Roddy Ho is a British-Chinese MI5 agent and tech specialist in the series Slow Horses. He works at Slough House, a department known for housing failed or disgraced intelligence agents, but his exceptional IT skills make him stand out. Roddy is known for his overconfidence, self-centered attitude, and lack of social awareness, often bragging about his hacking abilities. Despite being difficult to work with, his tech expertise proves valuable to the team, making him a unique asset at Slough House.

Trivia/Facts

• Roddy Ho, a British-Chinese tech genius, was a hacktivist before joining MI5. He describes his background as “coming from the streets,” showing his rebellious and non-traditional roots. Roddy lives in a flat at 16 Mervan Road in Brixton, showcasing a modest lifestyle. He is a fan of the rock band Iron Maiden, highlighting his love for music.
• Roddy works as a tech specialist in the Slough House, MI5’s department for “failed” agents. Despite being highly skilled in IT, he was sent to Slough House instead of being fired. River Cartwright later reveals that his computer skills were too advanced, which made MI5 uneasy about him working at the headquarters. His tech abilities are often crucial in missions, even if his attitude can be problematic.
• Roddy has an inflated sense of self-worth and often views himself as superior to his colleagues. He believes his IT skills make him indispensable, but his arrogance often causes friction with others. Despite his ego, his fellow agents, including River Cartwright and Catherine Standish, depend on his tech skills. His difficult personality contrasts with his undeniable value to the team.

Christopher Chung in Slow Horses

• Roddy is responsible for hacking systems and gathering intelligence, often providing critical information during high-stakes situations. For instance, he helps the team by tracking a van involved in a kidnapping case using a theft recovery transmitter. His ability to hack into systems makes him a digital ghost, a powerful yet unpredictable asset. Despite his antisocial behavior, he proves indispensable during tense operations.
• Roddy often clashes with River Cartwright but is also the go-to person for tech-related tasks. He finds ways to sidestep MI5 protocols, often relying on his self-taught hacking skills. While others, like Louisa and Min, find him annoying, they respect his technical expertise. Even Jackson Lamb, who generally disapproves of his agents, sees Roddy as an essential part of the team.
• Despite his arrogance, Roddy sometimes shows vulnerability, especially when reminded of why he was placed in Slough House. River once scares Roddy by revealing the real reason for his transfer, which was because his talents made others at MI5 look bad. Roddy’s reaction shows that he understands he isn’t invincible, though he quickly returns to his usual cocky demeanor. This duality makes him a complex character in the series.
• Roddy plays a key role in tracking down kidnappers and providing real-time information to his team. His tech abilities allow him to hack into systems and access crucial details, such as tracking vehicles. His information often helps Jackson Lamb and the others make critical decisions during dangerous missions. Despite his attitude, his contributions frequently help save lives and unravel complicated cases.

Christopher Chung in Slow Horses

• Roddy is portrayed as someone deeply absorbed in the digital world, often preferring his computers over people. He spends his free time enhancing photos of himself with unrealistic muscular bodies, reflecting his insecurities. His obsession with tech makes him socially isolated, though he sees himself as superior to others. His isolation makes him one of the more eccentric characters in Slough House.

Roddy Ho’s Relationship with Other Characters

• Jackson Lamb: Roddy works under Jackson Lamb, the head of Slough House. Lamb finds Roddy irritating and often insults him. Despite this, Lamb acknowledges that Roddy’s tech skills are useful to the team.
• River Cartwright: River frequently relies on Roddy for help with technical tasks, though he finds Roddy annoying. Roddy helps River with hacking and data retrieval, but their relationship is not particularly friendly, as Roddy tends to act superior.

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  Christopher Chung in Slow Horses

• Sidonie “Sid” Baker: Sid doesn’t get along well with Roddy due to his arrogance. She finds him frustrating to work with, especially when he acts cocky about his abilities.
• Min Harper and Louisa Guy: Min and Louisa view Roddy as immature and annoying. Though they rely on his tech expertise during missions, they don’t respect him much due to his self-centered behavior.