Apple’s Emmy-winning thriller, starring Gary Oldman as the flatulent Jackson Lamb, has much more in store.

Will there be a season 6 of Slow Horses? Everything we know about the series’ ‘high-octane’ next chapter

Apple's Emmy-winning thriller, starring Gary Oldman as the flatulent Jackson Lamb, has much more in store.

By Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn is a writer and editor at **. His work has previously appeared on *The A.V. Club, The Guardian, The Ringer*, and many other publications.

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October 29, 2025 5:16 p.m. ET

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Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb in 'Slow Horses' season 5. Credit:

- Season 5 of Apple TV's *Slow Horses* wrapped on Wednesday, Oct. 29.

- The series, which stars Gary Oldman as Slough House boss Jackson Lamb, is currently prepping its sixth and seventh seasons.

- Season 6 will see the return of Hugo Weaving's Frank Harkness.

*Slow Horses* is a rarity in our modern slate of awards-hungry prestige series: a clever genre fusion with a bankable star that cranks out new seasons in months, not years.

Since debuting on Apple TV in 2022, the Gary Oldman-starring spy thriller has aired five seasons. And its quick turnaround hasn't impacted its awards potential. So far, *Slow Horses* has won two Emmys, as well as a slew of Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations, among other accolades.

Its fast and furious production schedule does, however, have its casualties. Creator, writer, and executive producer Will Smith recently announced he'd be leaving the show following its fifth season, which just wrapped on Oct. 29, due to the quick turnaround.

You may be asking what that means for the future of *Slow Horses.* Will there be a season 6? If so, what books from Mick Herron's *Slough House *novels will be adapted next? Here's everything we know.**

Will there be a season 6 of Slow Horses?

Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb and Jack Lowden as River in 'Slow Horses' season 5.

Yes, Apple renewed *Slow Horses* for a sixth season in October 2024, and then for a seventh season in July 2025.

“*Slow Horses* has won fans all over the world with its unique mix of self-deprecating British humor and high-octane action," said Apple TV's Jay Hunt in a press release. "I’m delighted viewers will have another season to enjoy Gary’s magnificent performance as Jackson Lamb alongside the Slow Horses’ slightly inept spycraft."

Speaking with *TheWrap*, Smith revealed writers Gaby Chiappe and Ben Vanstone, both new to the series, will oversee seasons 6 and 7, respectively. According to Oldman, season 6 will be directed by Adam Randall, who previously helmed *Slow Horse*'s fourth season.**

“It’s an amazing team. It’s an amazing cast. It’s an amazing production,” Smith said. “It will [keep going], and Mick is still writing amazing books, so it will continue to fly and keep getting better and better.”

Per a press release, season 7 will adapt Herron's 2022 book *Bad Actors *as it sees Oldman's Jackson Lamb and his team attempt to "find and neutralize a mole at the heart of British Government."

But we're getting ahead of ourselves...**

What is Slow Horses season 6 about?

Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner in 'Slow Horses' season 5.

Season 6 of *Slow Horses* will adapt not one, but two books from Herron's series: 2019's *Joe Country* and 2021's *Slough House. *Per a press release, season 6 finds the Slow Horses "on the run" amid a "fatally high-stakes game of retaliation and revenge."

Kick-starting the events of season 6 is Diana Taverner (Kristin Scott Thomas), the MI5 boss who was promoted from Second Desk to First Desk at the end of season 5. Her newfound power, it seems, won't bode well for our often hapless heroes.

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If you, like some critics, found season 5 to be more focused on comedy than action, you'll be pleased to know that season 6 has been described as "high-octane" by two different cast members.**

"The sequences in season six are jaw-droppingly good," said Christopher Chung, who plays arrogant tech whiz Roddy Ho, in an interview with *Schön*. "It’s a lot more action-heavy, very high-octane."

Ruth Bradley, who plays MI5 agent Emma Flyte, made similar remarks to *Town & Country*. "It's very high-octane. It’s very tense, it’s very thriller. It’s really good," she said. "The next season is huge."

Is there a Slow Horses season 6 trailer?

A trailer for season 6 of *Slow Horses* followed the season 5 finale, confirming that Slough House is "completely missing" (a.k.a. in hiding) after a leak leaves them vulnerable. "We don't exist anymore," intones Roddy.

The trailer also reveals the return of Frank Harkness (Hugo Weaving), father of Jack Lowden's River Cartwright. The cold-blooded mercenary and CIA veteran was last seen in season 4, when he escaped accountability for his crimes due to his organization's history with MI5.

Who’s in the cast of Slow Horses season 6?

Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb on 'Slow Horses'. Jack English/Apple TV +

The central *Slow Horses* cast will return for season 6, with Oldman, Lowden, Chung, Bradley, and Thomas reprising their roles alongside Saskia Reeves, Samuel West, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Tom Brooke, Joanna Scanlan, and Jonathan Pryce.

Weaving's return as Frank Harkness is highlighted in the season 6 trailer, which also features new characters played by Harry Lloyd (*Game of Thrones*) and Lenny Rush (*Am I Being Unreasonable?*). As of this writing, specifics regarding their roles are still forthcoming.**

Is there a Slow Horses season 6 release date?

Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb and Jack Lowden as River on 'Slow Horses'. Jack English/Apple TV+

*Slow Horses* season 6 has no firm release date, as of this writing, but Chung revealed to *Schön* that filming wrapped in February 2025, so fans won't need to wait too long.

If season 6 is anything like the last two seasons — which arrived in September 2024 and September 2025, respectively — it's likely to debut in the fall of 2026.**

Where can I watch Slow Horses?

*Slow Horses* is available to stream on Apple TV.

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Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL TV”