Happy Valley's Sarah Lancashire joins Keira Knightley in Black Doves
The new Netflix spy series comes from The Lazarus Project creator Joe Barton.
Sarah Lancashire, best known for her role as Catherine Cawood in Happy Valley, has officially joined Keira Knightley in new Netflix spy series Black Doves.
The series, which comes from The Lazarus Project creator Joe Barton, stars Knightley as Helen Webb, a quick-witted, down-to-earth, dedicated wife and mother, who is also a professional spy.
Set during the Christmas period in London, the show follows Helen, who for years has been passing her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organisation she works for, the Black Doves.
However, when her secret lover Jason is assassinated, her spymaster Reed (Lancashire) calls in Helen’s old friend Sam Young to keep her safe.
Sam is played by Ben Whishaw (This Is Going to Hurt), and is described as a suave, Champagne-drinking assassin, who sets off with Helen on a mission that will lead them to uncover a vast, interconnected conspiracy, linking the murky underworld of London to a looming geopolitical crisis.
More like this
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."
Read more:
- Bodies writer reveals Stephen Graham’s invaluable impact on script
- Fellow Travelers' Jonathan Bailey and Matt Bomer have “electric” chemistry
The six part series is currently filming in London, and also stars Andrew Buchan (Better), Andrew Koji (Warrior), Kathryn Hunter (Andor), Sam Troughton (Litvinenko), Ella Lily Hyland (Fifteen Love), Adam Silver (The Diplomat), Ken Nwosu (Look the Other Way and Run) and Gabrielle Creevy (In My Skin).
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
The release date for the second season of Barton's series The Lazarus Project was announced earlier this week, along with a trailer and synopsis revealing the latest mission for George and the team.
Barton previously told RadioTimes.com of the new season: "It's so complicated. It's the most complicated thing I've ever had to have to write. I've got f**king whiteboards full of time-travel loops... never again! I'm never doing time travel again!"
Black Doves will stream on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.
Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now and celebrate the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who with a special issue of Radio Times. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
