The six-part series began filming in central London last week.
Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, Black Doves is a sharp, action-filled and heartfelt story of friendship and sacrifice, written by Joe Barton.
It follows Helen Webb, played by Keira Knightley, a quick-witted, down-to-earth, dedicated wife and mother and professional spy.
For 10 years, she’s been passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organisation she works for: the Black Doves. When her secret lover Jason is assassinated, her spymaster, the enigmatic Reed (Sarah Lancashire) calls in Helen’s old friend to keep her safe.
Ben Whishaw plays Sam Young, a suave, Champagne-drinking assassin. But having been out of the game since a failed job with disastrous consequences, he’s come home to a London that has moved on without him. As his past threatens to catch up with him, his task is to protect Helen as she investigates who killed Jason and why.
Together, they set off on a mission that will lead them to uncover a vast, interconnected conspiracy. One that links the murky underworld of London to a looming geopolitical crisis - and leads them to question the cost of the moral choices they’ve made.
Black Doves also stars Sarah Lancashire alongside Andrew Buchan, Andrew Koji, Kathryn Hunter, Sam Troughton, Ella Lily Hyland, Adam Silver, Ken Nwosu and Gabrielle Creevy.
Speaking about Black Doves, writer Joe Barton said "I started writing the scripts for this show over last year’s Christmas holidays, fuelled by turkey sandwiches and discarded bottles of cream liquor. To be now going into production with a cast and crew full of people whose work I admire so much is unbelievably exciting and I couldn’t be more thrilled to get to see this show come to life."
Produced by Joe Barton’s Noisy Bear and SISTER for Netflix, Black Doves is directed by Alex Gabassi and Lisa Gunning and produced by Harry Munday. With Joe Barton, Jane Featherstone, Chris Fry and Keira Knightly as executive producers.
Black Doves will air on Netflix