
Line of Duty's 'biggest rival' confirms season 7 plot before fifth is even out
While the renewal itself isn't that much of a surprise – star Gary Oldman accidentally spoiled the reveal in June – what may shock Slough House fanatics is that we already know the plot.
According to Apple's official synopsis season seven will see Lamb and his inept spy team (the titular Slow Horses) trying to find and neutralise a mole at the heart of the British Government.
Now, if you've been keeping up to date with Mick Herron's Slough House series, the books that Slow Horses is based on, you'll know that sounds very similar to the plot of the seventh novel, Bad Actors.
According to the Bad Actors blurb, that story sees a key member of a Downing Street think-tank 'disappear without a trace'.
MI5 then tasks an old super-spy with tracking her down, which leads them to spy master, Diana Taverner, who quickly becomes the prime suspect, and she has to rely on the Slow Horses to get her out of a tricky situation.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Of course, Slow Horses hasn't been afraid to veer from the narrative path laid out by the books before, so we're expecting some surprises along the way.
Slow Horses Season five is set for release this September, season six has also wrapped production, and cameras will start rolling on season seven in late September, early October.
For those keeping track (and if you are looking for a mind-boggling statistic to share with your friends), that's four aired seasons and three more on the way, all in the time between Stranger Things season four and five.
Those new to the show, which has an average score of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, have 24 episodes of delicious action to catch up on before the fifth, sixth, and seventh seasons land. We're seriously jealous.
If you have somehow been living under a rock, here's the lowdown on what the unconventional espionage thriller is all about.
The Will Smith-created series follows a 'dysfunctional team of MI5 agents' led by Oldman's endearingly grumpy and gross Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), with agent River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) determined to prove he's got what it takes.
Soon our team finds themselves embroiled in 'the espionage world's smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces'.
Honestly, it's the kind of show you just need to watch to fully appreciate the critically acclaimed mix of absurd hilarity, high-stakes tension and surprising moments of tenderness.
[Jackson] Lamb is the embodiment of why Slow Horses is the best crime show to come out of the UK.
He does not fit the mould of a classic TV detective in the same way Slow Horses does not conform to the usual espionage show formula.
The drama does away with most thriller tropes – from an overabundance of female victims to missing children in backwater towns – and is all the more compelling for it.
Season 4 takes this up a notch by making the plot, normally what drives any thriller, almost secondary to the characters.
Despite their various vulgarities, I cried twice during the season because, for the first time in a long time in a crime drama, I actually cared about the characters.
It's not just Oldman, who puts in a performance of a lifetime, but the rest of the Slough House misfits, I'm rooting for too.
The news of a season seven renewal has thrilled fans of the show who have taken to social media to celebrate and praise it for its tight seasons and pacey production timeline.
'Good. I'm really enjoying this show. It's so much fun,' Roscoe_King wrote on Reddit.
'The complete story arcs is extremely rewarding and it makes me want to watch the show far more than when everything is a cliff hanger,' strangedistantplanet added.
'Proper British 6-episode seasons. No fat, and it allows them to maintain the tension of the story. I'm here for this clockwork-like turnaround,' FoxMcCloudOwnsSlippy added.
'Probably my fav current show, the pace at which they are churning this out is also fantastic. The entire cast is phenomenal, Oldman and [Jonathan] Pryce in particular,' Fawkes_91 agreed.
'Genuinely one of the most satisfying/addictive experiences I've ever had watching a TV show. Before I started, I thought, 'oh nice, 24 episodes. That should keep me entertained for the next month or so.' More Trending
'Nope. Ended up watching all four seasons in like 5 days because I just couldn't put it down,' hic_forum_est said.
Slow Horses is based on a series of novels by Mick Herron with eight out so far and a ninth on he way – a promising sign for the future of the show with plenty more content still to adapt.
Slow Horses seasons one to four are available to stream on Apple TV Plus now. The fifth season lands on September 24, 2025.
View More »
[A previous version of this article was published on June 16]
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: The heartbreaking story behind Jennifer Aniston's latest role as a 'narcissistic mother'
MORE: 'It's all I've been watching': TV fans crown the best streaming service
MORE: 'Epic' sci-fi series returns to streaming — and four more shows to binge in July
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Host of 'best show on YouTube' in talks for standalone series with streaming giant
The London-born comedian is reportedly in talks to star in a new Apple TV series Chicken Shop Date host Amelia Dimoldenberg is reportedly in talks to lead a standalone Apple TV series. The 31-year-old comedian shot to fame with her hit YouTube show 10 years ago, and has since interviewed A-listers including Idris Elba, Ben Stiller, Sabrina Carpenter and Andrew Garfield. Amelia has amassed 3.17 million subscribers on YouTube with the web series, which fans claim is "the best show on YouTube." It simply features stripped-back celebrity interviews conducted in Morley's chicken shops across London. And it appears Apple TV wants a slice of Amelia's viewership. A source revealed to The Sun's TV column: "Apple knows it will have a ready-made audience for her show, which is expected to drop on the streamer later this year or early 2026. "Amelia also has a long list of famous fans who've been clamouring to get interviewed by her. "It's not clear yet exactly what format any new Apple show would take, but it's guaranteed to continue in a similar vein to her previous work which sees her casually and naturally meeting with some of the world's most famous people." The insider added: "It was only a matter of time before one of the streamers came along and harnessed her huge social media influence." The YouTuber's Chicken Shop Date with Andrew Garfield generated significant social media buzz, earning a staggering 11 million views. Fans were struck by the pair's chemistry and flirtatious banter, leading to speculation that they were dating. However, Amelia later clarified they are just friends. The social media star's fame has far exceeded YouTube, as she is often seen interviewing movie stars on red carpets, including the Golden Globe Awards and the Oscars. Amelia has also appeared on Channel 4's Taskmaster's New Year's Treat, alongside Carol Vorderman, Greg James and Sir Mo Farah. She has also taken part in Celebrity Come Dine With Me and The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off, where she put her baking skills to the test against presenter Sarah Beeny, actress Maxine Peake and that week's Star Baker, Roman Kemp. The London-born comic has also gone TikTok viral with an interview featuring Chelsea star Cole Palmer.


Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Horror sequel with 89% Rotten Tomatoes score has left critics 'disturbed'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video An eagerly anticipated horror sequel dubbed 'horrific perfection' is finally being released in the UK. Bring Her Back is the second film from directing brothers Danny and Michael Philippou, best known for smash hit 2022 film Talk To Me. Their latest release follows siblings Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong), who are placed with foster mother Laura (Sally Hawkins) following the sudden death of their father. As Laura's behaviour towards Andy becomes increasingly hostile, and their new foster brother Oliver's (Jonah Wren Phillips) behaviour deteriorates, Andy begins to suspect something isn't right in their remote home. The eerie film has landed an 89% Rotten Tomatoes rating following its release in the US before it arrives in UK cinemas on July 26. The critics' consensus reads: 'A domestic nightmare that draws its most profound scares from Sally Hawkins' deranged performance, Bring Her Back is an exemplary chiller that reaffirms directors Danny and Michael Philippou as modern masters of horror.' The Australian said in their review: '[Bring Her Back is] scarier without resorting to chainsaws or any of the other instruments of mayhem that on-screen psychopaths are fond of. It's tense from start to finish and it shows [Danny and Michael Philippou's] strengths as filmmakers.' Chicago Reader went as far as to laud the film as 'horrific perfection', and ScullyVision said it left their theatre 'squirming in shocked discomfort.' Rolling Stone wrote: 'The filmmakers want to jolt folks, for sure. But they also want to bring you to a place where the emotional after effects of that juddering linger long after the jump scares have faded away.' Riot Us said it left their critic feeling 'disturbed', while Always Good Movies added: 'Bring Her Back will probably stick in your gut for a little while, and don't be surprised if you walk away feeling hollow inside.' Many heaped praise on Paddington star Hawkins as Laura, branded 'the rotten heart and spoiled soul of the movie' and a 'boundlessly talented actor.' Globe and Mail raved: 'In the devilish hands of Australian filmmaking brothers Danny and Michael Philippou, evil has been concentrated into an exceptionally and impressively nasty 104 minutes.' 'Bring Her Back is an absolutely bonkers horror film, disturbing in the extreme. I don't think I've ever come so close to throwing up in a movie. That's not a criticism, more like a demented badge of honor,' Arizona Republic surmised. More Trending Speaking ahead of the film's release, Danny shared that the film taps into a painful family memory for him after he, at age 13, found his grandfather dead at home. 'Our father was trying to give him CPR, and I remember so vividly the vomit in his beard,' he told the New York Times. 'That became an inspiration point. Freaky to think about, so you write about that.' Bring Her Back is released in UK cinemas on July 26. It is available to watch on VOD in the US now . Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 9 deliciously bleak films and where to stream them after 'soul-crushing' new horror MORE: 'Spine-chilling' horror remake with near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes rating now streaming MORE: Leonardo DiCaprio blockbuster rudely snubbed by Oscars now streaming on iPlayer


North Wales Chronicle
4 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Controversial EastEnders villain set to move to Emmerdale
The ITV soap has called on the services of Chris Coghill, best known for playing the evil paedophile Tony King in rival soap EastEnders. His child sexual abuse storyline in the noughties marked the first time the subject matter had been broached in a UK soap opera, resulting in over 200 complaints from the public. Despite that, it received praise for raising awareness about the hidden nature of sexual abuse. Years later, Coghill will return to a different soap and start filming for his stint on the show this week. #EastEnders Who was Tony King? A reminder of Whitney's tragic past as her abuser's son vows to clear his dead dad's name Bosses have revealed he's playing a character called Kev who is on the hunt for someone already in the village. A source told the Sun that the addition of Kev will bring in heaps of drama: 'Kev is a complicated character who's going to set the cat amongst the pigeons in the village. 'It's going to lead to some huge storylines throughout autumn when what he wants is revealed.' Emmerdale Producer, Laura Shaw, said: 'We are delighted that someone of Chris' calibre has joined our cast. 'I think the viewers will be intrigued to see how the character of Kev will cause shockwaves this autumn. 'Kev has a strong connection to one of our characters and it's safe to say his arrival is going to be a massive surprise that will have major repercussions for some of our villagers.' Recommended reading: Chris added: 'I am really happy to be joining the cast of Emmerdale. 'Kev is definitely going to shake things up a bit and I'm looking forward to getting cracking!' Chris has starred in a string of high-profile shows including The Bay, Slow Horses and Shameless. The actor will be appearing onscreen late September.