The Capture Season 3: Everything We Know So Far

At the start of the year, the BBC revealed it was working on a third season of The Capture, a high-stakes mystery thriller it shares with Peacock over in the States. After a three-year hiatus and filming set to get underway this spring in the UK, here’s everything we know so far, plus when The Capture season 3 might air.

The Capture Season 3: Plot, Cast, Release Date & More

When The Capture first aired in 2019, it was an instant hit. In season 1, we meet DI Rachel Carey (Holliday Grainger), who is tasked with untangling a complex conspiracy surrounding former British Army Lance Corporal Shaun Emery (Callum Turner) who, after being acquitted of a war crime in Afghanistan, finds himself accused of kidnapping and murder back in the UK. Returning for season 2 in 2022, Rachel was faced with a new case when rising politician Isaac Turner (Paapa Essiedu) is victim of a deepfake conspiracy.

‘The Capture‘s irresistible blend of timely, state-of-the-nation commentary with edge-of-your-seat thrills has made it a big hit with millions of viewers, and we’re so pleased to announce its return to the BBC,’ says Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama. ‘Ben’s scripts for series three will dazzle and terrify you in equal measure.’

So with the news of The Capture season 3, our minds are drifting to possible plots. Here’s what we know.

Ben Miles as Danny Hart and Holliday Grainger as Rachel Carey in The Capture. (© BBC/Heyday Films/Nick Wall)

What Will Happen?

The Capture season 3 will open one year on from Rachel exposing the UK intelligence service’s clandestine video manipulation programme, ‘Correction’. Amidst an enquiry into the unlawful use of Correction, Rachel has a new role as acting head of SO15, tasked with regaining the public’s trust in surveillance technology through the new Operation Veritas camera system.

But then a well-coordinated act of terror blows the British establishment wide open: it’s brutal, and it leaves behind just one witness. As Rachel digs into the aftermath, she’s drawn deeper into an unfolding geopolitical crisis that reaches deep into the state, infecting not just the British political establishment and its  security services but the media, too. But who is pulling the strings?

Again, The Capture season 3 has the protection of truth at its heart, questioning what information we can trust – and how we can trust it – in the age of deepfakes and proliferating technology.

‘I am delighted to join up with Holliday Grainger, Lia Williams, Ben Miles, Ron Perlman, and all our brilliant cast on The Capture again, and to welcome the fantastic Killian Scott to the fold,’ says The Capture’s writer-director Ben Chanan. ‘Previous seasons have seen Holliday’s Rachel Carey investigate others as their lives fall apart. Most of all, I am excited that Series 3 puts Carey at the heart of the conspiracy.’

Indira Varma as Khadija Khan in The Capture. (© BBC/Heyday Films/Laurence Cendrowicz)

Who Will Star?

Holliday Grainger will return to lead the series, with Irish star Killian Scott set to join the cast in a ‘pivotal role’ – so we assume he’s at the centre of the conspiracy Rachel is assigned to this time. ‘I think Ben has created something really special with The Capture, a modern espionage thriller that feels both authentic and immensely captivating,’ Scott says on the news. ‘I feel incredibly lucky to be joining the team for season 3.’

They’ll be joined by Indira Varma who returns to her role as Newsnight presenter Khadija Khan, as well as Ben Miles as Commander Danny Hart and Ginny Holder as DI Nadia Latif.

Newcomers for season 3 include Game of Thrones star Joe Dempsie, Black Doves breakout Andrew Buchan, Hugh Quarshie and Amanda Drew.

The full cast for The Capture season 3 – as far as we’re aware – is as follows:

• Holliday Grainger as DCI Rachel Carey
• Killian Scott
• Indira Varma as Khadija Khan
• Ben Miles as Danny Hart
• Lia Williams as Gemma Garland
• Ginny Holder as DI Nadia Latif
• Joe Dempsie
• Andrew Buchan
• Hugh Quarshie
• Amanda Drew
• Ron Perlman as Frank Napier, CIA agent
• Nigel Lindsay as DSI Tom Kendricks
• Tessa Wong as DC Chloe Tan
• Daisy Waterstone as Abigail Carey

Ginny Holder as Nadia Latif in The Capture. (© BBC/Heyday Films/Nick Wall)

The Capture Season 3 Release Date

The Capture is set to be filmed in the UK this spring, but no clear release date just yet. The previous two seasons have aired in autumn, so the BBC might be eyeing up a September or October 2025 premiere. Stay tuned for more.

The Capture season 3 will be made up of six episodes.

WATCH

The first two seasons of The Capture are available on Netflix.