About a woman diagnosed with cancer

The BBC has acquired Norwegian comedy drama Afterglow for BBC Four and BBC iPlayer.

The seven-part series tells the story of Ester Sand (Nina Ellen Odegaard), the one person you think will live forever, but who finds out she has cervical cancer on her 40th birthday. After the initial shock, it’s Ester who comforts the people in her life and she has no intention of leaving the world just yet.

Afterglow is described as a story of love and life and all of the glorious and silly things we do before we die.

Afterglow also stars Torbjorn Harr (Vikings), Sara Khorami (Witch Hunt) and Hermann Sabado (Home for Christmas). The series was created by Kjetil Indregard and Atle Knudsen, who is also the director.

Sue Deeks, the head of BBC programme acquisition, said: ‘Funny, sad, honest and touching, Afterglow is that rare thing – an uplifting drama about serious illness.’

Published: 25 Apr 2023