❚ We may earn commission from links on this page. Our editorial is always independent (learn more).

Slow Horses stars break down that brutal finale death and say farewell to key character

"You want these people to stay because they are such a part of the DNA of the show."

Published: Thursday, 22 October 2026 at 9:00 am

Subscribe to Radio Times: 10 weeks for £10, including the Christmas double issue

*Warning - contains major spoilers for all six episodes of Slow Horses season 6.*

Ad

Right from the first episode of Slow Horses season 6, we should have guessed we were in for a dark season, with some big character deaths. After all, that instalment started with the death and funeral of Jonathan Pryce's David Cartwright, as well as the fiery demise of Paul Higgins's Struan Loy.

In episode 4, fans' fears were further realised when Tom Brooke's JK Coe was killed by Kyle Soller's assassin character, Jim, while Ruth Bradley's Emma Flyte died in a shootout on the beach in episode 6.

Now, speaking about her departure, Bradley revealed to Radio Times that she always knew when her character's end would come, based on Mick Herron's books.

"I knew from before I was cast that she was going to go," Bradley said. "But how she went, obviously the way we shot it, is quite different. But yeah, it's amazing. It’s a hell of a way to go."

On filming the sequence she said: "That was the final two weeks of the whole season, which was amazing. So the actual death was shot on the final Monday of the season, and then the whole thing wrapped on the Friday. So, it was really like perfectly timed.

"It was full circle, and all season the crew had been saying, ‘Oh my God, when are you going to die? When will you die?’ Which was weird for my brain because I'm obviously a human being who is going to die.

"You know, so it's weird people are saying that to be like, ‘Oh God, I don't know when I'm going to die.’ But the way it worked out was that it was in the final week, and it all felt perfectly meant to be."

Ruth Bradley in Slow Horses.

Ruth Bradley in Slow Horses. Apple TV

Bradley said that starring in Slow Horses will "forever be one of the most special jobs I've ever done", and that she's "excited" to see how seasons 7 and 8 will adapt Herron's books, Bad Actors and Clown Town, which she has already read.

"I haven't read any of those scripts, so I don't know what the new writers are going to do with them," she said. "So I'll be watching along with the rest of them."

Tom Brooke in Slow Horses, with his face scarred and his hood up.

Tom Brooke in Slow Horses. Apple TV

Roddy Ho star Christopher Chung also spoke with Radio Times about the major character deaths in season 6, saying: "It's really funny because obviously you get attached to the characters and the dynamic that everybody brings into the piece.

"On the day that we were filming Ruth's death, when Flyte gets shot, and that sunset that was happening behind her, it was so incredible and so beautiful, and you're watching it like 'What incredible work!' But also, the reality meaning, 'Oh, my mate's not gonna be here next season.'"

Chung continued: "And the same with Tom. I mean, Tom didn't have the most beautiful death because he has his guts coming out. But it was the same with Kadiff [Kirwan] as Marcus - you want these people to stay because they are such a part of the DNA of the show.

"The thing about this season specifically is that no one is safe, and I really I do think that when JK goes and when Flyte goes at the end as well, I think it will shock the audience."

Want to see this content?

This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes.

Accept and continue

Of course, JK Coe and Emma Flyte are far from the first major Slow Horses characters to be killed, with other fan favourites like Dustin Demri-Burns's Min Harper and Kirwan's Marcus Longbridge meeting sticky ends over the years.

They also may not have been the last we've seen, as the final moments of season 6 episode 6 showed River in a particularly perilous situation, with his fate left up in the air.

Thankfully, we do know the show and many of its stars will be returning for future seasons, with season 7 having already been shot and season 8 currently in production.

Slow Horses seasons 1-6 are available to stream in full on Apple TV now. Start your seven day free Apple TV trial.

Add Slow Horses to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Ad

Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of James Hibbs, smiling against a lime green background.

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

Ad

Ad

Get the Christmas double issue

Too much to watch at Christmas? Let Radio Times do the choosing to find something the whole family will enjoy.

Subscribe by 3 Dec

Loading...

Ad

Loading...