Slow Horses star reacts to her character's tragic death: 'Tears streamed down my face when I read the finale'

For free, real-time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox, sign up for our breaking news emails

Sign up for our free breaking news emails

Sign up for our free breaking news emails

Warning: This article contains major spoilers for the finale of Slow horses Season four

The latest spy thriller series Slow horses has come to an end today (October 9th) and fans are devastated by the death of a major and beloved character: Kadiff Kirwan's Marcus Longridge.

Did Marcus die after getting too close to Gary Oldman's flatulent Jackson Lamb? No. Was it Diana Taverner's cold, hard stare at Kristin Scott Thomas that did him in? No, not that either. Instead, he died in the line of duty – shot by a fearsome assassin named Patrice. (Okay, he looks a lot scarier than that name suggests.)

How did this come about? Well, this all happened while River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) was busy dealing with his evil father Frank Harkness (Hugo Weaving) in King's Cross.

Cartwright's half-brother Patrice – trained by her father practically from birth to be a murder machine – came to Slough House to track down and kill River's grandfather David (Jonathan Pryce) in order to appease his father's unscrupulous customer.

A shootout occurs in the tinsel-covered, dilapidated offices of Slough House as the gang of rejected spies tried to protect themselves (and David), but were essentially just hanging out in Lamb's office.

Marcus managed to get Shirley Dander (Aimee-Ffion Edwards) – who was sniffing his scratch – to safety, but he couldn't save himself. As he turned around at the top of the stairs, a shot rang out. When Patrice staggered to Lamb's office afterward, we knew Marcus was the one who had received the bullet. Seconds later, Lamb appeared and threw a gun at Patrice's head, causing the assassin to be handcuffed to a radiator.

Kirwan said before the finale hits screens The Independent He cried when he first read the script for his final episode. “There were a lot of tears streaming down my face as I read the finale,” he said.

Open image in gallery

“When I first got the script I was really excited to read it because I knew what was going to happen. But when I started reading and saw the care and precision and action and tension of the entire finale, I was just so happy that I got to be a part of this epic episode in a really important way.”

Reflecting on Marcus' final moments with Shirley, he said they were “completely heartbreaking.”

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/month. after free trial. The plan automatically renews until canceled

Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/month. after free trial. The plan automatically renews until canceled

Try for free

But it was fun to shoot. “It was so exciting,” he said. “A bit like an action film. And it was pretty amazing having to be the person who went up against the assassin…

“We all laughed so much between takes and it was also amazing to be able to slowly destroy Slough House.”

Kirwan said he will forever miss being there Slow horses. “It was one of the professional highlights of my life so far,” he said. “I slowly ask them to bring Marcus back in a different form. Maybe he has a twin brother who is completely identical to the one who was also in military service? You never know.

“But seriously, it was an absolute joy and I’m also looking forward to now becoming a fan of the show along with so many people around the world.”

He concluded with one final tribute to his character. “Marcus Longridge. Gone, but not forgotten!”

Slow horses The fourth season is available in full on Apple TV+. A fifth season is in preparation.