Slow Horses
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Slow Horses. A British spy thriller series, based on Mick Herron’s Slough House novels, created by Will Smith. It plunges us into the murky depths of MI5, a unit where disgraced or failed agents are banished, all under the watchful, and often scathing, eye of Jackson Lamb, portrayed by the incomparable Gary Oldman. Alongside him, a stellar cast including Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sophie Okonedo, Jonathan Pryce, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar, and Christopher Chung.
The series first graced our screens on Apple TV+ on April 1st, 2022, and was met with resounding critical acclaim. The first four seasons masterfully adapted the novels Slow Horses, Dead Lions, Real Tigers, and Spook Street, respectively. And the fifth, based on London Rules, is set to premiere on September 24th, 2025. But the story doesn't end there. Slow Horses has already been renewed for a sixth and seventh season, bringing us Joe Country, Slough House (series 6), and Bad Actors (series 7).
So, what exactly is Slough House? It’s the ultimate banishment room. A place for MI5 rejects who’ve messed up, but not quite enough to be sacked. They’re the “slow horses,” a wry nod to their perceived slowness in both thought and action. Their days are filled with drudgery, routine tasks, and the constant, cutting wit of their miserable boss, Jackson Lamb. He expects them to quit, to wither away from boredom or frustration. Life here is defined by drudgery. Yet, against all odds, these slow horses find themselves entangled in investigations that put Britain itself in peril.
Leading the charge, Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb. Unkempt, flatulent, and utterly rude, his sour wit masks a sharp tactical mind and an unwavering loyalty to his agents, his "Joes." Then there’s Jack Lowden as River Cartwright, a promising MI5 agent abruptly demoted after a very public training exercise blunder. Kristin Scott Thomas embodies Diana Taverner, the Deputy Director General of MI5, head of operations, and the designated "Second Desk." Sophie Okonedo is Ingrid Tearney, the Director General, often called "First Desk." Jonathan Pryce plays David Cartwright, River's grandfather, a retired senior MI5 officer and former First Desk, known affectionately as "The OB." Hugo Weaving is Frank Harkness, a ruthless mercenary with a hidden connection to River. Saskia Reeves as Catherine Standish, the office administrator, battling her demons. Rosalind Eleazar is Louisa Guy, sent to Slough House after a tail operation went disastrously wrong. Christopher Chung is Roddy Ho, the obnoxious tech genius whose skills the Slow Horses desperately rely on. And Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Shirley Dander, grappling with anger and drug issues.
The cast is further bolstered by special guests like Katherine Waterston as Alison Dunn, an agent who uncovers a dark agency secret, and Sope Dirisu as Sean Donovan, a former head of security.
Within Slough House itself, we meet Dustin Demri-Burns as Min Harper, banished for a careless mistake. Olivia Cooke as Sidonie "Sid" Baker, a competent agent inexplicably assigned to the house. Steven Waddington as Jed Moody, an ex-member of the elite "Dogs" unit. Paul Higgins as Struan Loy, sent there for an inappropriate email. Kadiff Kirwan as Marcus Longridge, who has a penchant for gambling on the job. Joanna Scanlan as Moira Tregorian, one of the "Queens of the Database." And Tom Brooke as J.K. Coe, the newest recruit, a reclusive operative suffering from PTSD.
The series also features a host of other notable characters, including Chris Reilly as Nick Duffy, head of the ruthless "Dogs"; Samuel West as Peter Judd MP, a rising politician; Freddie Fox as James "Spider" Webb, a smug MI5 agent; Naomi Wirthner as Molly Doran, a curmudgeonly records keeper; Sean Gilder as "Bad" Sam Chapman, a former Head Dog turned private detective; Ruth Bradley as Emma Flyte, the new head of the Dogs; and James Callis as Claude Whelan, the bumbling Director General.
Across its seasons, Slow Horses has consistently delivered gripping narratives, adapting Mick Herron’s acclaimed novels. From the initial downfall of its agents to intricate conspiracies and personal vendettas, each season weaves a complex tapestry of espionage and intrigue.
