# Keira Knightley and Joe Barton on Helen's Death Choice

> Keira Knightley and 'Black Doves' creator Joe Barton reveal why Helen should have been killed in Season 2.
- Title: Keira Knightley and Joe Barton on Helen's Death Choice
- Summary: Keira Knightley and 'Black Doves' creator Joe Barton reveal why Helen should have been killed in Season 2.
- Keywords: keira knightley, black doves, helen webb, joe barton, season 2, dani, gabrielle creevy, neve campbell, somerset house, oner, Variety
- Source: Variety — https://variety.com/2026/tv/global/keira-knightley-black-doves-creator-joe-barton-dani-death-season-3-1236941609
- Author: K.J. Yossman
- Published: 2026-11-07T19:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: keira knightley, black doves, helen webb, joe barton, season 2, dani, gabrielle creevy, neve campbell, somerset house, oner, entertainment, culture
## Season 2 Focus
Keira Knightley and Joe Barton discuss shifting focus from Helen's backstory to Reed's in 'Black Doves' Season 2.

> It organically came out the storytelling process of Reed’s backstory, and the idea of the sins of the past coming forward and everyone suffering for them.
## Helen's Motherhood
Knightley reveals she was given a script to shoot a nanny but argued it was unrealistic for a mother with children.

> But she has taken the kids, so we do have to kill the nanny.
## Breastfeeding Scene
Knightley explains the scene where Helen's breasts leak milk while shooting Franz mirrors her pregnancy in Season 1.

> That’s what I love about it, because life doesn’t stop just because you’ve got other stuff.
## Prime Minister's Wife
Barton clarifies that the prime minister's wife doesn't get a security detail in real life.

> The prime minister’s wife doesn’t get a security detail, so it’s very realistic.
## Slow Horses Comparison
Barton states 'Black Doves' is more fantasy than 'Slow Horses' which takes place in the real world.

> I think the big difference between us and them is ostensibly 'Slow Horses' takes place in the real world, and I don’t think we do.
## Dani's Death
Knightley explains she wanted to kill Dani but was given the chance to kill Gabrielle Creevy instead.

> I don’t think it’s OK that she tried to fuck my husband and kill me on Christmas Eve.
## Neve Campbell
Barton mentions killing off Neve Campbell's character Cecile was shocking but he didn't consider bringing her back.

> I just thought it would be so shocking to do that to poor Neve.
## Somerset House Oner
Knightley describes shooting a chase scene through Somerset House in a single take with five takes.

> We didn’t have a lot of time to rehearse that sequence, and all of a sudden, Julian [Farino, the director] said, 'Actually, I want to shoot it in a oner.'
## Christmas Nod
Barton explains they had to digitally add a Christmas tree to Trafalgar Square after Christmas.

> We had to digitally put the tree in. The first [season] we were chasing Christmas, and this one we were running from it.
## Season 3 Hopes
Barton says he's in a writers' room for Season 3 and hopes it will happen.

> I’m in a writers’ room for it at the moment, and we’re hoping.
## Key takeaway

Keira Knightley and 'Black Doves' creator Joe Barton explain why Helen Webb should have been killed in Season 2, with Dani being the character chosen instead.