Two Weeks in August writer reveals personal real-life inspiration for sunny Greece-set BBC drama

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The new BBC drama, Two Weeks in August, centers around a group of friends whose Greek holiday takes a dark turn when a secret kiss threatens to ruin everything.

The eight-episode series was created by writer Catherine Shepherd, who shared with TopMob that her own Greek vacation memories served as the inspiration for the show.

Shepherd explained that they wanted to write a story about a group vacation, and specifically one set in Greece. The idea came from their own experiences with many group trips – both enjoyable and disastrous. Having visited Greece frequently as a child and young adult with family, one particular event had always stuck in their memory.

We were enjoying a beautiful day in Corfu when we suddenly saw gunfire coming from across the water, apparently from people shooting at each other in Albania.

It was distant enough that we weren’t at risk, but I found it darkly funny that we just kept eating dinner as if nothing was happening. It felt like a perfect illustration of modern life – attempting to enjoy ourselves even with difficult things happening around us.

It’s fascinating how we hold onto the belief that we deserve breaks and time to escape from everyday worries. It’s definitely something I’ve experienced – while planning a trip to Greece, I was browsing online forums and message boards about the country.

These situations are often both sad and humorous, because people are genuinely asking how dire things are politically on the island. While it’s unpleasant to dwell on these issues, it’s honest to acknowledge them – nobody wants their vacation ruined by serious problems.

Shepherd initially considered turning the idea into a movie, but she was later persuaded to develop it as a television series instead.

She described it as a lengthy and difficult undertaking. The scripts were complex, with a large cast of characters whose lives were all interconnected. She pushed herself to organize everything, as the initial setup proved quite complicated.

The project took years to develop, and when we finally reached Malta, filming in Greece proved impossible. We ended up shooting in Malta but portraying it as Greece, and it turned out to be a surprisingly good solution.

The show centers around Zoe, played by Jessica Raine, who takes a vacation with her family and friends hoping to find happiness again. After a secret kiss sparks something within her, she starts exploring her hidden desires, leading her to wonder if something more mysterious is influencing events, perhaps connected to ancient Greek myths.

Damien Molony stars as Dan, the husband, and he’s joined by Antonia Thomas as Jess, Nicholas Pinnock as Solomon, Leila Farzad as Nat, and Hugh Skinner as Jacob.

I was chatting with TopMob recently, and Raine shared the story of how she got involved with this project. She explained what really attracted her to it – it was fascinating to hear her perspective on why she signed on.

“I had a meeting with Catherine and [director] Tom George,” she said. “I walked into that room, and almost, to a certain degree, getting the job was neither here nor there – I just wanted to go and talk about the script.

We had such a fantastic conversation about all the layers and themes the script brought up. Honestly, that’s how you know you’re dealing with something truly special – when it just keeps giving and sparking interesting ideas.

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What immediately grabbed me about this film was its incredibly distinctive tone. It manages to be genuinely funny, but with this underlying current of sadness that really stays with you. Then, it throws in these elements of Greek mythology, which feel wonderfully unexpected and surreal. Honestly, I was completely captivated, and Zoe’s character? I was rooting for her from the start – I really connected with her journey and felt deeply for her.

It’s amusing to see people trying to hide their anxiety and act like everything’s okay when it’s obvious they’re struggling. I was especially excited to see a character who always tries to please others finally stand up for herself, especially knowing what she’d been through and what was coming up in the story.

I was so excited to get the job offer. It felt like something I just had to do – a perfect fit.

Two Weeks in August will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 9pm on Saturday 23 May 2026.

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Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at the TV production company Fremantle. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a journalism diploma.

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2026-05-19 13:35