Created and adapted for television by British screenwriter Will Smith.
Slow Horses first season debuted on April 1, 2022.
Distributed exclusively by Apple TV+.
Series Review
Slow Horses dives into the spy genre’s underbelly by following a ragtag team of MI5 misfits exiled to “desk prison” at Slough House.
Gary Oldman commands every scene as Jackson Lamb, a foul-mouthed veteran whose sarcasm and strategic genius drive the action.
Jack Lowden shines as River Cartwright, a hot-headed recruit fighting for redemption under Lamb’s reluctant mentorship.
Kristin Scott Thomas adds icy precision as MI5’s deputy director, while Olivia Cooke brings sharp wit and tech-savvy flair as Slough House’s indispensable operator.
Each six-episode season blends dark humor, nail-biting suspense, and surprising emotional truths, whether it’s Lamb’s whiskey-stained monologues, Cartwright’s field-trial moments, or tech breakthroughs that crack high-stakes cases.
With crisp writing, lean pacing, and standout performances, Slow Horses earns its reputation as one of television’s most consistently thrilling spy dramas.
Ratings
• IMDb: 8.3/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
• Google Audience Score: 91% liked this TV show.
Slow Horses Actors
Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb
DOB: March 21, 1958
Bio: One of the most transformative actors of his generation, Gary Oldman has built an extraordinary career across film, television, and stage.
From explosive early roles like Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy to his Oscar-winning portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, Oldman has consistently disappeared into characters with a rare combination of precision, fire, and vulnerability.
Role: As Jackson Lamb, Oldman embodies the unkempt, sharp-tongued, and seemingly washed-up leader of Slough House, MI5’s dumping ground for failed agents.
Seasons & Episodes: 1–5 (all episodes)
What to Expect: Cutting witty monologues, unexpected empathy, whiskey-fueled strategies, and even strategic flatulence.
Favorite Things: Cigarettes, rock music (Dylan, Stones), comfort food, and live theatre.
Notable Works: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Darkest Hour, Harry Potter series, Sid and Nancy.
Jack Lowden as River Cartwright
DOB: June 2, 1990
Bio: A BAFTA-winning Scottish actor, Jack Lowden has carved out a reputation for intense, emotionally layered performances on both screen and stage.
Rising to prominence with standout roles in War & Peace and Dunkirk, Lowden brings classical training, natural charisma, and quiet volatility to every role.
Role: Ambitious MI5 agent demoted to Slough House after a tragic training accident; his journey pits ambition against loyalty.
Seasons & Episodes: 1–5 (all episodes)
What to Expect: A gripping arc, anger, redemption, mentorship tension, and surgical emotional depth .
Favorite Things: Wild swimming in Scotland, audiobooks, sketching.
Notable Works: Dunkirk, War & Peace, Dunkirk.
Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner
DOB: May 24, 1960
Bio: A Dame of the British Empire and one of cinema’s most refined performers, Kristin Scott Thomas has long been synonymous with elegance, poise, and steely intensity.
Her breakout came with Four Weddings and a Funeral, but it was The English Patient that earned her an Oscar nomination and global acclaim.
Role: Diana Taverner, the calculating Deputy Director General of MI5, is both a power broker and a survivalist in the murky waters of British intelligence.
Seasons & Episodes: 1–5 (all episodes)
What to Expect: Cold, controlled scheming, and verbal duels with Lamb.
Favorite Things: Quiet countryside walks, classic novels, and capsule wardrobes .
Notable Works: The English Patient, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Gosford Park.
Olivia Cooke as Sidonie “Sid” Baker
DOB: December 27, 1993
Bio: A chameleon of the screen, Olivia Cooke has proven herself across genres, from psychological horror in Bates Motel to award-nominated indie drama in Sound of Metal and fantasy spectacle in House of the Dragon.
With roots in Oldham, England, Cooke trained at the Oldham Theatre Workshop before launching a global career that balances intellect, emotional precision, and dark humor.
Role: Sidonie “Sid” Baker is the analytical brain of Slough House, a quietly competent MI5 agent whose knack for information retrieval and cool under pressure keeps the misfit team afloat.
Seasons & Episodes: 1–5 (all episodes)
What to Expect: Tech-savvy revelations, biting humor, and emotional grit.
Favorite Things: Ballet, DIY tech tinkering, digestive biscuits, and PG Tips tea.
