Slow Horses writer Will Smith says Jersey helped shape career

The lead writer behind hit television drama Slow Horses has credited Jersey with helping launch his career.

Three-time Emmy Award winner Will Smith, creator of the Apple TV+ spy drama which follows a team of failed or disgraced MI5 agents led by Jackson Lamb - played by Sir Gary Oldman, grew up on the island and attended Victoria College.

Smith said Jersey's creative community provided a "fertile, supportive environment" which helped lay the foundations for his success.

Slow Horses is up for nine awards at the upcoming Primetime Emmys in Los Angeles on 14 September, with Smith nominated in the Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series category.

"I wouldn't be doing it without Jersey and the people that I grew up with," Smith, who won the same category in 2024, said.

Smith, who is now based in London and previously won two Emmys for his work on political comedy show Veep, said he had the "fondest possible memories" of his childhood.

He said Jersey continued to inspire his work and praised the teachers who encouraged his love of storytelling.

Smith, whose acting credits include The Thick of It, Citizen Khan and Paddington, said the island "felt very safe" while he was growing up.

"It was a beautiful landscape - it was pretty idyllic really," he added.

Despite already winning international awards, Smith said attending television's biggest ceremonies still felt surreal.

"It's always amazing the company you're in with the nominations," he said.

"Last year, Harrison Ford was there and I can technically say I've been in the same room as Harrison Ford.

"If you'd told my seven-year-old self, who was a massive Star Wars and Indiana Jones fan, that one day I'd be sitting in an awards ceremony with him, it would have blown my mind."

Smith said winning an Emmy for Slow Horses was particularly meaningful because he had not expected to hear his name called.

"You can't control whether people love your show," he said.

"You've got to get into a state where if you write something and nobody reads it, you're still happy that you did it.

"If you can get into that zone, it's so much healthier because then you're always succeeding on your own terms."

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