Slow Horses spoilers follow.
Slow Horses, the Apple TV+ adaptation of the hit Slough House book series by Mick Herron, has, over two seasons, successfully destroyed our faith in the nation's security services. It's revealed just how much they rely on luck – and occasional, freak moments of competence – in the face of institutional decay, bureaucracy, corruption and indifference.
We've suffered through flatulence on an epic scale, coped with staggering levels of over-falsity of confidence, and had to watch Gary Oldman talk with his mouth full more often than anyone should have to. And it's been great.
Which is why we're thrilled to say that not only is a third season of Slow Horses coming, with filming already underway, but a fourth season is confirmed as well. We're condemned to two more years of spies' purgatory in Slough House, and we love it.
Slow Horses season 3 potential release date: When's it on?
The first season dropped on April Fool's Day 2022, with season two hard on its heels in December (they filmed them back to back). Most shows take around a year from writing to release, so we'd expect to see season three in late 2023.
It's possible, given this track record, that the show may film seasons three and four back-to-back, which would be great for those who are keen to see them in quick succession.
What to Read Next
Once Slow Horses seasons three and four have dropped, it then leaves room for the creators to think about the future of the franchise, which of course means more seasons. There have even been rumblings about a season five and six – there are enough books, after all.
When talking of more seasons, River Cartwright actor Jack Lowden told Collider:
"We would love that. The world of this is such a joy and it definitely feels like a one-off, the atmosphere of it and the material. So I mean, as long as it's still interesting and people are still interested, I think it's the same with anything, I'd love to do it."
He added: "I don't want to do it until I'm like 50. I doubt that River makes 50. I can't imagine him as a 50-year-old. Until someone actually said recently, which I think is quite interesting, is, 'Does he eventually end up turning into Lamb?'
"There's just like bits of his hair just start becoming more scraggly, his shirts become more stained, and slowly just sinks into Lamb. I mean, I quite enjoy that."
We would, too!
Slow Horses season 3 cast: Who's in it?
It's been confirmed that Lord of the Rings star Hugo Weaving has been cast in Slow Horses.
However, it'll be a while until we see his character join Jackson Lamb and co as he has been cast in the show's fourth season.
We don't know who he will play just yet, but it shouldn't be too long until we find out. Avid readers will have their guesses – we're going with rogue CIA man Frank Harkness or, at a pinch, MI5 high-up Claude Whelan.
Season three and four have been shot back to back, which means there may not be an obscenely long wait between seasons.
But until we know when the third season is officially due, we can delight in the fact that our favourite characters will at least be returning for season three.
Slough House wouldn't be the punishment detail that it is without its resident tormentor-in-chief, Jackson Lamb. Gary Oldman is a guaranteed presence, and he's confirmed as much himself, telling the Kermode and Mayo podcast that he'd keep making the show as long as they wanted him.
Alas, not everyone survived seasons one and two. So we won't see Olivia Cooke's Sid Baker (yet – book fans know her tale's not completely run) or Dustin Demri-Burns' Min Harper.
Who else has to be back?
• Jack Lowden (River Cartwright)
• Rosalind Eleazar (Louisa Guy)
• Christopher Chung (Roddy Ho)
• Kristin Scott-Thomas (Diana Taverner)
• Saskia Reeves (Catherine Standish)
• Jonathan Pryce (David Cartwright)
Newcomers Aimée-Ffion Edwards (Shirley Dander) and Kadiff Kirwan (Marcus Longridge) both survived their first tour of duty, so they'll be back too. Freddie Fox's James 'Spider' Webb was shot at the end of season two, and the trailer shows him back in action, which is a change from the books, where he remained in a coma.
On January 11, Variety announced that Gangs of London's Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù will be joining the cast for season three as Sean Donovan, the former head of security at the British embassy in Istanbul.
In the book, Sean has a romantic link to a character we have already met. (See below for spoilery details on that.)
Slow Horses season 3 plot: What will happen?
So far the show has cleaved pretty closely to the source books, so it's pretty much a certainty that season three will follow the story of book three, Real Tigers. (And season four will cover Spook Street.)
In fact, in his interview with Collider, Jack Lowden confirmed that – if you want spoilers – the book is where you'll find them.
"If you know the books, it definitely follows the books," he said. "So it is out there in a way, you can go find it out, you don't need to ask me, you could go and read the book."
SPOILERS FOLLOW
In Real Tigers, Catherine Standish is kidnapped by an old flame from her drinking days – the aforementioned Sean Donovan – who seems to have a mysterious grudge against the Security Service.
Naturally, there's more to the story than meets the eye, and, if they really stick to the book, we'll get to see Roddy Ho crashing a London bus at full speed into a mansion, which will be cool.
Slow Horses season 3 trailer: When can I see it?
You're in luck – Apple TV+ has released a teaser trailer for season three to give us a taste of what is to come later this year, and you can watch it here.
Slow Horses seasons 1-2 stream on Apple TV+.
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Editor, Digital Spy Chris has over 25 years' experience as a writer and editor, having worked as a journalist covering TV and movies since the '90s. Starting out as a TV listings editor at the Press Association, he was quickly hired by the nascent Heat magazine, where he rose to become Senior Editor, interviewing the likes of Simon Cowell, Boris Johnson and Paris Hilton. Over the years he has written about entertainment with clarity and wit for Heat, Elle, Q, The Telegraph and of course Digital Spy, and has served many times as a judge in the Royal Television Society awards. He has written and recorded a novelty single with Lord Lloyd-Webber, written scripts for the National TV Awards, made Noel Edmonds cry, accidentally punched an Inbetweener and stolen a small piece of rubble from the Battle of Hogwarts movie set. (They can't have it back.) LinkedIn
