Fans of the British espionage thriller have waited with bated breath for the arrival of slow horses season 5. Mark your calendars: the hugely popular show is set to premiere its latest season on 24 September 2025. The first two episodes will drop on Apple TV+ that Wednesday, with the rest released weekly until late October.
After the gripping twists of previous instalments, anticipation across the UK for the new series could hardly be higher. The storylines remain top trending in Google searches, making slow horses season 5 one of Britain’s most hyped TV events this year.
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Release Date, Cast, Plot, and Everything We Know
Slow Horses season 5 is set to premiere on Apple TV Plus with a one-episode launch on September 24, 2025. The spy thriller, led by Gary Oldman as the slovenly yet brilliant Jackson Lamb, continues to build momentum, with season 6 already finished filming and season 7 announced. Based on Mick Herron’s novel “London Rules,” season 5 elevates the stakes as a series of terrorist attacks brings crisis directly to Slough House, forcing the team of outcast MI5 agents into action. The new season reportedly spotlights tech expert Roddy Ho, whose actions set off the chain of high-stakes events, and includes a guest appearance by Nick Mohammed as the Mayor of London. Returning cast includes Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar, Christopher Chung, and others. With its blend of dark humor, tense espionage, and timely political themes, season 5 promises both action and character-focused intrigue. Showrunner Will Smith teases slight plot changes from the book but assures the adaptation remains topical and gripping. As anticipation builds, fans can expect more surprises and incisive commentary in this acclaimed series’ next chapter.
Cast: Beloved Faces and New Additions
The ensemble cast continues to impress, bringing together a mix of acting legends and fresh talent. At the heart of Slow Horses is Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb. Oldman’s portrayal of Slough House’s unkempt, sardonic chief has drawn rave reviews and made Lamb an iconic character in British television.
Returning with Oldman are:
- Jack Lowden as River Cartwright, the once-promising MI5 agent aiming for redemption
- Kristin Scott Thomas as the calculating MI5 deputy director Diana Taverner
- Saskia Reeves as steadfast Catherine Standish
- Rosalind Eleazar as Louisa Guy, grappling with trauma from her past
- Christopher Chung as the incorrigible tech genius Roddy Ho
- Aimee-Ffion Edwards as the fiery Shirley Dander
- James Callis reprising his role as MI5 boss Claude Whelan
- Ruth Bradley as agent Emma Flyte
- Jonathan Pryce as retired MI5 heavyweight David Cartwright
Slow Horses Season 5 introduces new supporting cast members, including Nick Mohammed in a pivotal role as an ambitious politician, keeping the show’s dynamic fresh and unpredictable.
Story: What Awaits in London Rules?
Slow horses season 5 adapts Mick Herron’s riveting novel “London Rules.” True to the book, this season focuses on the chaos that follows Slough House wherever they go.
This time, the misfit team’s resident tech wizard Roddy Ho unexpectedly lands himself a glamorous girlfriend. Naturally, the rest of the group suspects something is amiss. Suddenly, a series of strange and sinister events shakes London. The fate of the city and possibly the country rests once more in the hands of this underestimated group of spies.
Expect classic dark humour, layered double-crosses, London’s gritty urban backdrop, and the sort of high-stakes espionage drama that has made the show a national talking point. As ever, Jackson Lamb keeps his team in check using his trademark mix of insult and insight, all under the shadow of “London Rules,” where covering your back comes before everything else.
Recapping All the Slow Horses Seasons So Far
If you’re new to the world of “Slow Horses,” or fancy a refresher, here’s a quick overview.
- Season 1 launched in April 2022, introducing us to Slough House, where disgraced MI5 agents serve out their careers. Jackson Lamb leads the group, who inevitably find themselves drawn into deadly games despite their supposed exile.
- Season 2 swiftly followed, dialling up the intrigue as past secrets came back to haunt the team.
- Season 3 pushed the stakes higher, earning critical acclaim and becoming a favourite among fans and critics alike for its daring plot twists.
- Season 4 delved deeper into the characters’ fraught backgrounds and complicated allegiances, culminating in nail-biting suspense.
Each series draws on Mick Herron’s novels, weaving complex, comic, and thrilling tales of British intelligence blunders always with a sly nod to the country’s love for the underdog.
Where to Watch the Previous Seasons
All earlier seasons of Slow Horses and Slow Horses Season 5 are also available to stream in the UK on Apple TV+. You can catch up before the new season launches this autumn. Apple TV+ offers a week’s free trial, followed by a monthly subscription fee. The service is easy to access on smart TVs, computers, and mobile devices, making binge-watching effortless.
Why Slow Horses Season 5 Is the UK’s Must-Watch TV
With the series consistently topping UK streaming charts and winning BAFTAs, the buzz around slow horses season 5 is no surprise. The combination of witty writing, realistic London settings, and jaw-dropping plotlines sets it apart from typical spy drama. As British audiences search for news and sneak peeks, the show maintains its status as the trendiest and most Googled television event in the country this year.
Make sure to set a reminder for 24 September 2025 for Slow Horses Season 5. There’s no doubt the new series will deliver the blend of suspense, black comedy, and high stakes that Slow Horses fans have come to adore.
If you haven’t watched the earlier episodes, now is the perfect chance to catch up before the next round of secrets, betrayals, and laugh-out-loud moments hits your screen.