Christopher Chung still dedicates time to his personal training clients at Fred’s Gym in London’s Hampstead neighborhood. Yet, spending a moment with him at the nearby Horseshoe pub, it’s clear his acting career is poised for a significant leap, potentially making his gym days a fond, distant memory.
Chung is renowned for his portrayal of Roddy Ho, the ‘Slow Horses’ computer expert — a character known for his arrogance, occasional cluelessness, and nearly sociopathic tendencies. As Season 5 kicks off this Wednesday on Apple TV+, fans will be thrilled to see Ho take center stage in a storyline packed with twists that are best kept secret for now.
At 37, Chung is experiencing a pivotal moment in a career that has steadily built momentum. His journey has spanned continents, from his roots in Australia to New York and eventually London, where he honed his craft in musical theater and on the BBC’s ‘Waterloo Road’ before landing his breakthrough role in ‘Slow Horses’ in 2020.
Stepping into a leading role alongside an acclaimed ensemble, which includes the brilliant Gary Oldman as the cunning, yet slovenly and flatulent, intelligence officer Jackson Lamb, is no small feat. This is especially true for a series like ‘Slow Horses,’ which has consistently delivered gripping drama and peculiar charm across multiple seasons, following a group of MI5 outcasts.
In a striking image captured in London’s Hampstead neighborhood, Christopher Chung poses thoughtfully. He views his ‘Slow Horses’ character, Roddy Ho, as ‘the seasoning in the series. A lot of him is a lot. Enough of him is just right.’
In stark contrast to his on-screen persona, Chung himself is witty, charming, and remarkably self-aware. Yet, after embodying Ho for so long, he’s developed a genuine empathy for the character. His research into computer hackers revealed a shared trait with Ho: a conviction that their actions serve a ‘greater good,’ albeit one often disconnected from reality.
Thankfully for Chung, Ho continues to be one of the series’ most outlandish, occasionally irritating, yet undeniably hilarious characters. His role as the resident I.T. wizard is surprisingly relatable: he’s the guy who saves your data but will lecture you for weak passwords, and he fiercely guards his energy drinks in the communal fridge.
While his dashing colleague River Cartwright (played by Jack Lowden) is out on daring field missions, Ho is usually found desk-bound, fueling himself with snacks, meticulously sifting through credit ratings, or poring over surveillance feeds. It’s clear which role he believes is truly indispensable to national security.
This unique blend of off-kilter charm and pulse-pounding drama has captivated an avid fan base.
‘We all know that I.T. guy,’ remarked Ben Macintyre, a writer for The Times of London and author of several books on real-life spies. ‘He possesses a unique command over technology, giving him immense, almost absolute, power within the organization.’
Macintyre, whose book ‘The Siege’ is currently being adapted into a series by ‘Slow Horses’ showrunner Will Smith, pointed out that in modern intelligence, ‘signals intelligence’ – the interception of digital communications – is paramount. Consequently, the real spy world likely features far more ‘Roddy Hos’ than ‘River Cartwrights.’
Mick Herron, the acclaimed author behind the ‘Slow Horses’ novels, playfully admitted he avoids research when writing, stating, ‘research and I are not on speaking terms.’ However, he conceded that in today’s digital landscape, Ho’s role is likely closer to actual espionage work, even if, as he joked, ‘they’d probably keep him in a cupboard.’
Initially, Ho’s character was less prominent, reflecting a time when computers weren’t as central to spycraft. Herron gave him a sparse backstory: his parents moved from Hong Kong before its handover to China, he spent his youth absorbed in Dungeons and Dragons, and he had the means to own a home.
‘I aimed to make him unlikable,’ Herron confessed, mentioning Ho’s apparent inability to grow. Ironically, the author’s intention backfired, as Ho has become one of the series’ most beloved figures, embraced by audiences precisely for his unique quirks.
In ‘London Rules,’ the 2018 novel informing the new season, Ho’s profound lack of self-awareness evolves into a kind of swaggering charm, making him oddly endearing. Describing Ho’s updated look – a ‘neat little goatee’ and a baseball cap – Herron humorously writes that his character is ‘the complete package, the way Brad Pitt used to be, before the unpleasantness.’
In Season 5, one of Ho’s unexpected talents is dancing. Chung himself insisted to the show’s choreographer that Ho had to be genuinely good, explaining, ‘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.’
The photo shows Christopher Chung showcasing his character’s talent by strutting confidently beside a brick wall.
Ironically, Ho’s showboating tendencies align more with Chung’s own pre-television career, which largely focused on the stage. Before ‘Slow Horses,’ Chung starred in ‘Heathers, the Musical’ in London’s West End and ‘Romeo and Juliet’ at Shakespeare’s Globe in 2018.
His most significant role before ‘Slow Horses’ was Archie Wong, an earnest British Chinese high school student in the popular BBC series ‘Waterloo Road.’ Despite the show’s success, Archie was written off without proper character development, leading Chung to suspect that the role was merely a ‘box-ticking’ exercise for a diversity-conscious director.
‘It was incredibly disappointing compared to what I’d hoped for,’ Chung remembered. ‘Looking back, I can clearly identify what was happening, but at the time, I was just unaware.’
Growing up near Melbourne to a Malaysian Chinese father and an Irish mother, Chung expressed a reluctance to be seen as ‘carrying the flag’ for East Asian actors, viewing it as self-righteous. However, he admitted a profound sense of pride when younger Asian actors approach him, saying, ‘Dude, you’re making it happen, not just for yourself, but for all of us.’
This image highlights the initial intent versus the outcome: the character Chung plays was initially supposed to be unlikable, but has become one of the most popular characters in the series.
These days, Chung enjoys a growing recognition in London – commuters on the subway often sneak photos of him – though he’s certainly not yet ‘Brad Pitt’ famous. He relishes working alongside industry legends like Gary Oldman, whom he describes as a joyful ‘cutup’ on set despite his accolades, and Kristin Scott Thomas, a more austere presence whom Chung playfully admits he often tries, usually unsuccessfully, to make laugh during their shared interrogation scenes this season.
‘He’s absolutely loving it,’ Herron confirmed. ‘He’s brilliant, and audiences genuinely adore him.’
Beyond his acting, Chung maintains an impressive physique from his consistent training at Fred’s Gym – a job he intends to continue. Herron noted this physical prowess wasn’t how he initially envisioned Ho, but he mused, ‘Chris is essentially the Roddy that Roddy always aspired to be.’
Does Chung ever worry that his impressive physique might be too good for an I.T. character?
‘There are plenty of people who are incredibly intelligent and technically adept, yet also in fantastic physical condition,’ he countered with a smile. ‘I can even send you some videos to prove it!’