I WATCHED MOST UNDERRATED CRIME DRAMA BEFORE ANYONE ELSE AND CAN SUM IT UP IN THREE WORDS

I was lucky enough to attend an advanced screening of one of the most underrated BBC crime dramas of all time, which is returning for a third series after four years off-air. And I've decided - the BBC, for all its faults, knows how to make a gripping programme which will keep you at the edge of your seat all the way through.

Prior to attending the screening, I'll admit I'd never seen The Capture. Of course, I'd heard bits and pieces about the show. It stars Strike actress Holliday Grainger, alongside Ron Perlman, Lia Williams and Ben Miles. First released in 2019, it came back for a second series in 2022, but has since spent four years off-air before finally coming back for series three.

Thankfully, I was able to jump right in with series three. Though I didn't know the characters, it didn't take long to become attached to them, and soon I was gasping, gripping my armrests and wincing right along with the people on screen and everyone else around me in the audience.

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The Capture is tense. It deals with the rise of deepfakes in society, and it's on the cutting edge of real topical issues like the capabilities of artificial intelligence and living in a surveillance state. I'd describe it as a blend of Black Mirror and Line of Duty.

It's been described by BBC staff as one of the "most underrated shows on television", but it's slowly crept up the rankings to become a household favourite for some eager viewers. With an impressive average star rating of 8 out of 10 on IMDb, it's a wonder more people haven't heard of it.

Lead actress Holliday Grainger, who plays Rachel Carey, admitted she was as blown away by the twists and turns as viewers at home. When creator Ben Chanan handed her the scripts, she only read them in increments, and refused to ask any questions to keep that sense of surprise.

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Speaking to Express.co.uk and other press, she said: "I was shooting scenes with [newcomer] Killian [Scott] and I had no idea who he actually was. I didn't know what the outcome was going to be or what the character was going to be."

She added: "I really enjoyed the not knowing. Ben was still writing the show as we were filming it, so I didn't know anything until I got the scripts, and it was really exciting when they dropped into my inbox."

All in all, I can sum up The Capture in just three words: unexpected, gripping and chilling.

The Capture launches on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday, March 8, or on iPlayer from 6am that day.

2026-03-02T19:04:44Z