The production itself has been a journey. Ordered straight to series by Apple TV+ in October 2019, each season is meticulously crafted to bring the Slough House novels to life. Filming began in late 2020, navigating the challenges of a global pandemic, with locations across England adding to the gritty realism. The acclaimed title track, "Strange Game," was even penned by Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, collaborating with composer Daniel Pemberton, adding another layer of iconic artistry to the series.
And the reception? Nothing short of phenomenal. All five series have garnered widespread critical acclaim. Rotten Tomatoes consistently awards high approval ratings, praising the series for its refreshing take on the espionage genre, its compelling characters, and the masterful performances, particularly from Gary Oldman. Metacritic scores reflect this critical adoration, with each season lauded for its addictive nature and increasingly sophisticated storytelling. Gary Oldman himself has been recognized with multiple nominations for his portrayal of Jackson Lamb, including Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Emmy Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards, solidifying his performance as a modern classic. The series has also received numerous Primetime Emmy Award nominations, a testament to its outstanding quality.
Slow Horses. It’s more than just a spy thriller. It’s a story about redemption, about finding purpose in the unlikeliest of places, and about the enduring power of loyalty, even in the shadows of MI5.
Slow Horses is a British spy thriller television series based on the Slough House series of novels by Mick Herron, created by Will Smith. It follows an MI5 unit where disgraced or failed agents are consigned, under the supervision of Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman). It also stars Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sophie Okonedo, Jonathan Pryce, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar, and Christopher Chung.
The series premiered on Apple TV+ on 1 April 2022 to highly positive reviews. The first four series have adapted the novels Slow Horses, Dead Lions, Real Tigers, Spook Street, respectively. The fifth series, based on the novel London Rules, premiered on 24 September 2025. Slow Horses has been renewed for a sixth and seventh series, based on the novels Joe Country and Slough House (series 6) and Bad Actors (series 7).
== Premise ==
Slough House is a banishment room for MI5 service rejects who have seriously failed a task but not badly enough to get sacked. Those consigned there are known as "slow horses", a play on the name of the place itself, Slough House, and an expression for people who are slow at thinking and action. Those assigned there are expected to endure dull, routine tasks, along with occasional verbal abuse from their miserable boss, Jackson Lamb, who anticipates that they will leave out of boredom or frustration. Life in Slough House is defined by drudgery. Yet the slow horses somehow get involved in investigating cases that endanger Britain.
== Cast and characters ==
=== Main ===
Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, the head of Slough House who is unkempt, flatulent, rude and has a sour wit; all disguising a tactical sharpness and firm loyalty to his agents (or "Joes").
Jack Lowden as River Cartwright, an up-and-coming MI5 agent abruptly shunted to Slough House after a very public training-exercise blunder.
Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner, the Deputy Director General of MI5 and head of operations and designated "Second Desk".
Sophie Okonedo as Ingrid Tearney (series 3; special guest series 1), the Director General of MI5, often referred to as "First Desk".
Jonathan Pryce as David Cartwright (series 4; special guest series 1–3), River's grandfather, a retired senior MI5 officer who was once First Desk. He is often known/referred to as "The OB" or "The Old Bastard".
Hugo Weaving as Frank Harkness (series 4), a former CIA operative turned ruthless mercenary. He is later revealed to be River's biological father.
Saskia Reeves as Catherine Standish (series 5–present; co-starring series 1–4), office administrator, recovering alcoholic, still enamoured with her long-deceased superior.
Rosalind Eleazar as Louisa Guy (series 5–present; co-starring series 1–4), assigned to Slough House after a tail operation went badly wrong.
Christopher Chung as Roddy Ho (series 5–present; co-starring series 1–4), an obnoxious computer nerd and former hacktivist on whose brilliant tech skills the Slow Horses are forced to rely.
Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Shirley Dander (series 5–present; co-starring series 2–4), who has anger and drug issues.
=== Special guests ===
Katherine Waterston as Alison Dunn (series 3), an MI5 agent who uncovers a dark secret at the heart of the agency.
Sope Dirisu as Sean Donovan (series 3), a former head of security at the British embassy in Istanbul.
=== Slough House ===
Dustin Demri-Burns as Min Harper (series 1–2), assigned after absent-mindedly leaving a top-secret disk on the train.
