MarketThe Capture (TV series)
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The Capture (TV series)

The Capture is a British conspiracy thriller television series created and written by Ben Chanan and produced by Heyday Television as part of Universal International Studios for the BBC. The series is centred on Rachel Carey, a fast-track Metropolitan Police detective drawn into a vast conspiracy involving real-time deepfake technology, mass surveillance and manipulated video evidence.

Premise
Series 1 Former soldier Shaun Emery is released from prison after his conviction for a war crime in Afghanistan is overturned on appeal owing to flawed video evidence. However, his return to civilian life is short-lived when CCTV footage implicates him in the assault and kidnapping of his barrister, Hannah Roberts. While Emery attempts to clear his name, DI Rachel Carey investigates and soon begins to uncover a wider conspiracy, calling into question the validity of the surveillance footage. Series 2 Six months later, DCI Rachel Carey is now entrenched in the UK's own "Correction" unit, having seemingly joined the intelligence operation she once sought to expose. When rising politician Isaac Turner MP becomes the target of a live deepfake hack, Carey finds herself in the middle of a new conspiracy involving the dangerous rise of real-time deepfake technology. Faced with a threat that has evolved far beyond CCTV tampering, she must navigate a landscape of political interference as well as media manipulation while challenging the boundary between digital fabrication and the truth. Series 3 One year after exposing the "Correction" programme, Rachel Carey is now the Acting Commander of Counter Terrorism Command, overseeing the launch of Operation Veritas, a new surveillance system designed to detect digital manipulation in real-time. When a well-coordinated act of terror strikes central London, Carey becomes the sole eyewitness to a crime that her own technology cannot verify. As she investigates, she uncovers a conspiracy reaching the security and political establishment, forcing her to question herself and the costs of pursuing a truth that few are willing to believe. ==Cast and characters==
Cast and characters
Main OverallHolliday Grainger as Rachel Carey – A fast-track detective whose career is defined by a ruthless ambition and a rigid, often isolating moral compass. While highly capable and headstrong, she is frequently viewed as "spiky" and "plain-speaking," traits that often place her at odds with her superiors and leave her with few personal allies. Despite her tactical sharpness, her commitment to accountability leads her trust in her own integrity to be pushed to its breaking point • Lia Williams as DSU Gemma Garland – An inscrutable and glacial senior intelligence official within SO15. A pragmatic operative who prioritises national security over transparency, she frequently employs morally ambiguous methods to protect state interests. • Ron Perlman as Frank Napier – A powerful and cynical CIA Section Chief who utilises ruthless, clandestine tactics to protect American interests. He oversees covert state operations with a pragmatic disregard for legal transparency. • Ben Miles as Danny Hart – The Commander of SO15 who oversees counter-terrorism operations. While a staunch defender of national security, he is increasingly conflicted by the ethical cost and systemic deception involved in covert state programmes. • Ginny Holder as DS (later DI) Nadia Latif – A principled and methodical detective who relies on empirical facts over intuition. Her process-driven approach often leads her to identify the technical anomalies that expose larger conspiracies. • Cavan Clerkin as DS Patrick Flynn (series 1–2) – seasoned, street-smart detective and pragmatic ally to Carey. Despite initial scepticism of her career path, he provides a grounded perspective while assisting her in navigating complex investigations. • Paapa Essiedu as Isaac Turner MP (series 2–3) – The Minister of State for Security and a rising political star. After his career and personal life are upended by a real-time deepfake hack, he becomes an ally to Carey in her attempt to expose 'Correction'. • Indira Varma as Khadija Khan (series 2–3) – A fierce and high-profile BBC News presenter and investigative journalist. Ambitious and ruthlessly pragmatic, she prioritises her own career advancement and the pursuit of high-stakes information over personal loyalty, often operating on a strictly transactional basis. Series 1Callum Turner as Shaun Emery – A former British Army Lance Corporal who is released from prison after a successful appeal against a war crime conviction. A determined and protective father, he soon finds himself at the centre of a new criminal investigation after incriminating CCTV footage appears to show him assaulting his barrister. • Laura Haddock as Hannah Roberts – A brilliant and principled human-rights barrister who successfully represents Shaun Emery during his appeal. Her sudden disappearance, and her apparent assault caught on CCTV, triggers a major police investigation. • Barry Ward as Charlie Hall – A solicitor and close