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The cast of the new BBC drama "turned blue" while filming sun-drenched summer scenes that were actually shot in March.

Jessica Raine, who starred in Call the Midwife, leads the cast of Two Weeks In August, a new primetime drama centred around a group of friends embarking on a Greek holiday in an attempt to rediscover joy in her life.

However, paradise proves elusive for the couples within the storyline, and the cast were equally far from enjoying a sun-soaked break at the outset of filming.

Jessica said: "We filmed at the beginning of March, and I've never been so cold in my entire life, and I've shot in Iceland!

"There's a birthday party scene we filmed early on where we're all in summer clothes, but everyone's secretly got thermals on underneath wherever they can fit them.

"We were packed with hot water bottles. People didn't believe me when I called home at the beginning of the shoot and said it was freezing."

Referring to her co-star and on-screen husband Damien Molony, who portrays Dan, Jessica added: "I watched Damien go blue about five times. In episode three there is a birthday party and Jesus, I was worried about you. There was an icy wind."

Damien added: "We shot a swimming pool scene in March and it was so cold, It is the best acting I have ever done. At 4am in March."

The production was based in Malta for six months, meaning temperatures improved considerably as filming progressed, reports the Mirror.

Jessica added: "Thankfully, the weather did change for the better. The locations were stunning - shooting on Gozo was a real treat."

Jessica, who shot to fame as Nurse Jennifer Lee in Call the Midwife, describes the scripts as "hilarious to read" with her character Zoe "on the cusp of breaking" when she arrives on holiday with her two children and a troubled husband.

The 43-year-old continued: "It initially looks like paradise, but it soon becomes a hellscape. The beautiful, isolated location turns into utter loneliness and there is a sense of dread that the group can't escape.

"I think what is great about this situation is that there's a real sense that everyone is being polite, which is a typical British quality. These people were great university friends, but their lives have taken different paths.

"I always felt the tone had to strike the right balance of comedy and tragedy. It's a delicious mix of humour and epic philosophies and ideas. I think everyone is going to love it!"

The comedy drama also features Nicholas Pinnock, Antonia Thomas, Leila Farzad and Hugh Skinner in its cast.

Two Weeks In August starts on BBC1 and BBC iPlayer on May 23.