The Capture just aired the most satisfying finale (Picture: BBC)
Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Capture season 3 finale.
The Capture season 3 could well be one of the best TV moments of 2026. Frustratingly, not enough people will ever find out.
The BBC thriller returned with a whimper one Sunday morning, with no major rollout or fanfare, despite being by far the smartest scripted show the broadcaster has produced in years.
Its finale may be the most exciting standalone episode of any police drama in recent memory – perhaps aware that, without the recognition it deserves, this could be its swan song, and that it needed to pull out all the stops: big twists, major deaths, and finally some respite for its tireless hero, Rachel Carey (played by Holliday Granger).
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Going into the closing hour, Captain William Walker (Killian Scott)’s game was up. Carey had him cornered, forcing him to reveal the truth – confirming what she had suspected all along: that he shot Home Secretary Isaac Turner (Paapa Essiedu) on the orders of the elusive ‘Simon’, whose messages have appeared on various throughout the series.
Simon, it turns out, is an AI dictator capable of predicting the future. It foresaw Turner being handed the keys to Downing Street – an event that would ultimately trigger war.
Killian Scott starred as Captain William Walker in The Capture series 3 (Picture: BBC)
Walker had also been ordered to kill Carey, but Simon knew he wouldn’t. Instead, he was used as an unwilling pawn to destroy her reputation. Knowing his squad would kill him at the first opportunity, he surgically removed the device connected to his heart, accepting a slow and painful death sentence.
He entered the finale as a misunderstood hero, but it wasn’t to last. During the inquiry into Correction and the exposure of SO15, former Home Secretary Sir Rowan Gill (Andy Nyman) alluded to a female spy within the force. That spy was Gemma Garland (Lia Williams), whose real identity – Jacqueline Goldcross – had been leaked, forcing her to testify at the inquiry herself.
En route to save Carey, who had been ambushed, tortured and held hostage by his former squad, Walker received one final order from Simon: to kill Garland. He stormed the inquiry and shot her dead.
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Walker then continued his mission to save Carey, underestimating her loyalty to Garland. In a Shakespearean twist, Carey gunned down her would-be saviour – a moment that perfectly concluded the complex relationship between hero and villain, the latter proving not to be so villainous after all.
In the end, Carey’s hands were tied. She finally succumbed to the logic of Correction: the only way to prove she was right about Turner’s killer was to manipulate CCTV footage of the shooting.
As a result, Carey was promoted to Commander of SO15. With her newfound authority, she chose to overlook DSI Tom Kendricks’ (Nigel Lindsay) betrayal, after he altered CCTV footage to undermine her case against Walker on Simon’s orders.
Gmma Garland was executed during an enquiry into Correction… or was she? (Picture: BBC)
In the closing moments, Carey’s steely composure finally cracked. She broke down in her sister’s arms, asking her to move into her soulless central London apartment and help make it a home. After taking a selfie, Carey noticed Garland’s reflection in the image – a chilling reminder of the show’s central question: can we trust anything we’ve seen?
The Capture has never been stronger than it is in its third series, and remains an underrated jewel in the BBC’s crown of police thrillers. If this is indeed its final episode, it delivers a landing that few shows ever manage to pull off.
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Line of Duty returns later this year after a finale that severely damaged its legacy. Following The Capture, it will need to be much smarter and far more innovative than where it left off.
The Capture has been bold enough to make real sacrifices, with the deaths of Frank Napier and Garland lending genuine jeopardy to its characters – something many police dramas are reluctant to embrace.
It’s been a long time since a finale has genuinely shocked me. Television has become safe, yet audiences crave that gut punch – and The Capture understands that better than most.
It’s no easy feat to wrap up such a complex concept with plausibility, heart, and even moments of humour, but The Capture executes all three perfectly.
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God I hope there’s more to come, because The Capture is the BBC at its very best – and deserves to be recognised as the triumph it truly is.
The Capture is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.
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Comparing fancy yachts conceived by world-class designers is a little like discussing tall skyscrapers: you start with a base value of “very” and move upwards. Yet this particular yacht, from a brand that’s captured the imaginations of generations of travellers — and made Agatha Christie’s estate a mountain of money — could very well make apreny future comparison in luxury futile.
A sunny and very hot bank holiday for all of Wales. Temperatures will widely be close to 30C, with some areas likely seeing highs above this.
Coastal areas will be the coolest places, but still very warm. Highs of 27C have been forecast for Pembroke, 29C for Cardigan and 28C for Aberystwyth.
Here is the full Met Office forecast for Wales today:
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Bank Holiday Monday will be dry and settled with high pressure dominating, giving almost unbroken sunshine throughout the day. It will become hot in the light winds, with afternoon temperatures not far off breaking records for May. Maximum temperature 30 °C.
