Entertainment • Television

Slow Horses (season 5)

The fifth season of the British spy thriller television series Slow Horses premiered on Apple TV+ on 24 September 2025.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The fifth season of the British spy thriller television series Slow Horses premiered on Apple TV+ on 24 September 2025. The season consists of six episodes and adapts Mick Herron’s 2018 novel London Rules. It follows the MI5 agents of Slough House as they face a new case involving Roddy Ho.

Premise

Season 5 continues the series’ focus on the disgraced MI5 agents stationed at Slough House under Jackson Lamb. The season’s plot centres on Roddy Ho’s new girlfriend and a chain of suspicious events in London.

Release

Apple TV+ released the first two episodes on 24 September 2025, followed by weekly episodes through 29 October 2025. Coverage consistently describes the season as a six-episode run.

Source material

The season adapts London Rules, the fifth Slough House novel by Mick Herron. This follows the show’s pattern of drawing each season from a different book in the series.

Cast

The returning cast includes Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, Jack Lowden as River Cartwright, and Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner. Other credited cast members in season 5 coverage include Olivia Cooke and Rosalind Eleazar.

Key facts

Season 5 premiered on Apple TV+ on 24 September 2025.
The season has six episodes and was released weekly after a two-episode premiere.
It is based on Mick Herron’s novel London Rules.
The central storyline involves Roddy Ho and a series of strange incidents in London.
Gary Oldman returns as Jackson Lamb, with Jack Lowden and Kristin Scott Thomas among the main cast.

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Canadian context

Slow Horses season 5 was available to Canadian viewers through Apple TV+, part of the platform’s international streaming rollout.

Frequently asked questions

When did Slow Horses season 5 premiere?

It premiered on Apple TV+ on 24 September 2025.

How many episodes are in season 5?

Season 5 consists of six episodes.

What book is season 5 based on?

It is based on Mick Herron’s 2018 novel London Rules.

Who stars in Slow Horses season 5?

Reported cast includes Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Olivia Cooke, and Rosalind Eleazar.

What is season 5 about?

The season follows Slough House as Roddy Ho’s glamorous new girlfriend coincides with a series of strange incidents in London.

Did Slow Horses end with season 5?

No. Coverage published around the season 5 premiere states the series was renewed beyond season 5.

References

DIRECTV Insider — https://www.directv.com/insider/slow-horses-season-5/
Supports: Premiere date, weekly six-episode release, cast, and London Rules adaptation.
Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/slow_horses/s05
Supports: Season 5 series description and premise.
People — https://people.com/slow-horses-season-5-episode-release-schedule-11816233
Supports: Premiere date, six episodes, weekly release, and adaptation of London Rules.
Cosmopolitan — https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/tv/a68020890/slow-horses-season-5-episode-release-schedule/
Supports: Release schedule, six episodes, episode titles, and plot setup.
IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65315478/
Supports: Premiere date, two-episode launch, and brief series description.
IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65317241/
Supports: Premiere date, six-episode run, and release timing information.
Forbes — https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2025/09/24/slow-horses-season-5-release-schedule-when-do-new-episodes-come-out/
Supports: Synopsis involving Roddy Ho and London Rules; episode-count information.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_Horses
Supports: Series identity, adaptation basis, and Jackson Lamb premise.