The wait for fans of the BBC thriller The Capture is finally over. Nearly four years after the second season ended, the network has confirmed that the show will return to screens on Sunday, March 8, 2026 . The new season brings back lead star Holliday Grainger as Rachel Carey, along with a host of familiar faces and some significant new additions to the cast.
The series, which has earned a near-perfect score of 96 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, will air on BBC One at 9pm and will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 6am on the same day . Episodes will follow a weekly release schedule, giving viewers time to digest the complex plot that the show is known for .
For those who need to catch up, the BBC has made the first two seasons available again on iPlayer from February 13, 2026 .
What Happens in Season 3: A New Terror Threat
The new season picks up one year after the dramatic events of the second series. Rachel Carey broadcast a live deepfake of a government minister to the nation, exposing a secret UK intelligence video manipulation program called Correction .
Now facing an inquiry into the unlawful use of this technology, Rachel has been promoted to Acting Commander of Counter Terrorism Command. She is determined to rebuild public trust in surveillance through a new system called Operation Veritas, which is designed to detect deepfakes as they happen .
But things go wrong quickly. A well-planned and violent act of terror hits the British establishment hard. Only one witness comes forward, and as Rachel investigates, she finds herself caught in a growing crisis that involves politicians, security services, and the media .
The official synopsis from the BBC poses the central question of the series: “How do you protect the truth, in a world where lies are daily currency? And with the proliferation of deepfakes, how can we trust what we see?” .
An extended trailer released in late February shows Rachel dealing with a shooting in central London. She realizes she is the only person who saw the attacker, but when official footage is released, the man in the video is different. This confirms that the Correction technology is being used again, and the attack may have been designed to target her personally .
Full Cast List for The Capture Season 3
The show brings back its core cast while adding several well-known actors for the new episodes.
Returning Cast Members
- Holliday Grainger as Rachel Carey – Now Acting Commander of Counter Terrorism Command .
- Paapa Essiedu as Isaac Turner – The MP who helped expose Correction in season 2 .
- Indira Varma as Khadija Khan – A BBC News presenter .
- Ben Miles as Danny Hart – A commander whose allegiance remains unclear .
- Lia Williams as Gemma Garland – A key figure in the legal system .
- Ron Perlman as Frank Napier – The CIA agent who continues to play a role in the conspiracy .
- Ginny Holder as DI Nadia Latif – Returns after her role in previous seasons .
- Nigel Lindsay as DSI Tom Kendricks – Part of the investigative team .
- Tessa Wong as DC Chloe Tan – A member of Rachel’s team .
- Daisy Waterstone as Abigail Carey – Rachel’s sister .
- Andy Nyman as Sir Rowan Gill – A government official .
New Cast Members Joining Season 3
- Killian Scott (known for Dublin Murders and Kaos) in a major role .
- Joe Dempsie (Game of Thrones, Skins) .
- Andrew Buchan (Broadchurch, The Honourable Woman) .
- Hugh Quarshie (Holby City) as Commissioner Cameron Yates .
- Linus Roache (Law & Order) as Colonel Figgis .
- Amanda Drew (EastEnders) .
- Jonathan Aris (Good Omens, Sherlock) .
What the Trailer Reveals
The first trailer for season 3 dropped after the finale of The Night Manager on February 1, 2026 . A longer trailer followed later in the month, giving fans a clearer picture of the plot.
In the footage, Rachel is seen being interviewed by Khadija Khan. She says, “The question we asked ourselves a year ago has become even more urgent. How do we sort fact and fiction? How can we believe what we see?” .
The trailer shows a shooting in London that sends the city into chaos. Rachel insists she saw the shooter clearly, but when the official footage is reviewed, it shows a different person. This confirms that someone is still using Correction technology to manipulate video evidence .
There are also tense moments between Rachel and Frank Napier. The CIA agent asks her for a favor, warning her that she might need help from someone like him in the future. This suggests that the conspiracy goes beyond the UK and has international connections .
Where to Watch The Capture Season 3
The Capture season 3 will be available to viewers in the UK on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The first episode airs on Sunday, March 8 at 9pm. For those who prefer streaming, the episode will be available on iPlayer from 6am that morning .
For international viewers, the show’s distributor is NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution, which means it will likely be available on streaming platforms outside the UK, though specific international release dates have not been announced yet .
Seasons 1 and 2 were previously available on Netflix in some regions but are set to leave that platform soon. The BBC has now made them available again on iPlayer to prepare for the new season .
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Why Fans Are Excited
The Capture has built a strong following because of its smart take on technology, surveillance, and government secrets. The show deals with deepfakes and video manipulation, topics that feel very real in today’s world.
One fan review describes the show as “mind blowing drama. Six parts of complex, intriguing and baffling drama. This isn’t your average six part mystery series, this will have you scratching your head, questioning everything you see, and doubting the things you’ve seen with your own eyes” .
Another review called the season 2 finale “implausible, elaborate, daft and had more twists than a cheap garden hose. It was also fabulously entertaining” .
With a perfect 100 percent critic score for season 2 on Rotten Tomatoes, expectations are high for the third season . The addition of strong new cast members like Joe Dempsie and Killian Scott, combined with the returning favorites, suggests the show will maintain its quality.
The show fills the Sunday night 9pm slot that was previously held by The Night Manager . For viewers looking for a tense, smart thriller to start their week, The Capture season 3 looks like the perfect choice.
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