Christopher Chung leads a fascinating double life. While he’s gaining widespread recognition for his role in the Apple TV+ hit series “Slow Horses,” he still dedicates time to his long-standing career as a personal trainer at Fred’s Gym in London’s Hampstead neighborhood. Yet, there’s a palpable shift in the air, hinting that his days of balancing acting with gym sessions might soon become a cherished memory.
Chung, 37, portrays Roddy Ho, the show’s distinctive—if a bit arrogant, clueless, and eccentric—computer expert. With the fifth season of “Slow Horses” premiering this Wednesday, Ho is finally stepping into the spotlight with a central storyline. Fans of this beloved British spy series can expect thrilling twists and turns, which are best discovered as the season unfolds.
This marks a significant milestone in Chung’s journey, a career that has steadily evolved since he moved from his native Australia to New York, and then to London. His early work included musical theater and a role in the BBC series “Waterloo Road” before he landed his breakthrough part in “Slow Horses” in 2020. This rise in prominence is beautifully captured in a photograph of Christopher Chung in London’s Hampstead neighborhood, where he reflected on his character, stating, “I always think of Ho as the seasoning in the series.”
Taking center stage in an ensemble cast that features acclaimed actor Gary Oldman as the cunning, slovenly, and flatulent intelligence officer Jackson Lamb is no small feat. It’s even more daunting within a series that has consistently delivered pulse-pounding drama and a unique, off-kilter charm through many seasons, all while following a group of misfits relegated to the fringes of MI5, Britain’s domestic counterterrorism and security agency.
The show’s off-kilter charm and pulse-pounding drama have indeed attracted an avid fan base, as depicted in a scene from the series showing five individuals gathered in a dimly lit office space, their attention focused on an unseen screen.
“This is the moment where shows can falter and be like, ‘Yeah, it’s just not as good as it was,’ or ‘They tried something here and it just didn’t land,’” Chung remarked during an interview over a crab salad and sparkling water. “I always think of Ho as the seasoning in the series. A lot of him is a lot. Enough of him is just right.”
Witty, smooth, and notably self-aware, Chung is almost the polar opposite of his character, Roddy Ho. However, he has inhabited the role long enough to develop a certain sympathy for him. After delving into research on computer hackers for the part, Chung explained that Ho shares a common trait with many in that world: a firm belief that his actions serve a greater good. “But his greater good in his world is very different to the reality of the greater good for the actual world,” Chung clarified.
The good news for Chung is that, apart from Lamb, Ho remains one of the show’s most outlandish, off-putting, and undeniably funniest characters. His job is also arguably the most relatable: he’s the stereotypical nerdy I.T. guy who can fix your laptop but won’t hesitate to scold you for using a simple password like your birth date. He’s the one who meticulously labels his energy drinks in the office fridge to deter freeloading colleagues.
While his daring colleague River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) is out in the field chasing down bad guys, Ho is often found back at the office, indulging in junk food while meticulously running background checks on suspects’ credit ratings or poring over surveillance footage. And there’s no doubt in his mind which job is truly more critical to the mission.
“We all recognize that bloke from the I.T. department,” noted Ben Macintyre, a prominent writer at The Times of London who has extensively researched MI5 for his books on real-life spies. “He speaks computer in a way no one else does, and he has absolute power as a result.”
In Season 5, one of Chung’s character’s hidden talents turns out to be dancing, as seen in a captivating image of Christopher Chung confidently strutting beside a brick wall. Chung explained, “The shtick is, he either goes to a dance class or he watches heaps of YouTube videos to get his moves down, so he can impress the ladies.”
Signals intelligence—the interception of calls, texts, and email—is increasingly vital to the operations of MI5, Macintyre explained. His own book, “The Siege,” is even being adapted into a series by Will Smith, the showrunner of “Slow Horses.” As a result, Macintyre suggested, the spy world likely has far more Roddy Hos than River Cartwrights.
Mick Herron, the celebrated author of the best-selling books that form the basis of the series, revealed in an interview that he conducts no research before he begins writing. As he famously put it, “research and I are not on speaking terms.” However, he conceded that in our digital age, “Roddy is probably nearer to the work that is actually done,” even if “they’d probably keep him in a cupboard.”
