The BBC is facing fresh claims of spreading “propaganda” following Sunday’s episode of The Capture, which aired in a primetime slot.
The series, which centres on a Met Police detective who finds herself submerged in the world of online misinformation, conspiracies, and deepfakes, is now in its third season.
Season three focusses on how Rachel Carey (played by Holliday Grainger), in her new role of Acting Commander of Counter Terrorism Command, combats a fresh threat to the heart of the British establishment.
In episode three, it was a character by the name of James Whitlock (Joe Dempsie) who had piqued the interest of Rachel and her team thanks to his online posts.
BBC The Capture: DC Chloe Tan seemed panicked by character James’s decision to lodge freedom of information requests
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BBC
In the show, Mr Dempsie’s character was kicked off the online message board 4Chan for spreading anti-migrant messages through his social media videos.
One scene, in particular, which has since gone viral on social media, began with DC Chloe Tan (Tessa Wong) sending a warning to Rachel and DI Nadia Latif (Ginny Holder) about James’s online activity.
“Ma’am, it looks like Whitlock got hold of those documents via freedom of information requests. He made a total of nine requests during his time in prison,” DC Tan tells her superior.
“Nine freedom of information requests?” a stunned Rachel replies, before DI Latif weighs in: “It sounds like Whitlock had it in for the Home Office.”
BBC The Capture: James Whitlock (Joe Dempsie)
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BBC
DC Tan, who is speaking to the two from the team’s base while they’re in their car, continues: “He accused the government of covering up the true stats on undocumented migrants.”
“Fair to say it’s somewhat of an obsession for the lad,” DSI Tom Kendricks (Nigel Lindsay) chips in, as concerned looks descend on everyone’s faces.
DC Tan then drops the bombshell: “Umm, Whitlock’s 4Chan account, ma’am. Deactivated last month.”
When Rachel asks why, DC Tan sends her a link to the video of Mr Dempsie’s character accusing the government of malfeasance.
BBC The Capture: Rachel Carey, played by Holliday Grainger
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BBC
In the video, James says to his followers: “The history books say the last land invasion of England was in 1066.
“In actual fact, the last land invasion of England was yesterday morning at 9:45am when a boat carrying 40 undocumented male migrants landed in Dungeness, Kent.”
Rachel and DI Latif share a deeply concerned look while the team watching from HQ similarly appear disturbed by the claims being made in the video.
The clip continues: “Now, that is 40, four-zero, fighting-age, illegal, male migrants. A land invasion is an act of war. In war, civilians are allowed to fight back.
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BBC The Capture: Whitlock’s comments were deemed to be extreme
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BBC
“We’re supposed to fight back. And the next time a boatload of fighting-age males land on our shores, we’ll be ready.”
After watching the online video, a panicked Rachel turns to her colleague and demands: “Turn the car around!”
The scene has garnered plenty of attention online, with a number of viewers slamming the BBC drama for framing the lodging of freedom of information requests as something aligned with extremism.
Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf was one notable voice to take exception to the depiction. “Hi BBC, the government *is* covering up the true costs of illegal migrants, and sending Freedom of Information Requests to the Home Office does not make you a terrorist,” he began on X.
Hi BBC, the government *is* covering up the true costs of illegal migrants, and sending Freedom of Information Requests to the Home Office does not make you a terrorist.
It makes you a highly useful citizen.
I encourage people to do it. https://t.co/h0x4oRe6LW
— Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) March 23, 2026
“It makes you a highly useful citizen. I encourage people to do it.”
The People’s Channel’s Ben Leo pulled no punches with his verdict on the scene, branding it “hilarious” before accusing the BBC of spreading a “warped liberal world viewpoint on viewers.”
“They knock on the doors of grannies who refuse to fund their propaganda and threaten to jail others. Defund the entire thing,” Ben added. “Let it stand on its own two feet and see how it survives in the competitive marketplace.”
Darren Grimes similarly shared: “The BBC’s latest high-budget fantasy: a ‘dangerous extremist’ for the heinous crime of noticing boatloads of fighting-age men landing on our shores.
BBC The Capture: DSI Tom Kendricks (Nigel Lindsay) and Rachel Carey (Holliday Grainger)
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BBC
“In their warped world, it’s a radical act of war to want a border that actually works. They’ve got the dramatic music and stern-faced agents to tell you that you’re the threat for wanting a country that isn’t a doormat.
“They’d rather spend your license fee dramatising patriotism than reporting on the actual consequences of their beloved open-borders piety. Pathetic, predictable, and paid for by you.”
Elsewhere, political commentator Charlotte Gill echoed: “Please watch this clip. The ‘baddie’ sends FOIs and thinks the Home Office is incompetent. And the BBC thinks this passes for serious drama..!” (sic)
And fellow political journalist Ellie Hodges hit out: “It’s so bad it’s funny. Dramatic music and looks of horror over FOI requests seriously? Who actually watches this? I’ve only seen the clip, but it screams one sided.” (sic)
The BBC’s latest high-budget fantasy: a “dangerous extremist” for the heinous crime of noticing boatloads of fighting-age men landing on our shores.
In their warped world, it’s a radical act of war to want a border that actually works. They’ve got the dramatic music and… pic.twitter.com/2uwPEpPVeq
— Darren Grimes (@darrengrimes) March 23, 2026
GB News has contacted the BBC for comment on the reaction to the scene.
The scene is particularly pertinent given it aired just days after it emerged that British officials are considering clamping down on the FOI system in an attempt to cut costs.
According to the Financial Times, government figures are discussing a reduction in the cost ceiling for processing a request as the number of annual submissions has spiralled.