Crime fans only just realising who ‘exceptionally well crafted’ thriller was written by after being hooked on show for ages

Fans of an ‘utterly brilliant’ crime show are only now just realising where they’ve seen the actor who wrote the beloved television series before.

Apple TV+ offerings won big at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday evening (September 15), with Lessons in Chemistry, Masters of the Air and The Morning Show all being honoured.

Another worthy winner was Slow Horses - an espionage thriller starring Gary Oldman as British intelligence officer Jackson Lamb and five-time BAFTA favourite Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Teverner.

The show’s creator and executive producer, Will Smith (not that Will Smith), was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for the third season of the show.

Following the victory, fans are just only just figuring out whether they’ve seen the 53-year-old before.

“How am I only just learning that actual Phil from The Thick of It wrote Slow Horses and won an Emmy for it last night?! The boy has done good,” remarked one fan on social media.

A second agreed: “I started watching Slow Horses after the third series came out, and have been an avid fan since, and for all the times I’ve seen the words ‘Created by Will Smith’ on the opening credits I’ve just clocked TODAY that Phil Smith from The Thick Of It is that Will Smith. Insane.”

“Just now connected the dots that Will Smith who won an Emmy for writing Slow Horses (yay!) was Phil in Thick of It (double yay),” echoed a third.

Between 2006 and 2012 Smith starred as Phil Smith on the BBC sitcom, The Thick of It.

The Slow Horses writer played Phil Smith in The Thick Of It (BBC)

His character serves as Special Adviser to Peter Mannion, the Secretary of State for Social Affairs and Citizenship (played by Roger Allam) and is a member of the Conservative Party obsessed with The Lord of the Rings.

As well as portraying Phil, Smith also wrote the political comedy - but that isn’t where his credits stop.

The writer has previously worked on the Emmy-winning sitcom Veep as well as the satirical series, Time Trumpet and HBO’s Avenue 5.

Meanwhile, Slow Horses has been garnering praise from TV fans following the season four premiere on Apple TV+ earlier in September.

Based on the fourth book in Mich Herron’s Slough House series, the season - titled Spook Street - opens with Robert Winters (played by Zachary Hart) setting off a bomb at West Acres shopping centre in London.

Meanwhile, River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) complains his father, David (Jonatan Pryce), is becoming paranoid just before the man himself becomes embroiled in a murder plot.

Will Smith won an Emmy for his writing on Slow Horses season four (had Salvador/Variety via Getty Image)

Critics have bestowed the fourth outing of the acclaimed espionage series a rare 100 percent rating on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer, with Camilla Long of The Times claiming Slow Horses is still 'utterly brilliant'.

And fans of the spy series have also been having their say, with one new viewer writing: “#SlowHorses Season 1 (Yes, I'm late to the party) is an exceptionally well crafted spy thriller from @AppleTV.

“At just 6 episodes is also breezy but still doesn't lack anything. It has a great story and characters. I'm excited to start Season 2 and catch up!”

Another gushed: “If you’re not watching Slow Horses on Apple TV+, you’re missing out on one of the best spy thrillers and a killer intro song to match. Time to get hooked!”

Those just getting into Slow Horses will be pleased to know there are still four episodes of season four left to debut on streaming.

The show has also already had season five green lit and is expected to be based on Herron’s next book in the Slough House series, London Rules, according to Variety.