A LABOUR government throws Putin money for fossil fuels so he can continue his war in Ukraine.
The Tory/Reform response? Predictably, they happy-hug Trump’s doomsday ‘Drill baby Drill’ philosophy. Forget carbon emissions. Savour those sweet exhaust fumes!
Ed Miliband, to his credit, is working to expand renewables, reduce UK dependence on foreign oil, and improve energy security. Why is his own government not working with him?
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Fossil fuels cost us all a fortune. The OECD found £26.7 billion in UK fossil subsidies and support in 2023, including £14 billion for gas. The IMF identified £13.7 billion in “explicit” UK fossil fuel subsidies in 2022, relating to undercharging for fossil fuel supply cost, especially gas.
Those figures don’t include the health impacts or environmental costs: pollution, habitat loss, acid rain, climate change.
And, to cap it all … the government fails to use off-peak off-shore wind power. Last year wind power companies received £350 million to switch off their turbines at night (instead of storing the energy for the next day), and gas companies received £1 billion to produce the electricity that could have come free overnight from the wind turbines.
It’s madness. Coherent policy and action please!
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Christian Vassie
Blake Court,
Wheldrake, York
…LOYALTY to one’s nation within the Labour Party appears to be in very short supply, particularly from those in charge.
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Accepting we require a constant supply of oil to exist, they prefer to accept this necessity from Russia when abundant resources are available from our own off shore oil fields, this makes no logical sense whatsoever unless you secretly prefer Kremlin’s ideology to ours.
Peter Rickaby,
Moat Way,
Brayton
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Jones had not managed to win in six first-round appearances across the four Grand Slams – although this was her first main-draw match at Roland Garros.
She is unique among British players in that she grew up playing on clay, having left Bradford aged 10 to move to Barcelona, and has achieved her greatest successes on the surface.
But her 2026 season has been heavily disrupted by physical issues. Forced to retire from her opening match at the Australian Open in January because of a torn muscle in her hip, Jones suffered her gym accident just as she neared a return to full fitness.
“Physically I was very lucky to come out of it the way that I did,” Jones told BBC Sport before the tournament.
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“The hospital said to me I was lucky not to be in surgery or have a brain bleed with the way it happened.”
The 25-year-old was taken to hospital with a wound on her head and later began suffering from headaches and dizziness – symptoms consistent with concussion.
But Jones said the emotional toll was just as impactful as the physical damage.
“It’s been such a stop-start year, two steps forward, two steps back,” she said.
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“For someone with my character, if I feel unproductive it’s a huge difficulty for me.”
Reform UK would “clamp down” on any abuse of a proposed £5 billion tax break for workers doing extra hours, Robert Jenrick has said. The “hard work bonus” would create a tax-free allowance for overtime above a 40-hour week for workers earning less than £75,000.
Reform leader Nigel Farage said the plan would “restore the appeal of a strong work culture”, with overtime becoming tax-free for 90% of employees. The party said it could meet the expected £5 billion annual cost of the policy through a £40 billion package of cuts and savings.
Reform has aimed the plan at attracting more voters in Labour’s former industrial heartlands as it seeks to prevent Burnham from winning the Makerfield by-election.
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It said a warehouse worker at the South Lancashire Industrial Estate in the seat working six hours of overtime a week would be £700 a year better off as a result of the tax break.
A Band 3 prison officer at HMP Hindley in the constituency working eight hours of overtime a week could be £1,300 better off, Reform added.
An easyJet flight from the Isle of Man to Liverpool was forced to declare a mid-air emergency and divert to Manchester Airport following an aborted landing sequence
Passengers on an easyJet flight were left stunned yesterday when they were informed mid-air that they would be touching down at a different airport after the crew declared an emergency.
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The service from the Isle of Man to Liverpool was compelled to declare the emergency and reroute to Manchester Airport after an attempted landing was abandoned.
During the landing attempt at Liverpool, the flight crew performed a “go-around” after discovering an aircraft obstructing the runway at Liverpool airport.
A go-around refers to an aborted landing manoeuvre carried out by an aircraft on final approach or after touchdown. It can be initiated by the pilot or requested by air traffic control for various reasons, including an unstabilised approach or runway obstruction, reports the Mirror.
Following the unsuccessful landing, the Airbus A319 entered a holding pattern, circling at 6,000 feet just beyond Liverpool. Shortly afterwards, the crew transmitted a Squawk 7700 code through the aircraft’s transponder, the international signal denoting a general airborne emergency, according to AirLive.net. Following the emergency alert, the aircraft was prioritised by air traffic controllers, who provided directions to guide the plane away from Liverpool and towards Manchester Airport, which boasts longer runways and superior emergency response capabilities.