In the early days of the series, when computers held a less central role, so did Ho. Herron initially gave him only a minimal background: his parents had immigrated from Hong Kong a decade before the territory was returned to Chinese control; he spent his teenage years absorbed in Dungeons and Dragons; and he possessed sufficient wealth to purchase a house.
“I wanted to make him hard to like,” Herron admitted, noting that Ho also showed no capacity for personal growth. Yet, in this aspect, the writer found himself pleasantly surprised. “He is one of the most popular characters,” Herron said, “despite who he is, not because of who he is.”
In “London Rules,” the 2018 book upon which the new season is based, Ho’s remarkable lack of self-awareness blossoms into such swaggering dimensions that it becomes endearing rather than merely irritating. Herron, channeling Ho’s perspective, writes about his character’s new look, complete with a “neat little goatee” and a baseball cap, suggesting he is “the complete package, the way Brad Pitt used to be, before the unpleasantness.”
In a compelling image from “Slow Horses,” Gary Oldman (left) and Christopher Chung are seen walking along a street, with Oldman portraying Jackson Lamb, the cunning and slovenly intelligence officer who serves as Ho’s boss.
Ho’s hidden talents include dancing, both in bustling nightclubs and spontaneously on the street, moving to a rhythm only he can hear through his headphones. Chung shared that he specifically requested the show’s choreographer ensure Ho was a skilled dancer.
“He shouldn’t be rubbish at it,” Chung emphasized, “because the shtick is, he either goes to a dance class or he watches heaps of YouTube videos to get his moves down, so he can impress the ladies. It should be something where you’re laughing with him, not at him.”
In certain respects, Ho’s flamboyant side mirrors Chung’s own personality, as the actor dedicated much of his pre-television career to the stage. In 2018, he graced the West End of London in “Heathers, the Musical,” and also performed in “Romeo and Juliet” at Shakespeare’s Globe.
Before “Slow Horses,” Chung’s biggest break came in “Waterloo Road,” where he played Archie Wong, an earnest British Chinese student at a Scottish high school. The series was a success, but Archie’s character was written out before he could be fully developed, leading Chung to suspect that a director focused on diversity had simply been “ticking a box.”
“It fell so far short of what I thought it was going to be,” Chung reflected. “Reflecting back on it now, I can see it for what it is, and call it out. But back then, I didn’t actually know what was going on.”
Chung, who grew up near Melbourne with a Malaysian Chinese father and an Irish mother, expressed that he doesn’t want to “carry the flag” for East Asian actors, viewing it as self-righteous. At the same time, he proudly recounts how young Asian actors approached him after the success of “Slow Horses,” telling him, “Dude, you’re doing it, and you’re not just doing it for yourself. You’re doing it for us.” This sentiment is powerfully conveyed in an image where Chung playfully peeks out from behind a brick wall, embodying a blend of humility and pride.
These days, Chung finds himself recognized on the London subway, with fellow passengers subtly snapping photos of him. While not yet a Brad Pitt-level celebrity, he cherishes the opportunity to perform alongside esteemed actors like Oldman (who he describes as a joyful, mischievous presence on set despite his Oscar and knighthood) and Kristin Scott Thomas (a more austere figure, whom Chung humorously admits he tried, usually unsuccessfully, to make laugh during their intense interrogation scenes this season).
“He’s having the time of his life,” Herron confirmed. “He’s terrific and audiences love him.”
Chung is also incredibly fit, a result of all those demanding sessions at Fred’s Gym—a job he insists he wants to continue. This wasn’t how Herron originally envisioned Ho, he admits, but it’s certainly how Roddy Ho would imagine himself. “Chris,” Herron concluded, “is the Roddy that Roddy always wanted to be.”
Does Chung ever worry he’s in too good shape to convincingly play an I.T. guy?
“There are people like this, that are kind of geeky, nerdy, really good at computers, but that are in incredible physical shape,” he asserted. “I’ll send you some videos.”