Black Doves on Netflix: Inside series 1 of the spy thriller, including cast, location, and plot
By Helen Fear | Fri Oct 18 2024Netflix has finally confirmed the long-awaited launch date of spy thriller Black Doves series 1, alongside first pictures of the cast.
British stars Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw and Sarah Lancashire lead the cast, with an equally impressive list of supporting actors.
So what's the plot of Black Doves series 1 on Netflix, who's in the cast, where was it filmed, and when does it launch? Here's everything you need to know...
What's the plot of Black Doves series 1 on Netflix?
Netflix thriller Black Doves follows Helen Webb, a professional spy who is also described as "a quick-witted and dedicated wife and mother".
For 10 years, she's been passing on her husband's secrets to the shadowy organisation she works for: the Black Doves. Her husband is a high-profile politician who has no idea she's betraying him in more ways than one...
And, by that, we mean she's also having an affair. However, her world is torn apart when her secret lover Jason is assassinated. Reed, Helen's enigmatic spymaster, calls in Helen's old friend Sam to keep her safe.
Together, Helen and Sam set off on a mission to investigate who killed Jason and why. The case leads them to uncover a vast, interconnected conspiracy linking the murky London underworld to a looming geopolitical crisis.
Netflix describes it as "a sharp, action-filled, and heartfelt story of friendship and sacrifice".
Joe Barton created and wrote the thriller, and he's best known for Giri/Haji, and The Lazarus Project.
When can I watch Black Doves? When does is launch on Netflix?
Black Doves series 1 will launch on Netflix on Thursday, December 5, 2024. It will be available to all Netflix subscribers.
The episodes will drop as a box set on that day.
Black Doves filming locations
Netflix thriller Black Dives is set against the backdrop of London at Christmas.
It was filmed in and around central London in October 2023.
Promo pictures of Keira Knightley in character as Helen Webb show her standing on the embankment of the River Thames, with landmarks Westminster and Big Ben behind her.
Who is the main cast of Black Doves on Netflix?
The cast of Black Doves on Netflix is bulging with British talent. Keira Knightley portrays secret spy Helen Webb. Of course, Keira found fame in the 2002 film Bend it Like Beckham, alongside DI Ray's Parminder Nagra (although she'd been on our screens since 1993).
She went on to appear in the hugely successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, as well as Love Actually, Pride & Prejudice, and Atonement.
The ridiculously talented Sarah Lancashire stars as Helen's spymaster, the enigmatic Reed. Sarah's been on our screens for nearly four decades. Playing foul-mouthed badass Catherine Cawood in Happy Valley was arguably her finest hour, but she has dozens of notches on her CV.
Sarah portrayed Ruth Goddard in Where the Heart Is, Raquel Watts in Corrie, Laura in Lark Rise to Candleford, and Caroline in Last Tango in Halifax. We'd watch her watching paint dry to be honest.
Ben Whishaw plays Helen's old friend Sam, a retired spy who returns to keep her safe. Another fierce British talent, Ben is known for playing Q in the Daniel Craig Bond films.
His most famous TV roles include Freddie Lyon in The Hour, by The Split creator Abi Morgan, Danny in London Spy, Norman Scott in A Very English Scandal, and Adam in the heartbreaking This Is Going to Hurt.
Of course, he's also the voice of Paddington Bear in the Paddington films.
Who else is in the cast?
Andrew Koji plays Helen's assassinated lover Jason. He's known for playing Andrew in The Innocents, Brilliant Chang in Peaky Blinders, and Ah Sahm in Warrior.
Andrew Buchan portrays Wallace Webb. He's known for playing Mark Latimer in Broadchurch, Andrew Parker Bowles in The Crown, Felim Bichan in Industry, and Col McHugh in Better.
Adeel Akhtar stars as Richard Eaves. He's known for Fool Me Once, Sherwood, Showtrial, Utopia, Sweet Tooth, Killing Eve, and Back to Life.
Comedian-turned-straight Tracey Ullman will play Alex. She's famous for having her own sketch show, as well as for her roles in Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mrs America, and State of the Union.
Meanwhile, The Crown's Luther Ford stars as Hector Newman.
Chernobyl's Sam Troughton portrays Stephen Yarrick.
Agatha Christie's Towards Zero star Ella Lily Hyland is Williams.
Shardlake's Ken Nwosu plays Bill.
The Pact's Gabrielle Creevy plays Eleanor.
It's a Sin's Omari Douglas plays Michael.
True Detective star Finn Bennett, Andor's Kathryn Hunter, and The Diplomat's Adam Silver also star.
Will there be a series 2 of Black Doves?
Netflix has already confirmed that Black Doves will return for a season 2. Not bad going for a series that hasn't even aired yet!
The streaming service confirmed the news on X (formerly Twitter), saying: "A reminder that Black Doves comes to Netflix later this year - and it's already been renewed for a second season!"
How many episodes is Black Doves?
Black Doves is a six-episode spy thriller.
Each episode is expected to be around an hour long. The series will drop as a boxset in December.
