Slow Horses season 5 cast: Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden star
Gary Oldman returns for season 5 of the star studded thriller on Apple TV+.
Hit spy drama Slow Horses is back once more, with season 5 of the show adapted from Mick Herron's novel London Rules.
The fifth season sees the return of all the major players from the previous four – or at least, those whose characters have survived this far.
Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden and Kristin Scott Thomas are all back, as is Christopher Chung, whose character Roddy Ho takes on a more central role in the story this time around.
Meanwhile, there are some new stars joining the cast too, including Nick Mohammed, playing the Mayor of London, and Hiba Bennani, playing Roddy's new girlfriend.
But who else is in the cast, who do they all play and where might you have seen them before?
Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of Slow Horses season 5 on Apple TV+.
Who’s in the cast of Slow Horses season 5?
Below is the main line-up for Slow Horses season 5. Read on to find out more about the cast and characters.
- Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb
- Jack Lowden as River Cartwright
- Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner
- Christopher Chung as Roddy Ho
- Saskia Reeves as Catherine Standish
- Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Shirley Dander
- Tom Brooke as JK Coe
- Rosalind Eleazar as Louisa Guy
- Jonathan Pryce as David Cartwright
- Ruth Bradley as Emma Flyte
- James Callis as Claude Whelan
- Nick Mohammed as Zafar Jaffrey
- Hiba Bennani as Tara
Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb
Who is Jackson Lamb? Jackson is the leader of Slough House. He's a "brilliant but irascible" leader, who has a terse, barbed relationship with River and has a dark past.
Where have I seen Gary Oldman before? Oldman has had a long and storied career on the big screen, appearing in blockbusters such as the Harry Potter film series and The Dark Knight trilogy, alongside awards darlings such as Mank, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Oppenheimer. He's been Oscar nominated three times, winning Best Performance by an Actor a Leading Role in 2017 for playing Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour.
Jack Lowden plays River Cartwright
Who is River Cartwright? River is an agent at Slough House who was sent there for botching a mission.
Where have I seen Jack Lowden before? Lowden had a leading role in the BBC's War and Peace, and has since appeared in Small Axe, Mary Queen of Scots and Stephen Merchant's Fighting with My Family. He also had a pivotal role in Christopher Nolan's 2017 epic Dunkirk, and recently appeared in The Gold on BBC One.
Kristin Scott Thomas plays Diana Taverner
Who is Diana Taverner? Diana is the second desk at MI5, who has worked with Lamb and his agents in the past but is very willing to let them take the fall for her mistakes.
Where have I seen Kristin Scott Thomas before? Scott Thomas reunites with Oldman in Slow Horses, having played Churchill's wife Clementine in Darkest Hour. She's perhaps best known for her BAFTA role in Four Weddings and a Funeral, but has also won plaudits for roles in The English Patient, Nowhere Boy and Gosford Park, amongst others. She was made a Dame in 2015.
Christopher Chung plays Roddy Ho
Who is Roddy Ho? Roddy is the team's tech guy, who is abrasive and uncaring towards the rest of the group and likes to stay out of the field.
Where have I seen Christopher Chung before? Chung has previously appeared in Waterloo Road and Neighbours, while more recently he had roles in Doctor Who and the film Blitz.
Saskia Reeves plays Catherine Standish
Who is Catherine Standish? Catherine is Lamb's former personal assistant, who quit at the end of season 3 but who was reinstated in season 4. She knows the ins and outs of Slough House.
Where have I seen Saskia Reeves before? Reeves is known for appearing in series such as Luther, Death in Paradise, Collateral, Silent Witness and Wolf Hall, as well as in films such as Nymphomaniac: Vol 1, Shadows and The Outrun.
Aimee-Ffion Edwards plays Shirley Dander
Who is Shirley Dander? Shirley is a member of the team at Slough House who has noted anger issues and problems with drug abuse.
Where have I seen Aimee-Ffion Edwards before? Edwards is perhaps best known for her role as Esme in Peaky Blinders, while she has also starred in Keeping Faith, Inside No 9, Death in Paradise, Detectorists, Luther, Dreamland and the film Mr Burton.
Tom Brooke plays JK Coe
Who is JK Coe? Jason Kevin Coe, who goes by JK, is Slough House's newest recruit. He stays mostly silent and just wants to be left alone. He has PTSD, which he keeps in check by pretending to play the piano.
Where have I seen Tom Brooke before? Brooke has had roles in series such as Game of Thrones, Sherlock, Bodyguard, Preacher and The Crown, as well as in films including The Death of Stalin and Empire of Light.
Rosalind Eleazar plays Louisa Guy
Who is Louisa Guy? Louisa is a member of Slough House and one of the most affective agents in the group.
Where have I seen Rosalind Eleazar before? Eleazar has appeared in series including Breeders, Master of None, Deep Water, Death in Paradise and Missing You, as well as the films Uncle Vanya and The Personal History of David Copperfield.
Jonathan Pryce plays David Cartwright
Who is David Cartwright? David is the River's grandfather and is himself a retired MI5 agent. He and Jackson have a dark past together, and since the end of season 3 he is showing signs of dementia.
Where have I seen Jonathan Pryce before? Pryce played Prince Philip in the fifth and sixth seasons of Netflix's The Crown, as well as as the High Sparrow in Game of Thrones and Pope Francis in The Two Popes. He has also had roles in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, James Bond adventure Tomorrow Never Dies and more recently in 3 Body Problem and The Thursday Murder Club. He was knighted in 2021.
Ruth Bradley plays Emma Flyte
Who is Emma Flyte? Emma is the new leader of the Dogs, taking over from Nick Duffy who was left in a coma following season 3.
Where have I seen Ruth Bradley before? Bradley has previously had roles in series such as Primeval, The Fall, The Split, Humans, The Gold, Guilt and Ted Lasso, as well as films such as The Wonder.
James Callis plays Claude Whelan
Who is Claude Whelan? Claude is the new first desk at MI5, having replaced Ingrid Tearney over Diana, who expected to get the job. He is well-meaning and wants to clean up the organisation, but is seriously under qualified.
Where have I seen James Callis before? Callis is best-known for his roles in Battlestar Galactica and Bridget Jones's Diary, while he has also appeared in Merlin, A Town Called Eureka, The Musketeers, Castlevania and Star Trek: Picard.
Nick Mohammed as Zafar Jaffrey
Who is Zahar Jaffrey? Zahar is the left-leaning Mayor of London, who is running in the mayoral election against a right-wing populist politician.
Where have I seen Nick Mohammed before? Mohammed is perhaps best known for his role as Nate in Ted Lasso, while he has also appeared in series such as Reggie Perrin, Drifters, Fresh Meat, Uncle, Cuckoo, Stath Lets Flats, Intelligence, Renegade Nell, Inside No. 9 and Douglas is Cancelled, plus films including The Martian, Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, Bridget Jones's Baby, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and Deep Cover.
Hiba Bennani as Tara
Who is Tara? Tara is Roddy Ho's glamorous new girlfriend.
Where have I seen Hiba Bennani before? Bennani has previously had roles in projects including the film 1995 and the series Prime Target.
Slow Horses season 5 will start streaming on Apple TV+ from Wednesday 24th September. Seasons 1-4 are available to watch now – sign up to Apple TV+ here.
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
