The Ultimate Behind-the-Scenes Tour of an On-Screen Spy’s Home: The Black Doves House
Step behind the scenes of Black Doves, the gripping Netflix thriller that had us hooked from the very first frame, and discover the real star of the show — the house. Nestled in the heart of Crystal Palace, this grand Victorian home played a leading role as the on-screen residence of Helen, brought to life by Keira Knightley. But what’s it really like to have your home turned into a film set for one of the most-watched series on television? We sat down with homeowner Lisa Thoy for an exclusive look inside the house — and the once-in-a-lifetime experience that came with it.
Inside the Victorian Home That Became the Real Star of Black Doves
When Netflix’s most talked-about thriller Black Doves began airing, viewers were captivated not only by Keira Knightley’s performance but by the grand, elegant Victorian home in Crystal Palace that served as its central backdrop. This remarkable property became the on-screen residence of Helen Webb for four months of filming, requiring homeowner Lisa Thoy and her family to vacate entirely while a crew of up to 80 people transformed every room, repainted every wall, and even constructed a shed in the garden for one of the show’s most memorable scenes. Behind the Black Doves door lies a genuinely extraordinary story of a family home becoming a piece of screen history, and House of Coco sat down with Lisa for the full, exclusive behind-the-scenes account.
From Drain Disasters to Drone Shots, the Filming Experience Was Unlike Anything Else
The production process was as dramatic as the show itself. Every room was painted, the beautiful deVOL kitchen cabinetry was hidden behind a faux wood facade, and a wall was built mid-guest-room to create Helen’s fictional dressing room. The house remained in perpetual Christmas from October until February, with successive trees dying and being replaced with all decorations rehung identically for continuity. Lisa’s youngest son even managed to appear as an extra, visible at around minute six of the first episode. The whole family gathered round to watch the first episode, which was hugely exciting, particularly when they saw the first glimpse of the house. Now listed with Hamptons, this grand, elegant, and imposing property is ready for its next chapter and its next custodian.
Behind the Black Doves Door
We love to uncover the lives behind the locations — what’s your story?
I’m Lisa Thoy. I’m married with three boys. Although I gave up my career to raise the children, I now spend much of my time working as a volunteer mentor for Breast Cancer Now (the biggest UK breast cancer charity), supporting women who are battling the disease. Alongside this role, I’m a passionate fundraiser for both Breast Cancer Now and the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity — both of which are very dear to my heart as I’m a breast cancer survivor myself.
A House with History — and Star Power
Every great home has a story. What first drew you to this one, and how did it become yours? How long have you lived here — and what makes it so special to you?
We bought the house in September 2016, despite having had no intention of moving to Crystal Palace! I came to view the property out of sheer nosiness as we had intended to buy in Dulwich, but I immediately fell hopelessly in love with it. I pretty much decided I wanted to buy it the minute I walked into the hall and stood under the spectacularly beautiful archway (without having even seen any of the rooms!)
The house needed some TLC, but I could see it had enormous potential to be a fabulous home. We spent seven months renovating and moved in April 2017. We have loved every minute of being here, and I think what makes it unique is that, despite its Victorian elegance and grandeur, it still retains warmth and cosiness which make it an ideal family home. We feel incredibly blessed to have been the lucky custodians of such a stunning property for eight years, but as our children have now flown (or are about to fly) the nest, it’s time to hand it over to another family.
When did Black Doves enter the picture? Were you approached about using your home — or was it something you actively pursued? We’d love to hear how it all unfolded.
We had quite recently signed up with a locations agent with the intention of hosting the odd photoshoot, and the first job we did was exactly that – a very straightforward three-hour shoot. The second offer we received was for the Black Doves shoot which was another proposition altogether, requiring us to vacate the property for four months. My initial reaction was that my husband would never agree to such a huge disruption to our lives, but after discussing it with him, we decided it would be something of an adventure (not to mention rather lucrative!) and so we said yes.
Have any other films or shows used this house as a location?
We haven’t had any other tv or film shoots here, but the property has been used for filming of ads and stills for companies such as Jo Malone, VO5, and Harper’s Bazaar.
Life at the Black Doves Filming Location
From the first location scout to the final day on set, what was it really like having a production of this scale take over your home?
The process began with a series of ‘recces’ (short for reconnaissance), during which various members of the production team and crew visited the house to decide on its suitability. There’s obviously much to consider with a production of this scale so in addition to deciding whether the house has the right aesthetic for the show, they also need to look at accessibility, whether there’s space to accommodate a large crew (there were up to 80 people on set!), where they can park their vast fleet of vehicles, and set up catering, etc. This early stage also involved production seeking permission from the council to use local parks and communicating on a regular basis with local residents.
The next part of the equation was moving us out — the production company engaged a removals firm who sent in a crack team to pack up all of our stuff and the house was emptied within a couple of days.
Phase two was ‘Prep’ which took around three weeks and involved the team transforming our family home into the home of ‘Wallace and Helen’. There were two blocks of filming – one in November/December and one in January, and then finally a period of ‘Strike’ where they transform the house back again, deal with any damage and losses, and (in theory!) put everything back the way it was before.