Olivia Cooke as Sidonie "Sid" Baker (series 1), a competent, likeable MI5 agent inexplicably assigned to Slough House.
Steven Waddington as Jed Moody (series 1), an ex-member of the "Dogs", an MI5 internal affairs and tactical unit.
Paul Higgins as Struan Loy (series 1), assigned after sending an inappropriate work email.
Kadiff Kirwan as Marcus Longridge (series 2–4), who tends to gamble on the job.
Joanna Scanlan as Moira Tregorian (series 4–present), one of the Queens of the Database, banished to Slough House by Claude Whelan. She becomes Catherine's temporary replacement.
Tom Brooke as J.K. Coe (series 4–present), the newest 'Slow Horse' and former operative from Psych Eval. He is reclusive and suffers from PTSD.
=== Others ===
Notable other characters appearing in more than one series include:
Chris Reilly as Nick Duffy (series 1–3), head of MI5's internal affairs and ruthless tactical unit nicknamed the "Dogs".
Chris Coghill as Hobbs (series 1 & 3), a member of the Dogs.
Samuel West as Peter Judd MP (series 1–3), a right-wing Conservative politician with sharp elbows who is later promoted to Home Secretary.
Freddie Fox as James "Spider" Webb (series 1–3), a smug MI5 agent based at Regent's Park headquarters.
Naomi Wirthner as Molly Doran (series 2–present), a curmudgeonly MI5 records keeper at Regent's Park.
Sean Gilder as "Bad" Sam Chapman (series 2–4), former Head Dog and David Cartwright's bodyguard turned private detective, whom Lamb continues to consult.
Ruth Bradley as Emma Flyte (series 4–present), the straight-minded new head of the Dogs.
James Callis as Claude Whelan (series 4–present), the bumbling, over-promoted new Director General of MI5 or 'First Desk'.
Notable other characters appearing in Series 1 include:
Antonio Aakeel as Hassan Ahmed, Leeds University student kidnapped by the Sons of Albion.
Paul Hilton as Robert Hobden, a disgraced and struggling journalist with ties to extremist far-right groups.
Sam Hazeldine as Moe, the leader of the Sons of Albion, an extremist far-right group, with a secret to hide.
Brian Vernel as Curly, a fanatical member of the Sons of Albion.
Stephen Walters as Zeppo, a member of the Sons of Albion.
David Walmsley as Larry, a member of the Sons of Albion.
James Faulkner as Charles Partner (in flashbacks), a former Director General of MI5 during the Cold War, whom Standish worked for as his personal assistant.
Notable other characters appearing in Series 2 include:
Rade Šerbedžija as Nikolai Katinsky, a former KGB agent living in exile in London after defecting at the end of the Cold War.
Marek Vašut as Andre Chernitsky, a former KGB operative and assassin who operated during the Cold War.
Alec Utgoff as Arkady Pashkin, a fixer for oligarch Ilya Nevsky.
Catherine McCormack as Alex Tropper, a local resident in the small village of Upshott, the wife of Duncan and mother of Kelly.
Adrian Rawlins as Duncan Tropper, a pub owner in Upshott, the husband of Alex and father of Kelly.
Tamsin Topolski as Kelly Tropper, a pub barmaid in Upshott and the daughter of Alex and Duncan.
Phil Davis as Richard Bough, aka Dickie Bow, a former MI5 officer, who was disgraced and is long since retired.
Notable other characters appearing in Series 3 include:
Siôn Daniel Young as Douglas, an eccentric MI5 records keeper.
Charlie Rowe as Ben, a member of Donovan's team.
Eliot Salt as Sarah, a member of Donovan's team.
Gavin Spokes as Sly Monteith, head of the private security firm Chieftain.
Nick Blood as Sturges, a Chieftain operative.
Notable other characters appearing in Series 4 include:
Kiran Sonia Sawar as Giti Rahman, an MI5 agent at Regent's Park
Tom Wozniczka as Patrice, a mercenary working under Harkness
Anna Wilson-Jones (voice) as Isobel Cartwright, River's mother and David's daughter.