colleague of Hannah Roberts who works to secure Shaun Emery's initial release. He is a member of the "Pilgrims of Justice," an activist group dedicated to exposing flaws in the surveillance state. • Ralph Ineson as DCI Alec Boyd – An experienced detective who oversees the investigation into Hannah Roberts’ disappearance and manages the procedural pressures of the high-profile investigation. • Alexander Forsyth as Eli Jacobi – A CIA analyst working in a covert London-based unit. A skilled digital expert, he becomes a key figure in the investigation when he appears to act as a whistleblower regarding the use of manipulated surveillance footage. Series 2Charlie Murphy as Simone Turner – The wife of Isaac Turner who faces increasing strain as a result of the inflammatory public statements attributed to her husband. She struggles to protect her family's privacy while navigating the resulting tensions and distrust within her marriage. • Joseph Arkley as Gregory Knox – The calculating and ambitious CEO of Truro Analytics, a powerful data analytics firm that specialises in using advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence to influence public opinion. • Natalie Dew as Aliza Clarke – A dedicated Special Adviser who manages the Minister's public profile and policy development. • Harry Michell as Rhys Edwards – A pragmatic and cynical Special Adviser who manages the Minister's strategic communications. Series 3Killian Scott as Commander Noah Pierson, the mysterious new permanent head of SO15Hugh Quarshie as Commissioner Cameron Yates, Head of the Metropolitan PoliceAndrew Buchan as Deputy Commissioner Julian Talbot, Yates's second in command • Isabella Brownson as Paige Thomas, a police communications official • Linus Roache as Colonel Christopher Figgis, the commanding officer of E SquadronJonathan Aris as Major Peter Neuman, a military doctor in E Squadron Supporting OverallDaisy Waterstone as Abigail Carey – Rachel's younger half-sister • Nigel Lindsay as DCI Tom Kendricks – A senior SO15 official and tactical lead who ensures operational stability within the CTC control centre. A long-term colleague of Rachel Carey, he provides logistical oversight and support during her investigations. • Tessa Wong as DC Chloe Tan (series 2–3) – A diligent and observant fast-track detective. Emerging as a "shadow" of Rachel Carey, she provides meticulous, data-driven support for investigations while striving to prove herself as a key member of the team. • Andy Nyman as Sir Rowan Gill (series 2–3) – The Home Secretary and Isaac's superior at the Home Office. A seasoned politician, he is one of the few officials with high-level knowledge of the "Correction" programme. Series 1Sophia Brown as Karen Merville – Shaun's former partner and the mother of his young daughter. She is wary of his release and remains deeply concerned for their daughter's well-being as the legal and media scrutiny surrounding him intensifies. • Alan Williams as Eddie Emery – Shaun's grandfather who provides him with a place to stay and emotional stability following his release. He remains a steadfast believer in his grandson's innocence as the criminal investigation and media attention intensify. • Paul Ritter as Marcus Levy – A seasoned broadcast consultant and video engineer who provides the expert technical evidence required to secure Shaun's initial release. He later assists Rachel Carey by theorising how CCTV footage could be manipulated through "delayed" transitions. • Famke Janssen as Jessica Mallory – A high-ranking official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and Frank Napier's superior. She arrives in London to oversee American interests in the "Correction" programme and ensure the integrity of the operation remains intact. • Sharon Rooney as Becky – A local authority CCTV footage monitor who first spots the apparent assault of Hannah Roberts while on duty. Her report to the emergency services triggers the police's involvement and the subsequent manhunt for Shaun Emery. Series 2Rob Yang as Yan Wanglei – The UK Head of the Chinese artificial intelligence company XANDA, who leads the firm's bid for a government contract to implement facial recognition technology at British borders. • Joshua Jo as Edison Yao – A computer scientist and Chinese dissident who acts as a key witness for the China Research Committee. His assassination serves as the catalyst for the investigation into a new form of digital manipulation. • Angus Wright as Anthony Reed OBE – The BBC's Security Correspondent who serves as a high-level contact for the intelligence services. He is called to manage sensitive information and coordinate the media's response to emerging national security crises. Series 3Amanda Drew as Angela Stilton, Head of Communications for the Metropolitan Police • Joe Dempsie as James Whitlock, a convicted criminal accused of being an assassin • Adrian Rawlins as Lord Justice Frederickson, chair of the Correction Inquiry • Jude Mack as Natasha Hayes, a BBC News journalist working for Khadija Khan ==Episodes==
Episodes
Series 1 (2019) Series 2 (2022) Series 3 (2026) == Music ==
Music