At Manchester Airport, emergency response teams and fire services were placed on standby to meet the twin-engine aircraft when it landed, which is standard procedure for all unplanned emergency arrivals. As of 4.05pm yesterday, the flight was confirmed to have landed safely at Manchester.
easyJet has been approached for a comment.
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The potential development would see up to 65 new homes, public open space and recreational facilities built
A developer is hoping to build up to 65 homes in a Cambridgeshire village. Gladman Developments plans to submit a planning application for the development of land off Balsham Road in Linton.
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A formal planning application has not yet been submitted. Outline planning permission will be sought for the development for approximately 65 new homes, public open space, and recreational facilities.
Of the new homes, 40 per cent would be offered as affordable housing, according to the developer. The development would also see an introduction of new habitats on site through wildlife planting, new trees, and hedgerows.
Gladman Developments says that local businesses would benefit from the additional custom that the development would generate. The proposal would provide on site job opportunities for around 20 people through construction, as well as 26 support jobs in associated industries.
This new development idea comes after similar recent proposals for the village including to build up to 75 homes on land off Back Road. These two roads are just a two-minute drive away from one another.
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This outline planning permission, sought by Gladman Developments, for up to 75 homes on land off Back Road, has faced backlash from people living near to the proposed site. Concerns were raised about the “long term harm” the new homes could have on “road safety, local services, and the existing community”.
Another planning application recently submitted by Endurance Estates would see up to 100 new homes built on land south of Horseheath Road if approved. Horseheath Road is just over 11 minutes away from Balsham Road on foot.
Gladman said: “The delivery of housing on Land off Balsham Road, Linton responds to the acute need for housing within South Cambridgeshire. The delivery of up to 65 homes would help the council meet this need.”
Everything you need to know ahead of Jeffrey Donaldson trial | Belfast Live
Need to know
The trial is due to begin on Tuesday
Former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson(Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire)
Everything you need to know
The legal proceedings for former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, will take place at the same time. Both cases are scheduled to officially begin on Tuesday, 26th May, at Newry Crown Court.
Judge Paul Ramsey determined that holding the trials simultaneously serves the interests of justice by remaining fair to all parties. He emphasised that this joint format will allow the sensitive and complex case to move forward as quickly as possible.
Last week, Lady Eleanor Donaldson was declared medically unfit to stand a standard criminal trial. Instead, she will undergo a “trial of the facts,” which is a specific legal mechanism that tests the evidence against her but cannot result in a criminal conviction.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has pleaded not guilty to 18 historical sexual offences, including one count of rape, alongside allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency. These charges involve two alleged victims and span a 23-year period between 1985 and 2008.
Lady Eleanor Donaldson faces charges of aiding and abetting, which she has formally denied. The legal proceedings against her have already been delayed twice before due to her health issues.
The prosecution aims to begin jury selection on Tuesday. Full trial proceedings and the presentation of evidence are expected to commence the following day.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson resigned from his position and was suspended from the DUP immediately following his arrest in March 2024. This political fallout occurred just weeks after he had successfully led his party back into the Stormont Executive.
Arteta has already said that he wants “to have the parade with two big trophies” as he sets out to win the Champions League for the first time in Arsenal‘s history.
Arsenal backed Arteta with around £250m of spending last summer as they looked to increase the quality and depth of their squad and they brought in players like Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi, who were categorised as ‘win now’ signings.
Arteta wants to build a legacy of sustained success at the Gunners and once the Champions League final is over, focus will move to tying him down to a new contract.
Initial talks have been had and will increase in pace as all parties work to have the new contract sorted before next season.
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The Gunners are going to invest again in the transfer market this summer with co-chair Josh Kroenke already saying that Arteta is going to backed.
“If anyone deserves this, it’s this group.” Kroenke said to Sky Sports after the Arsenal trophy lift.
“[We are invested] emotionally, financially, everything. This club means the world to us.
“I think it took some people a few years to realise what that really meant but we have great people, players and coaches. We just have to continue providing the resources to do magical things like they did this season.
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Arsenal‘s football leadership, with Josh Kroenke, CEO Richard Garlick, director of football operations James King and sporting director Andrea Berta alongside Arteta, are looking to recruit a midfielder, left-winger and striker. However, some money will have to be recouped too after last year’s big spending.
And with success secured, his level of influence and the transformation complete, now could be the time for Arteta to develop Arsenal into serial winners.
CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, has reported that US intelligence believes Iran’s supreme leader – who was injured in an Israeli strike on the first day of the war – is holed up in an undisclosed location, making communication with his envoys difficult and therefore delaying pace of talks with the US.
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