This is not a drill! A first look at the anticipated sixth season of Apple TV’s acclaimed espionage drama, Slow Horses, has finally been unveiled – and it looks like fans are in for another high-stakes thrill ride.

Based on Mick Herron’s bestselling book series, the Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning drama stars Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, the cantankerous but brilliant leader of a dysfunctional team of spies working from MI5’s dumping ground, Slough House, after making career-ending mistakes.

© Courtesy of Apple
Gary Oldman reprises his role as Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses season 6

Filled with tension and plot twists, this sharp and gritty thriller is one of the best espionage dramas on television. While the entire cast is excellent, Gary Oldman stands out as the foul-mouthed, unhygienic, chain-smoking Jackson Lamb. If you haven’t yet seen the first five seasons, this is your sign to start binge-watching!

Keep reading to find out all we know about season six, including the release date.

WATCH: Slow Horses star Christopher Chung teases season six

What to expect from season 6

In season six, the Slow Horses find themselves on the run as MI5’s Diana Taverner embroils them all in a “fatally high-stakes game of retaliation and revenge,” according to the synopsis.

© Courtesy of Apple
Jack Lowden plays River Cartwright

Christopher Chung, who plays tech wiz Roddy, previously told HELLO!: “I think going into the next season, there’s definitely a lot of crossover from where we left it in season five. Taverner ends up becoming First Desk, is a really fun thing to see play out in season six.”

Teasing what’s in store for his character, Christopher added: “Roddy may or may not have learned a little bit from his past transgressions in season five, so he might be a little bit more holistic and spiritual about things going forward, having learned from what happened with him and his girlfriend.”

© Apple TV
Christopher Chung plays tech wiz Roddy

Who stars in Slow Horses season 6

Sir Gary Oldman leads the cast as Jackson Lamb. He’s joined by Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Saskia Reeves, Christopher Chung, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Rosalind Eleazar, Joanna Scanlan, Samuel West, Ruth Bradley, Tom Brooke, Jonathan Pryce and Hugo Weaving.

© Courtesy of Apple
Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Tom Brooke return as Shirley an J.K

BAFTA winner Lenny Rush (Am I Being Unreasonable?) has joined the cast of season six.

© Courtesy of Apple
Lenny Rush has joined the cast of season six

Season six release date

Slow Horses season six will premiere globally on Wednesday, 16 September with the first episode, followed by one episode weekly until 21 October.