The Happy Valley Star Reprises Her Role as Mrs. Reed Alongside Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw – Ambika Mod, Neve Campbell, and More Join the Spy Thriller’s Explosive Sequel

Netflix has confirmed that Sarah Lancashire is returning for Black Doves Season 2, reuniting with Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw in the critically acclaimed spy thriller that became one of the streamer’s surprise hits of 2024. The announcement, made during the Edinburgh TV Festival on Monday, comes as production officially begins in London, with Lancashire reprising her role as the enigmatic Mrs. Reed alongside a slate of returning favorites and exciting new additions. “It’s a thrill to be back in Joe Barton’s world of love, lies, and espionage,” said executive producers Jane Featherstone and Chris Fry. The news has fans buzzing, promising an even more treacherous chapter in the series’ blend of high-stakes intrigue and sharp wit.

Season 1 of Black Doves, created by Joe Barton (The Ritual, Giri/Haji) and produced by Sister and Noisy Bear, premiered on December 5, 2024, to rave reviews and a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score. Knightley starred as Helen Webb, a high-society spy married to the UK Defence Secretary (Andrew Buchan), who leaks state secrets to the shadowy Black Doves organization—a group of mercenaries trading information for the highest bidder. When her lover Jason (Andrew Koji) is assassinated, Helen’s handler Mrs. Reed (Lancashire) calls in her old friend Sam Young (Whishaw), a washed-up triggerman, to protect her amid the fallout. The festive London backdrop, laced with dark humor and unexpected twists, earned praise for its “delightfully unpredictable” narrative and stellar ensemble, including Kathryn Hunter, Ella Lily Hyland, Gabrielle Creevy, Agnes O’Casey, and Molly Chesworth.

Season 2 picks up after the “misadventures of last Christmas,” with Helen still betraying national secrets to the Black Doves while her husband Wallace (Buchan) ascends toward Prime Minister. As Mrs. Reed becomes ensnared in a ruthless plot to undermine her position, Helen reunites with Sam for a more dangerous mission. Lancashire’s Mrs. Reed, the steely spymaster with a hidden soft spot, remains a fan favorite for her commanding presence. “Sarah brings such depth to Reed—layered, lethal, and utterly captivating,” Barton said. Whishaw’s Sam, the reluctant hero nursing regrets and hangovers, returns for “low-rate hits and high-wire alliances,” while Knightley’s Helen walks “a more treacherous line than ever.”

The new cast additions are a powerhouse lineup designed to deepen the intrigue. Ambika Mod (One Day) joins as Laila, an “acerbic and anarchic” Black Doves agent assisting Helen; Babou Ceesay (Gangs of London) as Mr. Conteh, a shadowy executive; Sam Riley (On the Road) as Patrick, a mysterious operative offering Sam a lifeline; Neve Campbell (Scream) in an undisclosed role; Sylvia Hoeks (Blade Runner 2049) as a formidable adversary; Goran Kostić (The Last Kingdom) adding Eastern European menace; and Samuel Barnett (The Capture) in a supporting part. “To have so many of our amazing cast returning and add some of my absolute favourite actors is such a great joy,” Barton enthused.

Filming is underway in London, with no premiere date yet announced, but producers promise “guns and champagne” in equal measure. Anne Mensah, Netflix UK’s VP of Content, called it “best-in-class writing meets extraordinary acting in a dark alley.” The first season’s holiday-tinged espionage, blending Killing Eve‘s wit with The Night Manager‘s tension, drew 28 million hours viewed in its debut week. Season 2 ups the ante: Downing Street intrigue, ruthless betrayals, and Helen’s balancing act between love and loyalty.

Lancashire, 60, fresh from Happy Valley‘s Catherine Cawood, brings gravitas to Reed’s unraveling. “Sarah’s return is everything—her presence commands the screen,” Featherstone said. With Whishaw’s Sam reduced to “lonely drinks in Soho bars” and Knightley’s Helen navigating prime ministerial shadows, the sequel vows to be “bigger, bolder, and just as delightfully unpredictable.”

Black Doves isn’t just a spy thriller—it’s a seductive dive into power’s underbelly. As production ramps up, one thing’s certain: Mrs. Reed’s plot thickens, and the Doves are flying higher than ever. Stream Season 1 now; the reckoning awaits.