Apple TV has renewed its acclaimed spy drama Slow Horses for an eighth season. The announcement arrived on September 15, 2026, just one day after the show picked up another Emmy Award and a day before the Season 6 premiere on September 16. Gary Oldman will return as the grumpy but brilliant Jackson Lamb, and the new season will adapt Clown Town, the ninth novel in Mick Herron’s Slough House book series.
Season 8 Renewal Comes After Emmy Directing Win
The renewal was confirmed by Apple TV in an official press release on September 15, 2026. The timing followed a strong showing at the 2026 Emmy Awards, where Saul Metzstein won Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for his work on the show. This marked the third consecutive year the series has taken home either a writing or directing trophy in the drama categories.
Jay Hunt, Creative Director of International at Apple TV, shared a statement about the renewal.
“Slow Horses continues to charm audiences all around the world and I’m delighted that Jackson Lamb and his gang of lovable misfits will be back for an eighth season. Their acerbic take on the high-octane world of espionage is completely unique.”
The show has built a remarkable reputation. All five seasons hold a Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, with two seasons earning a rare 100% critics’ score. Season 4 was named the number one series of 2024 on the review aggregator site. The series has won three Emmy Awards and five BAFTA Television Awards in total.
What Season 8 Will Be About
Season 8 will consist of six episodes and is based on Clown Town, the ninth book in Mick Herron’s Slough House series. The official logline reveals a major face-off between two central characters.
According to the synopsis, Jackson Lamb and Diana Taverner (played by Kristin Scott Thomas) will face their “most explosive confrontation yet.” A botched attempt to blackmail the Park puts Taverner on the offensive, and it falls to Lamb to uncover one of MI5’s darkest secrets and stop it for good.
Ben Vanstone will adapt the season for television and serve as executive producer. Adam Randall returns as director, having previously directed all of Season 4 and the upcoming Season 6.
Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas Return for Season 8
Gary Oldman is confirmed to return as Jackson Lamb, the cantankerous leader of Slough House. Oldman has received Golden Globe, Emmy and BAFTA nominations for the role. Kristin Scott Thomas is also set to return as Diana Taverner, based on the season’s synopsis.
Other main cast members from the series include Jack Lowden as River Cartwright, Saskia Reeves as Catherine Standish, Christopher Chung as Roddy Ho, Rosalind Eleazar as Louisa Guy, Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Shirley Dander, and Jonathan Pryce as David Cartwright. Casting for Season 8 beyond Oldman and Scott Thomas has not been officially announced yet.
A side story surrounding Jack Lowden has added extra attention to the show. Rumors have linked the Scottish actor to the role of James Bond in the next film. Gary Oldman has publicly backed his co-star for the part, saying he has his “fingers crossed.” Oldman also mentioned hearing that a decision had been made, though nothing has been officially confirmed.
Season 7 Is Already Filmed and Set for 2027
Before Season 8 arrives, viewers have Season 7 to look forward to. Season 7 is based on Bad Actors, the eighth novel in the series. Filming for Season 7 began in October 2025 and has already wrapped. Christopher Chung, who plays Roddy Ho, spoke about the release timing in an interview.
“I think that’s the plan. I think it’s been pretty much like clockwork since season 3. So I think 2027 is a good bet for season 7.”
Apple TV has not announced an official release date for Season 7 yet, but the show has followed an annual release pattern since 2022. If that continues, Season 8 would likely arrive in 2028.
Season 6 Premieres September 16 with Six Episodes
Season 6 of Slow Horses premieres globally on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 on Apple TV. The six-episode season will roll out one episode per week, running through October 21, 2026.
For the first time, the show adapted two books in one season. Season 6 covers both Joe Country and Slough House, the sixth and seventh novels in Herron’s series. This decision kept the adaptation order consistent with the books, allowing Season 8 to align with Clown Town.
Olivia Cooke returns as Sidonie “Sid” Baker in Season 6 after a long absence. Gary Oldman leads the cast alongside Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Saskia Reeves, Hugo Weaving, Rosalind Eleazar, Christopher Chung, and Aimee-Ffion Edwards.
Early reviews for Season 6 have been strong. The season holds a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score based on early critic reviews. The series as a whole maintains a 98% critic score and an 88% audience score on the platform.
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Slow Horses Book Series Reaches Its Latest Chapter with Clown Town
Clown Town was released in 2025 and is the ninth book in the Slough House series. The novel follows River Cartwright as he waits for medical clearance to return to work. With time on his hands, River investigates the secrets of his late grandfather’s library and a mysterious missing book. Meanwhile, Diana Taverner is dealing with her own problems at MI5.
The show has now caught up with the published books. After Season 8 adapts Clown Town, there are no further novels in the series currently available to adapt. Mick Herron has shared plans for more novels, but no release dates for future books have been announced.
Slow Horses is produced for Apple TV by See-Saw Films. Executive producers include Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, Douglas Urbanski, Adam Randall, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gail Mutrux, Billy Bowring, Helen Gregory, Mick Herron, and Gary Oldman.
Also Read: Slow Horses Season 6 Episode 1 Reveals Who Is Hunting Lamb Misfits; Cast, Release Info and More
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