunlounger beside a pool. She turns to smile at someone behind her.

Antonia Thomas (Image: Various Artists Limited / BBC / Colin Hutton)

The cast also includes Dolly Wells (Dracula), Tom Goodman-Hill (Baby Reindeer), Dylan Brady (Mary & George), Maria Almeida (The Buccaneers), Khalil Gharbia (The Lost Boys), Florence Banks (The New Look), Sonny Poon Tip (Industry) and Cassius Hackforth (Doctor Who).

Set in Greece, Two Weeks in August tells the story of a woman who goes on holiday with her family and friends to rediscover joy in her life. But, here in paradise, what starts with an illicit kiss quickly turns the dream vacation into a nightmare. 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.

A man rests his arms on the edge of a pool after swimming.

Nicholas Pinnock (Image: Various Artists Limited / BBC / Colin Hutton)

Two people in casual holiday clothing stand beside a pool in the grounds of a villa. The sea stretches to the horizon in the background.

L-R: Leila Farzad, Hugh Skinner (Image: Various Artists Limited / BBC / Colin Hutton)

When 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…

Two Weeks in August’s lead director is Tom George (This Country, Sherwood) who directed episodes 1-4. Matthew Moore (The Great, Colin from Accounts) directed episodes 5-8. Two Weeks in August was shot in Malta and Gozo last year with the help of local production company Pellikola.

Two Weeks in August is a Various Artists Limited production and was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama. Catherine Shepherd and Tom George serve as executive producers alongside Roberto Troni and Kat Reynolds for Various Artists Limited, and Jo McClellan for the BBC. Rhonda Smith (The Pursuit of Love, The Flatshare) is producer. The 8-episode series is written by Catherine Shepherd. Casting is by Julie Harkin and Nathan Toth. Two Weeks in August is produced in association with and distributed by ITV Studios.

SJP / twoweeksinaugust@premiercomms.com

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