Nick Mohammed Takes on Politician Role in Slow Horses Season 5
Nick Mohammed, widely recognized for his portrayal of Nathan Shelley in the Emmy-winning comedy Ted Lasso, is stepping into a new role as a politician in the highly anticipated Season 5 of Slow Horses.
This character, Zaffer Jaffrey, the mayor of London, allows Mohammed to explore the intense and critical backdrop of political drama—a shift from his previous comedic roles. “I’m a huge fan of Mick Herron’s works, so getting this call to audition was exciting,” he shared during a Zoom interview.
Season 5 is based on Herron’s fifth book, London Rules, and unfolds an intricate narrative involving Jaffrey’s reelection campaign, which faces challenges from far-right candidates advocating strict immigration policies. As it turns out, connections emerge between a new girlfriend of a tech expert at Slough House and a series of tragic events in London.
Although the book was published in 2018, political tensions related to migration and violence continue to dominate headlines in the UK and the US today. Mohammed noted the relevance of the series to contemporary issues. “It’s quite sad how relevant it is. The ideas are not new, but the way they’re explored in Slow Horses feels particularly timely now,” he reflected.
After the season premiere, similarities between Jaffrey and the real-life London mayor, Sadiq Khan, became apparent. Interestingly, Jaffrey’s campaign slogan, “Make London Londerful,” humorously echoes political rhetoric like “Make America Great Again.” “It’s always amusing to say that, and each time I did, a little part of me found it entertaining,” Mohammed remarked with a chuckle.
In the early episodes of Season 5, Jaffrey deals with the aftermath of a violent incident that affected his campaign. He finds himself tangled in both political strategy and personal turmoil, including concerns about his son’s involvement in one of the attacks.
While Mohammed’s role offers comedic moments typical of Slow Horses, it also showcases a more serious side, a shift that he finds rewarding. “As an actor, the desire to diversify your skills is always there. It’s great to stretch your abilities and explore different facets of storytelling,” he added, mentioning his ongoing learning process in the craft.
As for the future, Mohammed hinted at a desire to continue with Ted Lasso and shared hopes of guest-starring in other series, including Morning Show, where he admires the work of John Hamm. “I’ve always enjoyed that show, and it would be amazing to collaborate with such talented individuals,” he expressed.
Currently, he is also involved in Celebrity Traitor, which premiered on October 8th. “I loved being part of it; everyone involved was simply fantastic. It was a charity project, sure, but being fans of the show made it even more special,” he said.
As the remaining episodes of Season 5 roll out, Mohammed hinted at an exciting and explosive finale that fans can look forward to. “Each new season brings unique quality and relentless passion from the cast and crew. You can really feel the love for the project,” he concluded.
New episodes of Slow Horses are set to premiere on Wednesdays on Apple TV+.
