It takes a very special show to rival a series as good as the BBC’s Bodyguard - but conspiracy thriller The Capture is doing a rather fine job of it. After two hugely compelling series, the BBC One drama is officially returning for a third instalment – and according to Director of BBC Drama Lindsay Salt it “will dazzle and terrify you in equal measure”.
The first two series saw Holliday Grainger's DI Rachel Carey race against the clock to get to the bottom of two major conspiracies that involved video manipulation and, much to our relief, she’s returning to duty. Only this time, she finds herself much more deeply involved. The show’s creator and writer Ben Chanan has shared that while previous seasons have seen Rachel investigate others as their lives fall apart, “series 3 puts Carey at the heart of the conspiracy.”
As filming gets underway, here’s everything you need to know about the new series, including the plot, cast and release date.
What is The Capture about?
Written by Ben Chanan (Cyberbully, Our World War), the series is a fictional surveillance thriller, which is based on Ben's personal research into the subject of deepfake technology government intelligence. Two series have aired so far, with production on the third currently underway.
Series one, which aired in 2019 and saw a whopping 7.7 million people tune in, focused on former British soldier Shaun Emery (Callum Turner), who found himself accused of kidnapping and murdering his barrister Hannah Roberts – a crime seemingly backed by CCTV evidence. But while Emery worked to clear his name, Detective Inspector Rachel Carey (Holliday Grainger) began to uncover a major conspiracy surrounding Emery, which called into question the legitimacy of the footage.
In 2022’s series two, rising politician Isaac Turner found himself caught up in a similar conspiracy. The MP, played by Paapa Essiedu, had his career blown up by an extremely convincing deepfake. Once again, Rachel had her work cut out to expose the truth before it was too late.
What will happen in The Capture series 3?
The new six-part series picks up a year after Rachel Carey (Holliday Grainger) broadcast a live deepfake of a government minister to the nation, which expose the UK intelligence service’s clandestine video manipulation programme known as Correction. An enquiry into the unlawful use of Correction has been underway and, during that time, Carey has become acting head of SO15, determined to regain the public’s trust in surveillance technology through the new Operation Veritas camera system.
According to the official synopsis: “And then it happens: a brutal and exceptionally well-coordinated act of terror aimed right at the heart of the British establishment that leaves behind just one witness. The more Carey investigates, the deeper she is drawn into an unfolding geopolitical crisis that infects the British political establishment, the security services, and the media.
“The conspiracy reaches deep into the State, but just who is pulling the strings? Caught in an increasingly violent situation, and with few allies left to trust, what sacrifices will Carey be willing to make?”
Holliday Grainger has said she’s “thrilled” to be joining The Capture team again. “Ben Chanan’s scripts are as electrifying as ever and I'm excited to be stepping back into 'Commander' Rachel Carey's world. (Spoiler alert!)”, she says.
Killian Scott, who’s joining the cast in a currently unknown yet “pivotal” role, says: “I think Ben has created something really special with The Capture, a modern espionage thriller that feels both authentic and immensely captivating. I feel incredibly lucky to be joining the team for season 3.”
Who's starring in The Capture series 3?
The cast of The Capture series 3 includes:
- Holliday Grainger
- Killian Scott
- Indira Varma
- Ben Miles
- Lia Williams
- Ginny Holder
- Ron Perlman
- Nigel Lindsay
- Tessa Wong
- Daisy Waterstone
- Joe Dempsie
- Andrew Buchan
- Hugh Quarshie
- Amanda Drew
Is The Capture any good?
Yes – if you enjoyed 2018’s Bodyguard, the brilliant BBC political thriller that starred Keeley Hawes and Richard Madden, you’ll love The Capture. Full of action, suspense and some seriously mind-bending twists, it’s got a Rotten Tomatoes score of 96% and has been described by critics as “a slick and entertaining crime thriller” and “the closest thing Britain has to Homeland”.
How can I watch The Capture series 3?
The BBC hasn't yet shared a release date for The Capture series 3, but we do know that filming is currently underway, so we'd expect it to be released towards the end of the year at the earliest. In the meantime, you can catch up on the first two series on Netflix.
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