The slowest spies in British intelligence are officially back for another round of chaos, wit, and bureaucratic dysfunction. Slow Horses Season 6 has wrapped filming and is firmly on Apple TV+’s slate—reaffirming the streamer’s commitment to one of its most quietly brilliant series. If you’ve been hooked on Jackson Lamb’s rumpled brilliance and Slough House’s brand of reject espionage, there’s plenty to look forward to.
🎬 Filming Already Wrapped—Before Season 5 Even Airs
While fans eagerly await Slow Horses Season 5—set for release in September 2025—Apple has already completed production on Season 6. Star Gary Oldman confirmed months ago that shooting was underway, and now, as of June 2025, it’s officially in the can. Apple’s aggressive filming schedule shows clear confidence in the series, which has become one of the platform’s most consistent critical hits.
📚 Two Books, One Season: The Source Material
Season 6 will adapt Joe Country and Slough House, the sixth and seventh novels in Mick Herron’s acclaimed series. This marks the first time the show will blend two books into a single season, which could make for a more expansive narrative. Both books dig deeper into the fallout of Slough House’s existence, with higher stakes, political tension, and emotional revelations that give characters like River Cartwright and Louisa Guy more to chew on.
- Joe Country involves a missing child, snowy landscapes, and a covert op gone very wrong.
- Slough House returns the focus to internal rot and conspiracy within British intelligence.
🧑🤝🧑 Cast & New Faces
Gary Oldman reprises his role as Jackson Lamb, continuing his career-defining run as the repulsively charming head of Slough House. Kristin Scott Thomas is expected to return as Diana Taverner, and the core team of misfits—including Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar, and Jack Lowden—is still intact.
New to the cast is BAFTA winner Lenny Rush, best known for Am I Being Unreasonable? and the latest Doctor Who season. His role hasn’t been disclosed, but his inclusion points to a younger, possibly more unpredictable dynamic.
Rosalind Eleazar, who plays Louisa, recently confirmed she’s completed filming for Season 6 and teased that the team is “churning them out fast”—fueling speculation that Apple might even double up releases or offer shorter waits between seasons.
📅 When Is Season 6 Releasing?
Although there’s no official premiere date yet, Season 6 is expected to arrive in Fall 2026, about one year after Season 5. The show has historically maintained an annual release cadence, and with production already complete, a 12- to 14-month gap would be consistent with Apple’s strategy.
🕵️♂️ Season 7 Is Already Lined Up
Despite no formal announcement, multiple industry sources report that Slow Horses Season 7 will begin filming in late September or early October 2025. If confirmed, this would make Slow Horses one of the rare streaming series with a secure multi-year future, rivaling the likes of The Crown and The Morning Show in terms of longevity and narrative ambition.
🗓️ Slow Horses Timeline At a Glance
| Season | Books Adapted | Filming Status | Estimated Release |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | London Rules | Filming complete | September 2025 |
| 6 | Joe Country, Slough House | Filming complete | Fall 2026 |
| 7 | Likely Bad Actors & beyond | Filming begins Fall 2025 | Late 2027 (est.) |
Why Slow Horses Remains Essential TV
In an era of flashy spy thrillers, Slow Horses offers something grittier and smarter. Its appeal lies in the unglamorous trenches of intelligence work—where sabotage, backstabbing, and regret are part of the job description. Gary Oldman’s performance alone elevates the show, but it’s the writing—full of gallows humor, moral ambiguity, and deeply flawed characters—that makes it unforgettable.
With Apple doubling down on the series and a seventh season already gearing up, Slow Horses is no longer just a sleeper hit—it’s one of the most durable and daring shows in the prestige TV landscape.
Key Takeaways
- “Slow Horses” Season 6 is filming now, while Season 5 is set to drop later in 2025 on Apple TV+.
- Expect six episodes again, with Gary Oldman returning as the ever-disheveled Jackson Lamb.
- The misadventures of Slough House’s outcasts continue—because someone’s got to do the dirty work.
Overview of Slow Horses (S6)
Season six of “Slow Horses” looks set to crank up the tension and the chaos. High-stakes espionage is still the name of the game, but this time our favorite misfits are on the run, tangled up in a nasty web of revenge that—let’s be honest—probably smells faintly of cigarette smoke and regret.
Release Date and Streaming Details
Apple TV+ has made it official: Season 6 is coming, though the exact premiere date is still under wraps. As usual, you’ll only find it on Apple TV+, which seems determined to keep this one as a flagship series.
If you’re hoping to binge the whole thing in a weekend, don’t hold your breath. Apple’s likely sticking with their usual weekly episode drops, stretching out the suspense (and your subscription). It’s a strategy that’s worked so far, so why mess with it?
Given the show’s critical love and solid viewership, this renewal was basically a formality. Like before, expect six episodes—seems to be their magic number.
Plot and Themes
Season 6? Well, things are about to get messier. The Slow Horses find themselves on the run, with Diana Taverner dragging them into a deadly game of payback and double-crosses. Stakes? Pretty much through the roof.
As always, the show digs into loyalty, redemption, and those fuzzy moral lines that come with the spy business. Forget glamorous gadgets—these are agents who’ve blown it big time, but somehow still get handed the ugly jobs no one else wants.
Oldman’s Jackson Lamb is back in all his slovenly glory, with Jack Lowden’s River Cartwright still trying to claw his way out of MI5 purgatory. Rosalind Eleazar and the rest of the ragtag team return, too—wouldn’t be the same without them.