All tracks are composed by Ian Arber and Dave Rowntree. Series 1 Original Soundtrack Series 2 Original Soundtrack Series 3 Original Soundtrack == Production ==
Production
Development The Capture was created by Ben Chanan, who drew on his background in documentary filmmaking and research into counter-terrorism. Chanan has said the idea originated several years earlier while interviewing counter-terrorism operatives in the United Kingdom and the United States, where he became interested in the central role of video evidence in securing convictions. The premise developed from the intersection between this reliance on recorded images and the increasing ability to manipulate video using digital technology. Casting In August 2018, it was announced that Callum Turner and Holliday Grainger would be leading the cast. In March 2019, additional casting was announced with Ron Perlman, Famke Janssen, Laura Haddock, Ben Miles, Lia Williams, Sophia Brown, Paul Ritter, Adelayo Adedayo, Ralph Ineson, Cavan Clerkin, Ginny Holder, and Nigel Lindsay joining the cast. In August 2021, Paapa Essiedu had been cast as a guest series lead for the second series, with Andy Nyman and Indira Varma cast in supporting roles. In July 2022, it was announced that Charlie Murphy and Rob Yang were joining the cast. In April 2025, it was announced that Killian Scott had joined the cast in a pivotal role for the third series, alongside Joe Dempsie, Andrew Buchan, Hugh Quarshie, and Amanda Drew in supporting roles. In January 2026, Linus Roache and Jonathan Aris were cast in supporting roles, and Paapa Essiedu was confirmed to return. Filming == Release ==
Release
The first series premiered on BBC One on 3 September 2019, and on Peacock in the US on 15 July 2020. The second series premiered on BBC One on 28 August 2022, and on Peacock in the US on 3 November 2022. The third series premiered on BBC One on 8 March 2026, with the Peacock premiere in the US yet to be announced. ==Reception==
Reception
Critical response Series 1 The first series was reviewed positively by critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 92% with an average rating of 8.1/10, based on reviews from 39 critics. The site's critical consensus said, "Gripping to the very end, The Capture's well-built tension culminates in a riveting revitalization of a tired genre". On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, it received a score of 72 out of 100 based on 20 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". The Telegraph awarded the episode four stars, labelling the series as "riveting", and The Independent also awarded it four stars, designating it an "intriguing, but rather flawed, sort of Big Brother thriller set in our contemporary world of digital snooping". The Guardian was less enthusiastic, concluding it to be a "twisty if lacklustre drama", giving the opening episode only three stars out of five. Reviews improved over the course of the series, and the finale was highly praised by critics, with many drawing positive comparisons with the BBC's similar series Bodyguard which was broadcast around the same time the previous year. The Telegraph described it as a "highly satisfying series finale", whilst The Times critic James Jackson referred to the series as 'the thinking man's' Bodyguard: Sarah Hughes echoed these sentiments in her review of the finale in The Guardian, commenting that "if there were any justice, everyone would be talking about The Capture right now". She heralded the show as "nuanced and complex" and "one of the most cleverly plotted dramas of recent years", and the final episode as "a refreshingly grownup hour of television". Series 2 The second series was also reviewed positively by critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the second series received an approval rating of 100% with an average rating of 7.8/10, based on 12 critics. The site's critical consensus said, "Deftly melding contemporary concerns with outlandish internal logic, The Capture's sophomore season is brainy camp that will detain your attention." On Metacritic, it received an average score of 70 out of 100, based on four critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". The Telegraph awarded it four stars, labelling the series as "slick and well-written", and The Independent awarded it three stars, writing that "At its best, The Capture feels like the closest thing Britain has to Homeland". In her review in The Times, Carol Midgely awarded it five stars, writing that even though the finale was "implausible, elaborate, daft and had more twists than a cheap garden hose...It was also fabulously entertaining". The Guardian awarded it three stars, writing that "Despite the manifold sillinesses, the opening scene in James Kent's directed episode of Ben Chanan's drama is done effectively". Viewership The Capture was the most requested new show in 2019 on BBC iPlayer, with more than 20 million requests for series 1. It was also the eighth most requested series overall in 2019. Accolades For his performance in the first series, Callum Turner received a nomination for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor. == References ==
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