Notable Works: Bates Motel, Sound of Metal, House of the Dragon.
Saskia Reeves as Catherine Standish
DOB: August 16, 1961
Bio: A masterclass in subtlety and emotional weight, Saskia Reeves has built an impressive career across British stage and screen.
From Notting Hill to Luther and The Child in Time, her work is defined by quiet authority and emotional clarity.
Role: As Jackson Lamb’s long-suffering but fiercely loyal assistant, Catherine Standish is the soul of Slough House.
Seasons & Episodes: 1–4 (all episodes)
What to Expect: Dry humor, heartfelt restraint, and surprising wisdom.
Favorite Things: Gardening, organized routines, and morning coffee.
Notable Works: Close My Eyes, The Outrun, Us.
Rosalind Eleazar as Louisa Guy
DOB: August 29, 1988
Bio: Rosalind Eleazar is a rising force in British drama, known for her commanding presence on both stage and screen.
She made waves in The Personal History of David Copperfield, starred in The Crown, and won the prestigious Clarence Derwent Award for her role in Uncle Vanya alongside Toby Jones.
Role: Louisa Guy is one of Slough House’s most capable field agents, sharp, no-nonsense, and emotionally armored.
Seasons & Episodes: 1–4 (all episodes)
What to Expect: Emotional arcs, sharp instincts, and dark humor.
Favorite Things: Intellectual conversation, art, and emotional honesty.
Notable Works: Missing You, Deep Water, Uncle Vanya.
Christopher Chung as Roddy Ho
DOB: July 13, 1988
Bio: Christopher Chung is an Irish–Malaysian–Chinese actor who broke out with his scene-stealing performance as Roddy Ho in Slow Horses, earning a BAFTA nomination.
A former personal trainer turned stage and screen actor, Chung is celebrated for bringing authenticity and subversive charm to his roles.
Role: Slough House’s unpredictable tech genius, comic, genius, and emotionally evolving.
Seasons & Episodes: 1–5 (all episodes)
What to Expect: Tech breakthroughs spiced with quirky humor and mentorship moments.
Favorite Things: Fitness routines, coding puzzles, ramen nights.
Notable Works: Waterloo Road, Doctor Who, Doctors.
Jonathan Pryce as David Cartwright
DOB: June 1, 1947
Bio: Sir Jonathan Pryce is one of Britain’s most acclaimed actors, known for his magnetic presence on both stage and screen.
From his dystopian breakout in Brazil to his Academy Award–nominated performance as Pope Francis in The Two Popes, Pryce has mastered roles that blend intellect, moral ambiguity, and aching humanity.
Role: David Cartwright is River’s grandfather, a once-formidable MI5 field officer now confronting the twilight of both mind and mission.
Seasons & Episodes: 1–4 (all episodes)
What to Expect: Quiet authority, heartbreak, and a stirring family legacy.
Favorite Things: Chess, memoirs, and reflective walks.
Notable Works: Brazil, The Two Popes, Game of Thrones.
Hugo Weaving as Frank Harkness
DOB: April 4, 1960
Bio: Hugo Weaving is a powerhouse of international cinema, best known for iconic roles like Agent Smith in The Matrix trilogy, Elrond in The Lord of the Rings, and V in V for Vendetta.
Trained at Sydney’s NIDA, Weaving has balanced blockbuster dominance with critically acclaimed indie and stage work (The Interview, Little Fish, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui).
Role: Frank Harkness is River Cartwright’s estranged father and a morally compromised operative who’s spent decades navigating global espionage in the grayest areas of the intelligence world.
Seasons & Episodes: 4–5 (all episodes)
What to Expect: Tense encounters, chilling charm, and an unpredictable father-son duel.
Favorite Things: Gardening, pickling, and challenging stereotypes.
Notable Works: The Matrix, Lord of the Rings, V for Vendetta.
Aimee‑Ffion Edwards as Shirley Dander
DOB: November 21, 1987
Bio: Aimee-Ffion Edwards is a Welsh powerhouse of performance known for her emotionally charged roles across British television.
Her breakout came in Skins, followed by unforgettable turns in Peaky Blinders (as Esme Shelby), Broadchurch, and The Crown.
Role: Shirley Dander is a gifted hacker and analyst assigned to Slough House after a classified mission spirals out of control.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 2 (all episodes)
What to Expect: Emotional tension, mental strain, and cunning diligence.