Notable other characters appearing in Series 5 include:
Nick Mohammed as Zafar Jaffrey, the Mayor of London who is seeking reelection
Hiba Bennani as Tara, Roddy's girlfriend
Christopher Villiers as Dennis Gimball, a firebrand right-wing MP running for Mayor
Victoria Hamilton as Dodie Gimball, Dennis' wife and campaign manager who writes for a newspaper column
Cherrelle Skeete as Devon Welles, Flyte's deputy and fellow former Met officer turned Dog
== Episodes ==
=== Series overview ===
=== Series 1 (2022) ===
Slow Horses is based on the novel of the same name by Mick Herron, which is part of the author's Slough House series. It tells the story of a team of British intelligence agents who have all committed career-ending mistakes, and subsequently work in a dumping ground department of MI5 called Slough House.
=== Series 2 (2022) ===
=== Series 3 (2023) ===
=== Series 4 (2024) ===
=== Series 5 (2025) ===
== Production ==
=== Development ===
The series was given a straight to series order by Apple TV+ in October 2019. Each of the first five series is based on an individual book in the Slough House set. In June 2022, ahead of the second series premiere, the show was renewed for a third and fourth series, which are based on the next novels Real Tigers and Spook Street. In January 2024, the programme was renewed for a fifth series, which will be based on the fifth book, London Rules. In October 2024, the show was renewed for a sixth series, which will be based on the sixth and seventh books, Joe Country and Slough House. The fifth series is scheduled to be released on 24 September 2025, with two new episodes, followed by a new episode on a weekly basis until the season finale on 22 October 2025. In July 2025, ahead of the fifth series premiere, Apple TV+ renewed for a seventh series which is to be based on Bad Actors.
=== Casting ===
In October 2019, along with the series order, Gary Oldman was announced to star. The cast was rounded out in December 2020 with the additions of Olivia Cooke, Jonathan Pryce, Kristin Scott Thomas and Jack Lowden.
=== Filming ===
Filming of the first series began on 30 November 2020 in England, and continued into February 2021. In July 2021, filming continued in Stroud, Gloucestershire. It was originally intended to film earlier in 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
By March 2023, filming for the third series had been completed and filming for the fourth series was about to begin. The fourth series was directed by Adam Randall.
=== Music ===
The title track "Strange Game" was performed by Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, who wrote the song for the show with the show's composer Daniel Pemberton.
== Reception ==
All five series of Slow Horses have received critical acclaim.
For the first series, Rotten Tomatoes lists a 95% approval rating with an average rating of 7.7/10, based on 60 critic reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Slow Horses refreshes the espionage genre by letting its band of snoops be bumbling, with Gary Oldman giving a masterclass in frumpy authority." On Metacritic, the first series has a weighted average score of 78 out of 100 based on 22 critics.
The second series received a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 8.5/10, based on 26 critics' reviews. The website's critical consensus says, "Slow Horses says nay to the sophomore jinx with a second series that might be even better than its supremely addictive predecessor." On Metacritic, series two has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 based on 10 critics. Oldman was nominated for a Golden Globe and BAFTA Award for his portrayal of Jackson Lamb.
The third series received a 98% approval rating from Rotten Tomatoes, with an average of 8.5/10, based on 44 critics' reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Slow Horses' shabby charms reach a full gallop in this superb third season, yielding what might just be Slough House's most compelling operation yet." On Metacritic, series three has a weighted average score of 85 out of 100 based on 21 critics. The third series received nine Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Gary Oldman, Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Jack Lowden and Outstanding Drama Series.
The fourth series received a 100% approval rating from Rotten Tomatoes, with an average of 8.6/10, based on reviews from 40 critics. The website's critical consensus says, "The stakes get more personal than ever before in Slow Horses' superb fourth season, proving that this spy series is saddled up for the long haul with no signs of fatigue." On Metacritic, series four has a weighted average score of 85 out of 100 based on 19 critics. Oldman was nominated for his second Golden Globe, second Emmy Award, second BAFTA Award, and first Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance.
The fifth series has received a 100% approval rating from Rotten Tomatoes based on reviews from 15 critics. On Metacritic, series five has a weighted average score of 85 out of 100 based on 6 critics.
=== Accolades ===
== Notes ==
== References ==
== External links ==
Official website
Slow Horses at IMDb
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