Fans of the acclaimed spy drama “Slow Horses” have reason to celebrate as Apple TV+ has not only confirmed a sixth season, but also a seventh, ensuring the darkly comedic adventures of Jackson Lamb and his MI5 outcasts will continue to thrill audiences for years to come, with filming for Season 6 already complete and Season 7 set to commence production in October 2025.
In a resounding vote of confidence, Apple TV+ has not merely renewed its multi-award-winning spy drama “Slow Horses” for a sixth season, but has also swiftly confirmed a seventh. This significant announcement comes even before the highly anticipated Season 5 has premiered, underscoring the streamer’s belief in the series’ enduring appeal and critical success. The show, which has consistently garnered glowing reviews and boasts rare perfect scores on Rotten Tomatoes, continues to captivate global audiences with its unique blend of dark humor and high-stakes espionage.
The decision to greenlight two additional seasons simultaneously speaks volumes about “Slow Horses'” established quality and consistent viewership. It provides a clear roadmap for fans, ensuring that the saga of Slough House’s disgraced agents will delve deeper into the intricate world crafted by author Mick Herron, whose acclaimed “Slough House” book series serves as the foundation for the show.
The Enduring Appeal of Slough House
Since its premiere in 2022, “Slow Horses” has carved out a distinct niche in the espionage genre. It chronicles the lives of a group of British intelligence agents who, after career-ending mistakes, find themselves relegated to Slough House, a dumping ground department of MI5. Their brilliant yet cantankerous leader, Jackson Lamb (portrayed by Gary Oldman), guides them through a labyrinth of blunders and genuine threats, often saving the day despite their collective dysfunction.
The series has been lauded by critics, with some proclaiming it “undoubtedly the best spy series on television” and an “utterly brilliant” thriller. Two of its seasons have achieved a perfect 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, a testament to its superb scripting, stellar cast, and continuous improvement, as noted by Apple TV+ in their press release. This consistent critical acclaim and fan engagement are undoubtedly key factors in the early multi-season renewals.
What to Expect: Book Adaptations and Plotlines
The upcoming seasons promise to bring more of Mick Herron’s intricate narratives to life:
- Season 6: Will be adapted from the sixth and seventh novels in Herron’s series, “Joe Country” (2019) and “Slough House” (2021). The plot sees the Slow Horses on the run, embroiled by Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas) in a “fatally high-stakes game of retaliation and revenge.” This setup suggests a tense and action-packed continuation, building on the dramatic conclusion of previous seasons.
- Season 7: Set to adapt Herron’s eighth book, “Bad Actors” (2022). This season will focus on Lamb and his team’s mission to “find and neutralize a mole at the heart of British Government,” a classic spy thriller premise that will undoubtedly push the Slow Horses to their limits.
The commitment to adapting Herron’s extensive literary work is a positive sign for fans of the books, assuring them that the show intends to remain faithful to the source material’s depth and progression. Showrunner Will Smith and the creative team have consistently delivered adaptations that resonate with both new viewers and long-time readers.
The Stellar Cast Returns
The core ensemble, a significant factor in the series’ success, is expected to return for the new seasons. This includes the central performance of Gary Oldman, who has earned Golden Globe, Emmy, and BAFTA award nominations for his portrayal of Jackson Lamb. Oldman himself has expressed a strong desire to continue in the role, telling Deadline in 2022 that he would be “very lucky” to end his acting career playing Lamb, a sentiment that resonates with the show’s dedicated fanbase.
The ensemble cast also features:
- Academy Award nominee Kristin Scott Thomas
- Emmy Award nominee Jack Lowden
- Saskia Reeves
- Rosalind Eleazar (who told Numéro that she is “very attached” to her character, Louisa Guy)
- Christopher Chung
- BAFTA Award nominee Samuel West
- Aimee-Ffion Edwards
- Ruth Bradley
- Tom Brooke
- Joanna Scanlan
- Academy Award nominee Jonathan Pryce
The series is produced for Apple TV+ by See-Saw Films, with a robust team of executive producers including Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, Julian Stevens, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Adam Randall, Gail Mutrux, Douglas Urbanski, and Gary Oldman himself. Season 6 is adapted for television by co-executive producer Gaby Chiappe, with Adam Randall returning to direct.
Release Schedule and Production Updates
The production timeline for “Slow Horses” has been remarkably consistent, with new seasons typically releasing annually, a refreshing change in the current television landscape. While Season 5 is expected in late 2025, the news of subsequent seasons brings clarity to the future.
- Season 4 Finale: Premiered Wednesday, October 9, 2024, on Apple TV+.
- Season 5: Expected to release in late 2025.
- Season 6: Filming for the six-episode season has already wrapped. While no official release date has been set, a late 2026 premiere is highly probable, maintaining the show’s annual cadence.
- Season 7: Production is scheduled to begin in October 2025, as confirmed by Apple TV+.
Gary Oldman himself provided updates at the 2025 Golden Globes, stating that filming for Season 6 was “already underway,” a sentiment later confirmed by reports that it had wrapped by October 2025. He further assured fans in an interview with ScreenRant that the new episodes “deliver well” on plot points from Season 5, highlighting the continuous narrative quality.
The Future Beyond Season 7
With eight books currently in Mick Herron’s “Slough House” series and a ninth on the horizon, the potential for “Slow Horses” to continue beyond Season 7 is significant. The show’s consistent quality, critical adoration, and committed lead actor suggest a long future for Jackson Lamb and his “slow horses.” As Jay Hunt, Creative Director, Europe, Apple TV+, aptly put it, “Audiences around the world have fallen in love with the Slow Horses, and I’m delighted that Gary Oldman will be leading this star-studded cast on another acerbic and action-packed adventure.”
For fans, the early renewal of multiple seasons is a clear signal that Apple TV+ views “Slow Horses” as a cornerstone of its original programming. It allows for sustained storytelling, deeper character development, and a continued commitment to high-quality adaptations of a beloved book series.
Where to Watch
For those looking to catch up or revisit the gripping and humorous world of British intelligence’s rejects, the complete first four seasons of “Slow Horses” are currently streaming on Apple TV+. Season 5 is expected to join them in late 2025, with Seasons 6 and 7 following in due course, promising an abundance of acerbic wit and action-packed adventures for years to come.
