The Capture (TV series)

The Capture is a British conspiracy thriller series for the BBC, created and written by Ben Chanan and produced by Heyday Television under Universal International Studios. Its first series aired on BBC One on 3 September 2019, followed by a second series on 28 August 2022. The story follows Metropolitan Police detective Rachel Carey, a fast-track officer who becomes entangled in a far-reaching plot involving real-time deepfake technology, mass surveillance, and falsified video evidence.

The series explores the dangers of a "post-truth" society, tackling themes such as political interference, state-sanctioned disinformation, and the ethical dilemmas of covert intelligence operations. A key element is "Correction," a fictional programme that allows intelligence agencies to edit live video feeds in real-time, fabricating "admissible" evidence and shaping public narratives. Critics have praised the show for its tense storytelling, its examination of surveillance and digital manipulation, and the performances of Holliday Grainger and the rest of the lead cast.

In the first series, former soldier Shaun Emery is freed from prison after his war crime conviction is overturned due to flawed video evidence. Soon after, CCTV footage appears to show him assaulting and kidnapping his barrister, Hannah Roberts. As Emery tries to prove his innocence, DI Rachel Carey investigates and uncovers a conspiracy that casts doubt on the surveillance footage itself.

Six months later, in series two, DCI Carey has joined the UK's own "Correction" unit, the very intelligence operation she once sought to expose. When rising politician Isaac Turner MP becomes the victim of a live deepfake hack, Carey confronts a new conspiracy involving the spread of real-time deepfake technology. She must navigate political interference and media manipulation, challenging the line between digital fabrication and truth.