BBC Commissions Two Weeks in August, a New Drama from Catherine Shepherd

Image: BBC Press — Catherine Shepherd, Writer and Creator

By Jon Donnis

The BBC has announced Two Weeks in August, a brand-new eight-part drama series from Various Artists Limited, the production company behind I May Destroy You and Such Brave Girls. Written and created by Catherine Shepherd, best known for Sally4Ever and The Shrink Next Door, the series will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One, promising a sharp, emotionally charged exploration of love, desire, and the chaos of human relationships.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Greece, Two Weeks in August follows Zoe, a woman searching for joy on a summer holiday with family and friends. What begins as an idyllic getaway quickly spirals into something far darker after an illicit kiss sets off a chain reaction of betrayal and self-discovery. As tensions rise, paradise turns into a nightmare when the group becomes trapped on the island, facing life-or-death situations that force them to confront painful truths. As relationships unravel and suspicion takes hold, the story questions whether Zoe is to blame for the chaos or if larger, unseen forces are at work in a land steeped in mythology and history.

Producers Roberto Troni and Kat Reynolds describe the series as "painfully funny and heartbreakingly original," capturing the complexities of friendship, personal growth, and the challenge of finding happiness in a world that feels increasingly uncertain. Shepherd, meanwhile, calls it a story about a woman struggling to balance the many roles life has assigned her, exploring what it means to seek joy when everything around you seems to be falling apart.

With This Country and Sherwood director Tom George helming the first four episodes and The Great's Matthew Moore directing the latter half, Two Weeks in August is set to be both visually striking and narratively compelling. Filming will take place in Malta and Gozo with support from local production company Pellikola.

Commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, the series will be produced in association with ITV Studios, with executive producers Catherine Shepherd, Tom George, Roberto Troni, Kat Reynolds, and Jo McClellan leading the project. As production gears up, anticipation is building for what promises to be a gripping, beautifully crafted drama about love, regret, and the search for meaning in a complicated world.