MI5 Chief Endorses Spy Thriller Slow Horses
The director general of MI5, Sir Ken McCallum, has publicly identified himself as a "Slow Horses man," expressing his admiration for the spy thriller television series.
The Apple TV+ production, often described by critics as the anti-James Bond, features Sir Gary Oldman portraying the blunt and unpolished leader of a group of failed or disgraced MI5 agents who have been relegated to a location known as Slough House.
Comments on MI6 and Interagency Collaboration
In a video posted on MI5's official Instagram account, Sir Ken McCallum was asked about his views on MI6, the agency located "over the river." He responded:
"You might want to say there is room for both James Bond and Slow Horses,"
"I happen myself to be a Slow Horses man."
He further elaborated:
"I suppose maybe the person who wrote the question wanted to hear that there's some rivalry or whatever – the truth is they are our friends, they are our colleagues."
During a question-and-answer session at the National Archives, Sir Ken emphasized the cooperative nature of the UK's intelligence and law enforcement agencies, stating that MI5, MI6, the police, and others work together as a team, each contributing their specialized skills to maintain national security.
About the Series and Its Cast
Slow Horses is adapted from the best-selling novel of the same name by Mick Herron. The series premiered in 2022, with its sixth season scheduled for release in September 2024 and a seventh season planned for 2027.
The show stars Sir Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, the disheveled yet capable head of Slough House, known notably for his habit of breaking wind.
In a 2024 interview with the BBC promoting the fourth series, Sir Gary described the show as:
"The sort of slightly shady, dirty side of espionage. It's your PG Tips, Tescos version of it I guess."
Other principal cast members include Dame Kristin Scott Thomas as MI5 Director General Diana Taverner, Jack Lowden portraying agent River Cartwright, and Sir Jonathan Pryce as Lowden's on-screen grandfather and a retired senior British intelligence official.
