Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina are turning true crime aficionados in the name of fame and fortune in comedy-thriller, Based on a True Story.

Unhappy with their mundane lives and surrounded by rich and successful pals, Ava and Nathan Bartlett decide to do something drastic in order to get some excitement in their lives.

Enter Matt Pierce, their hunky and suave plumber… who also happens to be a serial killer.

With a spark ignited, Ava and Nathan soon join forces with Matt in order to follow the story in real time – but that’s a lot easier said than done when you have a narcissist with a penchant for a knife in your corner.

Based on a True Story season one is available to watch as a box set now – and Sky and NOW are its exclusive home in the UK.

Season two is coming soon.

The show is available on Peacock in the US.

Season one of Based on a True Story stars:

• Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant, The Big Bang Theory) as Ava Bartlett
• Chris Messina (The Mindy Project, The Sinner) as Nathan Bartlett
• Tom Bateman (Funny Woman, Behind Her Eyes) as Matt Pierce
• Priscilla Quintana (Good Trouble, Pandora) as Ruby Gale
• Liana Liberato (Scream VI, Totally Killer) as Tory Thompson
• Natalia Dyer (Stranger Things, Yes God Yes) as Chloe Lake
• Li Jun Li (Sex/Life, Why Women Kill) as Michelle
• Annabelle Dexter-Jones (American Horror Story, Succession) as Serena
• Sebastian Quinn (Family Switch, Miranda’s Victim) as Carlos
  
  

Find out more about the cast and characters here.

Based on a True Story is comprised of eight episodes, which sees Ava and Nathan Bartlett seek a way to get out of their middle-aged slump with the launch of a true crime podcast.

And as luck would have it, a literal serial killer walks into their life, proving a lifeline for their plans.

But with the unique idea of getting into cahoots with a murderer, the trials and tribulations have them second guessing what they’ve got themselves into as the podcast takes off.

Here’s how season one breaks down.

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Ava and Nathan are not in a good spot in their marriage. With financial struggles, a baby on the way, and the house riddled with problems, Nathan spends his days bitter that his promising tennis career was cut short, while Ava listens avidly to true crime podcasts and day-dreaming of a more adventurous sex life.

Then plumber Matt Pierce enters their lives, and things change. Initially fixing their toilet, he forms a bond with Nathan and the pair hit a bar – where the next day they discover their bartender, Chloe, was brutally murdered just hours after serving them by the notorious Westside Ripper.

However, the killer left behind a pair of shoe covers, which eerily match the type Matt uses at work. When Ava notices that and scratches on his arm, she figures out Matt’s secret murderous side hustle.

Rather than shop him to police, Ava comes up with a scheme to start a podcast – with Matt as the star of the show.

After accusing Matt of being the Westside Ripper, Nathan is feeling more than a little jumpy, especially when he’s questioned by police about the night Chloe was murdered.

Wanting out of the plan, Ava has to convince Nathan to stick with it, and he ultimately talks with Matt about his involvement in Chloe and another woman’s death.

Agreeing to meet Nathan at a neutral location, Ava gets a surprise visit when Matt turns up to the house.

Ava is left on tenterhooks as Matt gives her a grilling over her involvement in the podcast idea without Nathan present.

When he eventually agrees, he has some stipulations – starting with the name of the podcast.

Now fresh on the true crime podcast scene, Matt, Ava and Nathan head to CrimeCon in Las Vegas in order to give ‘Based On A True Story’ a boost.

Desperate to promote their work, Matt is caught off-guard by a “survivor” of an attack by him, who takes the stage to promote her book and “tell her story” which is false.

Despite his agreement not to murder again, Matt doesn’t take too lightly to this kind of mockery, forcing him to try and learn a lesson in self-restraint.

Elsewhere, Ava and Nathan run into pals Ruby and Carlos, and they head to dinner – which ultimately devolves into a bloody nightmare.

With the events of the night before fresh on their minds, Ava starts having doubts about the podcast and what she’s got herself into.

Matt wastes no time in making a quick buck on the Westside Ripper.

A night of letting their hair down brings Ava and Nathan closer together.

The final day of CrimeCon comes with a surprise promotional opportunity as Matt continues to go rogue, before a slip-up by Ava threatens to expose them all.

Based On A True Story has become an internet sensation with everyone talking about what went down at CrimeCon – prompting Ava and Nathan to believe their in for a windfall.

Matt’s ego is unnecessarily boosted from the show’s success, but someone is on their tail and could pose a threat to the podcast’s future.

A party at Ruby’s house results in several awkward confrontations, a heartbreaking loss, and a surprise mediator in a potentially deadly situation.

The trio are knocked sideways by an unexpected development in the podcast.

The world begins to turn on Based On A True Story as the morality of interviewing an active serial killer comes under debate.

When celebs get involved, Ava, Nathan and Matt need to think on their feet in order to keep the podcast alive.

Still grieving a significant loss, Nathan and Ava’s marriage continues to fracture, prompting Nathan to vent his feelings at Matt.

A fellow sofa sleuth wants to get involved in the podcast after discovering the truth, prompting someone to take drastic action.

Now with their own hands dirty, Ava and Nathan struggle with a “surprise” on their doorstep and what to do with it.

With time running out, the duo need to think on their feet.

Meanwhile, Matt starts to think of ways to expand the podcast, before starting up a romantic entanglement with someone in Ava and Nathan’s orbit.