Full Breakdown
MI5 Director General Sir Ken McCallum Names Himself a ‘Slow Horses’ Man
6/18/2026, 12:57:54 PM
Public Endorsement of “Slow Horses” by MI5’s Director General
In a video posted on MI5’s Instagram, Director General Sir Ken McCallum answered a question about MI5-MI6 relations. He said the agencies are “friends” and “colleagues,” dismissed any rivalry, and declared himself a “Slow Horses man.” The exchange was recorded during a public Q&A at the National Archives.
Background: The “Slow Horses” Series
“Slow Horses” is an Apple TV+ spy drama based on Mick Herron’s novels. It premiered in 2022 and follows disgraced MI5 officers at Slough House under Jackson Lamb, played by Sir Gary Oldman. Critics label it an anti-James Bond work that shows a messier, bureaucratic side of espionage. Season six arrives in September 2024; a seventh season is slated for 2027. The series won a BAFTA for Outstanding Writing in 2024.
Key Figures & Groups
Sir Ken McCallum is Director General of MI5. MI5 and MI6 are the United Kingdom’s primary intelligence and security agencies, and they cooperate with the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and police forces. The series’ main cast includes Sir Gary Oldman (Jackson Lamb), Dame Kristin Scott Thomas (Diana Taverner), Jack Lowden (River Cartwright), and Sir Jonathan Pryce (David Cartwright).
Official Statements on Cooperation and the Show
McCallum stressed that MI5, MI6, GCHQ and police operate as a single team, each applying specialist skills to protect the nation. He reiterated that the services are “friends” and “colleagues,” and noted there is “room for both James Bond and Slow Horses.” He also referenced his personal preference for the series.
Why It Matters
The endorsement of a fictional intelligence drama by MI5’s chief underscores the influence of popular media on public perceptions of security agencies. By acknowledging a series that departs from traditional heroic tropes, McCallum signals openness to diverse cultural representations while reaffirming the collaborative nature of the United Kingdom’s security agencies.
Verbatim Quotes
- “ "You might want to say there is room for both James Bond and Slow Horses," he said, adding "I happen myself to be a Slow Horses man".” — Sir Ken McCallum, Director General, MI5
- “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.” — Sir Ken McCallum
- “MI5, MI6, (Government Communications Headquarters), the police and others have to work together and want to work together in a really big team, each doing our particular thing, the thing that we are specialists at – to keep the country safe together.” — Sir Ken McCallum
- “The sort of slightly shady, dirty side of espionage. It's your PG Tips, Tescos version of it I guess.” — Sir Gary Oldman, Actor (BBC interview 2024)
