Entertainment

Netflix spy thriller Black Doves to return for second series

The first series saw Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw’s characters investigate a murder.

Keira Knightley arriving at the world premiere of the Netflix series Black Doves
Keira Knightley arriving at the world premiere of the Netflix series Black Doves (Ian West/PA)
By Naomi Clarke, PA Senior Entertainment Reporter

Netflix spy thriller Black Doves starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw is to return for a second series.

The first instalment saw Oscar-nominated actress Knightley portray Helen Webb, a dedicated wife, mother and professional spy who has been passing on her politician husband’s secrets for 10 years to the organisation she works for – the Black Doves.

After her lover Jason is assassinated, she sets out on a mission to investigate who killed him with Sam Young, a Champagne-drinking assassin played by Bafta-winning Whishaw.

Set against the backdrop of London at Christmastime, together they uncover a vast conspiracy that links London to a looming geopolitical crisis.

In a new clip posted by Netflix on Friday, Knightley can be seen meeting Whishaw at a bar which is decked out with festive decorations.

She greets him with “Merry Christmas” to which he replies “Hello darling” before giving her a kiss on the cheek.

As they clink glasses of fizz, Knightley says: “Here’s to Black Doves season one”, before Whishaw adds: “Don’t forget season two, darling.”

The pair then unwrap small parcels which contain what appear to be bullets, and after staring at the small pellets they both drop them into their full glasses.

Alongside the clip, the streamer added: “Black Doves Season 2 is coming, darlings.”

Ben Whishaw will return to his role for series two of Black Doves
Ben Whishaw will return to his role for series two of Black Doves (Ian West/PA)

The first series also stars Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire as spymaster Reed as well as Carnival Row’s Andrew Buchan, Bullet Train actor Andrew Koji, Chernobyl’s Sam Troughton, The Diplomat star Adam Silver and In My Skin actress Gabrielle Creevy.

Knightley serves as an executive producer on the thriller alongside This Is Going To Hurt’s Jane Featherstone, Giri/Haji’s Chris Fry and the creator-writer of the new series Joe Barton, who is known for The Lazarus Project.

The 39-year-old actress received Academy Award nods for her portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet in 2005’s Pride & Prejudice and for 2014’s The Imitation Game, a biopic about Alan Turing set during the Second World War.

She is also known for the blockbuster film series Pirates Of The Caribbean, Christmas classic romcom Love Actually and period drama Atonement.

Whishaw, 44, has won the Bafta best actor award for This Is Going to Hurt and The Hollow Crown: Richard II, as well as picking up the best supporting actor prize for A Very English Scandal.