Looking for a gripping new drama to binge-watch this month? You’re in luck because the BBC’s new eight-part series, Two Weeks in August, arrives on 23 May – and it looks seriously good.

The BBC has unveiled a tension-filled trailer for the series, which creator Catherine Shepherd described as “funny and sad, as thrilling, beautiful, ridiculous and heartbreaking as real relationships between humans are” in an interview with Deadline.

two people walking in sun© Robert Viglasky / BBC
Jessica Raine and Damien Molony plays Zoe and Dan

Call the Midwife‘s Jessica Raine leads the cast as Zoe, who embarks on a summer holiday in Greece with her friends and family. But what starts off as a sun-soaked getaway soon turns into a nightmare after an illicit kiss.

I’ve got high hopes for this one. Not only does the series boast a cast of familiar faces, but it’s penned by Catherine Shepherd – aka April in Peep Show – whose writing credits include The Buccaneers and The Shrink Next Door. Plus, Tom George (This Country) and Matthew Moore (Colin from Accounts) direct the series.

The newly released trailer

The trailer teases the simmering friction between Zoe and her husband, Dan (Damien Molony), during a tense dinner with friends. When Zoe tries to maintain appearances by claiming, “He’s doing great,” Dan immediately undercuts her: “I’m not doing that great, really.”The sense of unease continues as Dan later confides in Jacob (Hugh Skinner), admitting, “I think I might be in a bit of trouble.” At the same time, Zoe seems to undergo a mysterious awakening, declaring, “Something’s happening to me. I don’t want to be good.”

TWO WEEKS IN AUGUST cast© Robert Viglasky / BBC
The series arrives on BBC One and iPlayer on 23 May

The trailer ends with a panicked Jacob screaming at the group, “We need to get off this island!”

What is Two Weeks in August about?

The series centres around Zoe, who goes on holiday with her family and friends to rediscover joy in her life. But what was meant to be a dream vacation turns into a nightmare after an illicit kiss.

The synopsis continues: “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.

“When they discover they are trapped on the island and face real life-or-death situations, the group soon turns 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.”

woman standing on hill© Robert Viglasky/BBC
The series centres around Zoe as she begins to act on her deepest desires during a group holiday

Leading star Jessica said “the big question of the series is how the audience is going to respond to a character like Zoe”.

“The decisions she makes to get what she wants, and the consequences because of that,” continued the actress. “The idea of a woman deciding not to sacrifice everything, of choosing to put herself first, unfortunately still feels revolutionary. I think every woman feels that, and that’s what I think will appeal.”

Who stars in Two Weeks in August?

Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife, Patrick Melrose) leads the cast as Zoe, alongside Damien Molony (Bergerac, Brassic) as her husband Dan.

Other cast members include Nicholas Pinnock (For Life, The Book of Clarence) as their old friend Solomon and Antonia Thomas (The Good Doctor, Still Up) as his new wife Jess, alongside Leila Farzad (Kaos, I Hate Suzie) and Hugh Skinner (Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, Fleabag) as university friends Nat and Jacob.

man and woman standing by pool© Colin Hutton / BBC
Hugh Skinner and Leila Farzad play Jacob and Nat

Tom Goodman-Hill (Baby Reindeer), who is Jessica’s real-life husband, also features in the cast.

Two Weeks in August arrives on BBC iPlayer in full at 6am on Saturday 23 May. The series will air on BBC One from that night at 9pm.