Favorite Things: Sketching and wandering city streets.
Notable Works: Luther, Peaky Blinders, Elden Ring.
Sope Dirisu as Sean Donovan
DOB: January 9, 1991
Bio: An alum of the Royal Shakespeare Company and a former National Youth Theatre standout, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù is a British-Nigerian actor praised for both classical precision and modern grit.
With acclaimed performances in His House, Gangs of London, and Black Mirror, Dìrísù has carved a niche for portraying men torn between duty and conscience.
Role: Sean Donovan is a skilled former MI5 operative transferred to Slough House under mysterious circumstances.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 3 (all episodes)
What to Expect: Field intensity, moral ambiguity, and emotional heat.
Favorite Things: Theater, cooking, and analytical thinking.
Notable Works: Gangs of London, Black Mirror, His House.
Katherine Waterston as Alison Dunn
DOB: March 3, 1980
Bio: A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Katherine Waterston is known for bringing depth and sensitivity to roles across film and television.
With breakout turns in Inherent Vice, Fantastic Beasts, and Alien: Covenant, she has carved a reputation for emotionally nuanced, introspective performances.
Role: Alison Dunn is River Cartwright’s thoughtful, guarded sister whose reappearance in Season 3 brings unresolved family history to the surface.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 3 (all episodes)
What to Expect: Subtle emotional complexity, familial tension, and moral exploration.
Favorite Things: Quiet reflection, reading, and depth in performance prep.
Notable Works: Inherent Vice, Fantastic Beasts, Alien: Covenant, The World to Come.
More Actors
Season 1 (2022)
• Dustin Demri‑Burns as Min Harper
• Steven Waddington as Jed Moody
• Paul Higgins as Struan Loy
• Chris Reilly as Nick Duffy
• Freddie Fox as “Spider” Webb
• Samuel West as Peter Judd MP
• Antonio Aakeel as Hassan Ahmed
Season 2 (2023)
• Kadiff Kirwan as Marcus Longridge
• Rade Šerbedžija as Nikolai Katinsky
• Alec Utgoff as Arkady Pashkin
• Catherine McCormack as Alex Tropper
• Adrian Rawlins as Duncan Tropper
• Tamsin Topolski as Kelly Tropper
• Phil Davis as “Dickie” Bow
Season 3 (2024)
• Charlie Rowe as Ben Dunn
• Eliot Salt as Sarah Dunn
• Nick Blood as Sturges
• Gavin Spokes as Sly Monteith
Season 4 (2024)
• Tom Brooke as J.K. Coe
• Joanna Scanlan as Moira Tregorian
• Ruth Bradley as Emma Flyte
• James Callis as Claude Whelan
• Sean Gilder as “Bad” Sam Chapman
FAQ – Slow Horses TV Series
When does Season 5 premiere?
Season 5 is confirmed to arrive on September 24, 2025 on Apple TV+, with two episodes dropping simultaneously and the remainder released weekly through October 22
What book does Season 5 adapt?
It follows the fifth book in the series, London Rules, and continues with the same six-episode format adopted in earlier seasons
Plot expectations for Season 5?
Set in London, the season focuses on Roddy Ho amid terror threats tied to his new romantic interests, while the team navigates political intrigue, aligning closely with the book’s narrative.
How many seasons will Slow Horses run?
Apple TV+ has greenlit Seasons 6 and 7 already. Season 6 will adapt Joe Country and Slough House, while Season 7 will follow Bad Actors.
Is each season standalone or sequential?
Each season adapts a different book from Mick Herron’s series.
While standalone plots exist, a continuing character arc and relational development create a cohesive narrative through Season 4.
Where and how can I watch it?
Slow Horses is exclusive to Apple TV+, available in over 100 countries.
How many Emmy’s did slow horses win?
Slow Horses has won one Primetime Emmy Award, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series in 2024, out of nine nominations.
Conclusion
In the end , Slow Horses proves that spy stories thrive when centered on flawed characters rather than flawless heroes.
Its blend of dark comedy, emotional stakes, and clever plotting keeps viewers invested from the first desk-bound mission to the final clandestine showdown.
With a powerhouse cast led by Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden, every episode delivers unexpected twists and unforgettable moments.
Whether you love sharp dialogue or tense suspense, Slow Horses stands out as a modern classic that redefines what a spy drama can be.