The British White Lotus? A group trip goes wrong in drama Two Weeks in August

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. The British White Lotus? A group trip goes wrong in drama Two Weeks in August 32 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleLola SchroerVarious Artists Limited / / Robert ViglaskyThe cast of Two Weeks in August head to a party at a luxury Greek villa "It's a group holiday gone wrong," says actress Jessica Raine about new drama Two Weeks in August. Set on a sun-soaked Greek island, the drama follows a group of university friends reuniting for a long-awaited summer holiday.

Now older, the friends are still connected, but marriage, children and mental health struggles have reshaped their relationships. Beneath the cocktails, boat trips and villa life, tensions simmer and emotions rise. Then an illicit kiss threatens to change their lives forever.

The Details

For its cast, the series felt instantly recognisable. "I've been on this holiday," says Damien Molony. "I know who these people are.

"Various Artists Limited / / Robert ViglaskyJessica Raine plays Zoe, a people pleaser whose emotions unravel on the holidayAt the center is Zoe, played by Raine, a teacher and mother quietly struggling under the pressure of holding everything together. Molony plays her husband Dan, whose depression hangs heavily over the trip, as cracks in their marriage begin to show. Raine says she was drawn in by the script's exploration of modern expectations placed on women.

"I think it chimes really well with my generation of people-pleasing," she says. "There's this idea that in order to be a 'good woman', you have to sacrifice yourself for your children or your husband... and the notion that you can have it all is a complete lie.

What Experts Say

"Various Artists Limited / / Robert ViglaskyDamien Molony plays Dan, Zoe's troubled husband in drama Two Weeks in AugustMolony says he was initially struck by how dark his character's early scenes felt when he first read the scripts. "I didn't know it was a comedy at first," exclaims the Irish actor. "It felt quite tragic.

" He describes Dan as someone who is visibly struggling but unable to express it in a way that helps him. "He's constantly trying to smile for the camera," he says. "But he doesn't really know how anymore.

"From the outset, Dan's dark and emotional scenes put into motion a series of events that strain the wider group. Various Artists Limited / / Robert ViglaskyAntonia Thomas plays Jess, who struggles to reconnect with the groupAntonia Thomas, who plays Jess, says the series captures what happens when people who once knew each other intimately realise how much they've changed. "There's a real hopefulness about booking a nice villa somewhere and thinking everyone's going to have a great time together," says Antonia.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.