Slow Horses on Apple TV+: Series 5 start date and cast confirmed as Gary Oldman returns to spy thriller
Natasha Rigler | 12:38pm Thu 4 Sep | Updated 12:44pm Thu 4 SepSlow Horses is exploding back onto Apple TV+ for series 5 – and it all kicks off with a mass shooting of 11 people.
Fans of the spy thriller will be delighted to learn that Gary Oldman will be returning to the small screen as Jackson Lamb for the fifth season in just a matter of weeks.
Expect to once again be kept on the edge of your seat with explosive drama, be perplexed by more confusing plot twists and find yourself musing at the show’s dark humour. Here’s what we know about series five of Slow Horses, including start date, how many episodes and cast.
Gary Oldman is back as Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses [Credit: Apple TV+]
Slow Horses series 5: Ticking time-bomb
Series 5 of Slow Horses will definitely not start slowly, although would you expect anything else? The new season jumps straight in with a mass shooting off 11 people. But that is just the start.
Diana Taverner believes tech geek Roddy Ho is linked to the atrocity and puts Slough House in lockdown. Roddy is swaggering around with a glamorous new girlfriend called Tara on his arm, which massively raises suspicions.
In a trailer for the new series, Jackson surmises to Roddy: “Nothing raises my spidey senses as much as hearing a woman is happy to spend time with you.”
Very quickly, it’s concluded those responsible are plotting to bring down the entire country. Described as an “apocalypse”, there is suddenly a staggering 5,000 targets on the hit list.
Never ones to panic in a crisis, the dysfunctional team of MI5 agents are on the case. The only trouble is, a series of bizarre events around London is seriously confusing their line of investigation.
The race really is on when Slough House is suddenly given just one hour to thwart the enemy’s final actions on their list. And just like that, all the agents’ computer systems shut down… Is Roddy’s new girlfriend behind it all?
Kristin Scott Thomas and James Callis are also back for series 5 [Credit: Apple TV+]
Who stars in series 5 of Slow Horses?
Gary Oldman is joined by all the Slow Horses favourites when the espionage drama returns for its fifth season. Gary will once again take on the role of Jackson Lamb – and he is as cantankerous as ever!
Kristin Scott Thomas reprises the part of Diana Taverner, MI5 Deputy Director-General and Head of Operations. Still hating being second in command, all Diana’s decisions in the investigation will be made in a desperate attempt to move up to the top spot. Will she succeed? Probably not.
Jack Lowden is also back as River Cartwright, Saskia Reeves returns as Catherine Standish and Christopher Chung will again play Roddy Ho. Roddy’s new girlfriend, Tara, is portrayed by actress Hiba Bennani.
Aimee-Ffion Edwards is reprising the role of Shirley Dander and Ruth Bradley returns as Emma Flyte. Sir Jonathan Pryce, who was nominated for both a BAFTA and Emmy Award this year for Slow Horses, is of course back as David Cartwright.
Season 4 Slow Horses stars, James Callis and Tom Brooke, will once again play Claude Whelan and J.K. Coe respectively. Nick Mohammed of Ted Lasso fame – and the upcoming series of Celebrity Traitors – also has a guest role in Slow Horses series 5. He will play Zafar Jaffrey, the Mayor of London.
Ted Lasso and Celebrity Traitors star Nick Mohammed plays the Mayor of London [Credit: Apple TV+]
How many episodes will there be?
The fifth series of Slow Horses will comprise of six episodes. Each one will be an hour long.
When does it start?
Slow Horses fans really haven’t got long to wait. The first episode for season five will drop onto Apple TV+ on Wednesday September 24, 2025.
The remaining five episodes will air weekly until October 29.
Will there be a season 6?
Although there is only six episodes in series 5, the sixth series of Slow Horses is just around the corner. In fact, season six has already finished filming. Yippee!
In an interview with Gary Oldman in June this year, Deadline reported that season six had wrapped. It was also said shooting for series 7 will get underway this autumn.
Gary told the publication Slow Horses is “truly the wonderful gift that keeps on giving”. He added: “I just adore the hell out of it, and the people. It is just such a wonderful thing really to be part of.”