Source Material and Adaptation
Still riding on Mick Herron’s acclaimed novels, the series continues to do a pretty impressive job of bottling Herron’s mix of bleak humor, tension, and character quirks for TV.
Each season usually adapts one book, and so far, they’ve stuck close to the source: “Slow Horses,” “Dead Lions,” “Real Tigers,” “Spook Street,” and “London Rules” have all been covered. If they keep following the pattern, Season 6 will be “Joe Country.” The adaptation has been mostly faithful, though TV always tweaks things a bit for pacing or drama.
What really sets this show apart is how it leans into the mundane, unglamorous side of spy work—no tuxedos, just worn-out carpets and broken dreams.
Cast, Characters, and Production
Season 6 brings back the faces we’ve grown to love (or, y’know, tolerate), plus some new blood to shake things up. The casting continues to be a who’s-who of British talent, all thriving in this strange blend of dark humor and espionage.
Main Cast and Key Characters
Gary Oldman is back as Jackson Lamb—the man’s as unkempt and rude as ever, but that’s part of the charm, right? His flatulence, biting sarcasm, and tactical genius remain the heart of the show.
Kristin Scott Thomas once again plays Diana Taverner, MI5’s icy operator. Her ongoing chess match with Lamb is a highlight, and their prickly dynamic only gets better with each season.
Jack Lowden is still River Cartwright, the guy who probably deserves better but keeps getting the short end of the stick. His journey’s been one to watch, and it doesn’t look like things are getting any easier.
Saskia Reeves also returns as Catherine Standish, bringing a little heart (and a lot of patience) to the office chaos.
Recurring and New Faces
Old favorites are sticking around—Rosalind Eleazar’s Louisa Guy and Christopher Chung’s Roddy Ho are back, and their partnership has only gotten stronger (and weirder) over time.
Jonathan Pryce joins the crew, which is a nice surprise. He’s a heavyweight, and his presence adds some extra depth as things get even more complicated.
Newcomers this season—Hugo Weaving and Joanna Scanlan—are set to stir up the mix. Their characters haven’t been revealed in detail yet, but they’re sure to bring some new energy (and probably headaches) to Slough House.
Samuel West pops up briefly, adding a little extra flavor to the spy shenanigans. The chemistry between the old guard and the newbies? Yeah, that’s half the fun.
Creative Team and Direction
The creative team sticks with what works. Gaby Chiappe is still steering the writers’ room, nailing that dry humor and slow-burn tension fans expect.
Adam Randall’s directing some big episodes, keeping the show’s look sharp and gritty. He really knows how to make London both beautiful and bleak—kind of a feat, honestly.
Production designer Tom Burton and his crew keep Slough House looking as depressing as ever, which is exactly the point. Everything is worn, tired, and oddly perfect for these outcasts.
The pacing’s still a slow build, with bursts of action that hit hard. The attention to detail, both in the writing and the visual storytelling, keeps things feeling authentic—even when the plot gets wild.
Slough House and Setting
Slough House is basically a character at this point. The drab, cluttered office space is a constant reminder that these agents are leftovers, not heroes.
London itself is used to full effect, with the show bouncing between its shiny and shabby sides. The city feels alive—a place where spies could really blend in.
Season 6 will open up some new locations, but Slough House remains the center of gravity. The production team’s knack for creating a believable world—down to the battered furniture and ancient computers—makes it all feel weirdly real.
Frequently Asked Questions
People have a lot of questions about what’s next for Jackson Lamb and his band of misfits. Here’s what we know about the much-anticipated sixth season.
When is the release date for Slow Horses Season 6 on Apple TV+?
As of May 2025, there’s no official release date for Season 6 yet. Apple TV+ confirmed the renewal after Season 4 wrapped, but they’re staying tight-lipped about specifics.
If they stick to their usual schedule, we’re probably looking at late 2025 or maybe early 2026. For now, details are scarce.
Which cast members are confirmed for Season 6 of Slow Horses?
Gary Oldman is definitely back as Jackson Lamb—he was front and center in the renewal announcement.
The rest of the usual suspects from Slough House are expected to return, but Apple hasn’t dropped the full cast list just yet.
Is there a trailer available for Slow Horses Season 6, and where can it be viewed?
Nope, not yet. As of May 2025, filming is still underway, so there’s nothing to show off. Once it’s ready, you’ll probably catch it first on Apple TV+’s YouTube channel or their website. Keep an eye on their socials for updates.
How many episodes are in the sixth season of Slow Horses?
Season 6 will have six episodes, just like the previous runs.
Episodes are expected to be around 45-60 minutes each—so, pretty much what you’d expect if you’ve been watching since the start.
Can I watch Slow Horses Season 6 on platforms other than Apple TV+?
Short answer: nope. “Slow Horses” is an Apple TV+ original, so you’ll need a subscription to watch Season 6 when it lands.
The monthly cost is $9.99 after the free trial, and you can stream it through the Apple TV app on pretty much any device you’ve got.
After Season 5, how does the storyline of Slow Horses continue into Season 6?
So, Season 6 is picking up right where the Slough House novels by Mick Herron left off. Co-executive producer Gaby Chiappe will adapt the next chapter for TV, which is honestly exciting if you’ve been following the books.
They haven’t spilled much about the plot yet—no big surprises there—but it’s pretty clear Season 6 will stick with the usual suspects: those disgraced MI5 agents at Slough House, still stuck under Jackson Lamb’s questionable guidance. You know the drill, but somehow it never gets old.
Also, Adam Randall, who was behind the camera for Season 4, is coming back to direct Season 6. That should help keep the vibe and look of the show consistent, which—let’s be honest—matters a lot for this series.
