Keira Knightley gets her own Slow Horses with Black Doves, a six-part espionage series which proves that the Brits remain the undisputed masters of spy fiction. Far glossier than its ragamuffin Apple TV+ compatriot,

Gritty spy thrillers aren't the usual Christmas fare, but new Netflix drama Black Doves does have a festive setting. It stars Keira Knightley, who had the standout role in the great Christmas film Love Actually, and Ben Whishaw, the voice of Paddington, playing against type as a gun-toting hitman.

Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw deck the walls with gore in this fun Christmas thriller - 4/5 This is great escapist fun

Keira Knightley didn’t have an extensive background in the world of espionage before taking on the role of a wife, mother and spy in the new Netflix series “Black Doves.” That didn’t stop her from relating to the character because of the years Knightley has spent as an actress and a mom.

Netflix's new spy thriller Black Doves is set to premiere on the streaming platform this week and stars Keira Knightley in the lead role of Helen Webb

The London of Black Doves (Netflix, from Thursday, December 5), a shiny stocking-filler with a difference, is straight out of the Richard Curtis school of glossy seasonal entertainment.