With a crew that size and your home as the backdrop, surely not everything went to plan… Any memorable surprises or on-set mishaps?
To be honest, the initial challenge was for them to find us alternative accommodation –largely the fault of our pesky pooch, Wolfgang, as most short-term lets don’t allow pets. This challenge was rather trumped though by a major issue with the drains on the very first day of filming, meaning that all six toilets in the house were immediately out of action and extra facilities had to quickly be procured — even ‘the talent’ had to suffer the ignominy of schlepping out of the house and down the street to the portaloos!
Transforming a family home into a fictional set is no small feat — what kind of changes did the team make to give it that on-screen magic?
The house was changed beyond recognition in those initial three weeks of prep. Every room was painted a different colour, our beautiful deVOL kitchen cabinetry was hidden behind a faux wood facade, a wall was built across the middle of our guest room to create a fake dressing room for ‘Helen’, and a shed was erected in the garden for the sole purpose of dispatching poor old ‘Elmore Fitch’!
The show was also set at Christmas so the festive period at Tudor Road extended from October until February! A succession of Christmas trees was brought in, but then died and had to be replaced, with all decorations having to be rehung in the exact same way for continuity.
What was the timeline like for filming, and did you remain in the house throughout — or were you temporarily displaced by the production?
Initially, there was to be just one period of filming, but one of the cast had a clash of commitments so the shoot had to be split into two blocks – one before and one after Christmas. We moved out of the house in October ’23. It was quite quickly decided that it would be too much hassle to move us back in between the two blocks, so we stayed out for four months. The production team rented an apartment for us nearby, so we were very comfortably accommodated – and, more importantly, able to regularly pop back and check that the house was still standing.
You had a front-row seat to the action — were there any unforgettable moments or insider glimpses from the cast or crew you can share?
The production team are incredibly protective of the set and of the cast, so try as we might, we couldn’t extract much gossip from them. But I was lucky enough to be on set for a couple of days of filming, which was fascinating.
My youngest son, Zachy, is a budding thespian/director and managed to inveigle his way into a role as an extra — if you look carefully at around minute six of episode one, you might see the back of his head at the end of the street! There were also a couple of scenes shot in the street, which proved hugely popular with the neighbours, who all flocked to get a glimpse of Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw wafting around Tudor Road.
The Aftermath: Fame, Memories, and One Framed Sign
Has your home become a bit of a celebrity in its own right since the series aired? Any fan sightings or paparazzi moments?
Not that I know of, but I remain on high alert for any paps (paparazzi) hiding in the bushes! We did have a fair amount of press coverage immediately after the show dropped on Netflix, which was all rather exciting.
Was there a particular scene filmed in your home that stands out as a favourite — one that felt especially surreal or memorable to watch?
Certainly the most surreal scene for me was ‘Helen’ watching TV in my sitting room, whilst I was in that same sitting room, watching Helen watch TV in my sitting room! My favourite, though, is probably the drone shot at the end of the final episode, where the camera pans out from the terrace — showing me a view of my house that I had certainly never seen before.
Did you manage to hang on to any props or pieces from the set — a little slice of screen history, perhaps?
There wasn’t much up for grabs, but I did manage to pinch a Sister Productions ‘No Crew Access’ sign, which I’ve framed for posterity!
Now that you’ve lived through the full filming experience, would you ever do it again — or is this a one-time-only credit?
I’m not sure I would do it again on that scale — two house moves in four months are really not for the faint-hearted! Maybe, with enough of a gap in between, it’ll be like childbirth — I’ll forget how painful it was and consider going again!
A Grand Home with a Heart
From grand gatherings to quiet moments, what are the things you’ve loved most about life in this home?
That’s a tough one, as there’s so much to love! We started married life in a studio flat and didn’t even have a bedroom, so having 6,000 square feet of space here never gets old. The garden is wonderful too, and I love having the capacity to entertain on a grand scale — from outdoor summer soirées on the terrace to our annual Christmas parties.
The only space that’s all mine, though, is my dressing room — it’s out of bounds to film crews, marauding children, and grumpy husbands, so you’ll often find me hiding in there!
We’ve also fallen in love with Crystal Palace, which is home to so many independent shops, fantastic eateries, and my beloved Everyman Cinema, which is five minutes’ walk away. There’s a wonderful and vibrant community here, and we love being so close to the action, with ‘The Triangle’ just footsteps away.
What was it like seeing your own home on screen — knowing it was being viewed by millions around the world?
The whole family gathered round to watch the first episode, which was hugely exciting –particularly when we saw the first glimpse of the house. It’s rather strange to think that thousands of other viewers have seen the interior of your home — but then again, it was really Helen’s home they saw, not mine!
How would you distill the essence of this home into three words?
Grand, Elegant, and Imposing.
As the final credits roll on Black Doves, the story of this remarkable home is far from over. With its cinematic legacy, elegant design, and unbeatable location, the property is now looking for its next chapter — and its next custodian. Listed with Hamptons, this is a rare opportunity to own a piece of screen history — and a home with real heart.
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