Desperate Housewife

Nicole Kidman heads the cast of Sky Atlantic’s classy murder-mystery.

NEW DRAMA

Big Little Lies

Monday, Sky Atlantic HD, 9pm

Beautiful beach homes, doting husbands, healthy bank balances… life seems to be picture perfect for the Californian mothers we meet in Sky Atlantic’s compelling new drama Big Little Lies.

But as the seven-part series reveals, the women’s seemingly privileged lifestyles hide a dark underbelly of violence and murder.

Starring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon and adapted by Ally McBeal’s David E Kelley, the Monterey-set drama begins with flashing sirens as police are called to Otter Bay Elementary. A dead body has been found during a fundraising event. We don’t yet know who the victim is – only that their skull has been bashed in.

As the police investigation continues, the action flashes back to the weeks before the crime, focusing on five school-run mothers: the aloof Celeste (Kidman), her divorcée friend Madeline (Witherspoon), high flying Renata (Laura Dern), artistic Bonnie (Zoë Kravitz) and out-of-place newcomer Jane (Shailene Woodley). Are they involved in the murder?