Gary Oldman Only Farts Once In Slow Horses Season 5: ‘A Weaponised, Story-Based Fart’

Good news, fans of misanthropic espionage dramas – Slow Horses is back. Again! The fastest-moving show on the box (five seasons in five years, almost unheard of in the streaming era) is returning to Apple TV+ for Season 5, ready to bring fresh exploits of Jackson Lamb (a riotously grumpy Gary Oldman) and his department of MI5 fuck-ups in another twist-filled case. Based on Mick Herron’s London Rules, this season puts Christopher Chung’s sneering IT edgelord Roddy Ho front and centre – the biggest mystery of all being, how has he somehow found himself a girlfriend?

“We were all just rubbing our hands,” showrunner Will Smith tells Empire of where Herron’s novels steer this season. “‘Ho gets a girlfriend?!’ Straight away, that’s hilarious, but it’s also a great mystery, because you know that’s not real.” While Lamb leads the Slough House crew, Slow Horses has always been a show that lets its ensemble cast shine – with Chung now getting to pay off years of build-up as one of the most brilliantly exasperating members of the team. “Chris was the least known [of the cast],” says Smith. “And then you put him in a room with Gary Oldman. It was a huge ask and he landed it… Ho could be a caricature. He could be too mean and nasty, but Chris makes him believable.”

Of course, Lamb will still feature prominently, ready to let off some steam (quite literally) at the most opportune moment. Though, his signature flatulence will be carefully deployed. “It’s sometimes about knowing when to hold back,” Smith explains. “For example, people think [Lamb] farts more than he does… In season 5, it’s only one… A weaponised fart. A story-based fart.” Ready to let rip?

Read Empire’s full Slow Horses Season 5 story in The Running Man issue – on sale Thursday 28 August. Pre-order a copy online here. Slow Horses returns to Apple TV+ from 24 September.