The Capture writer reveals how Joe Dempsie’s “ugly mess” of a character interrogates controversial real-world topic

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*Warning – contains major spoilers for The Capture season 3 episode 3.*

Episode 3 of The Capture season 3 finally gave viewers a proper introduction to James Whitlock, played by Joe Dempsie, amidst all the surprising twists and significant events.

Although evidence suggests Whitlock is being wrongly accused of Isaac Turner’s murder – with video footage showing someone else at the scene and Rachel Carey witnessing Noah Pierson commit the crime – he’s far from a model citizen himself.

Quite the opposite, actually. The character was halted just before he appeared ready to commit a terrible act – shooting and killing a group of migrants as they reached the shore in a small boat.

TopMob spoke with Ben Chanan, the creator of ‘The Capture,’ about a key scene and Richard Dempsie’s role. They also discussed Chanan’s reasons for exploring the complex and sensitive topic of immigration and the strong reactions it often provokes.

Chanan believes that current events inevitably influence his writing, specifically his series The Capture. He noticed a particularly strong public focus on immigration last year, and his work simply mirrors the discussions and observations he encounters in everyday life.

This is a character unlike any I’ve created before, and a bit of a departure for The Capture. He’s fascinated with older, non-digital technology, which is unusual given that he primarily interacts with the world online. He’s a bit of an old soul in a digital age.

Chanan explained that he wanted to create a complex character, one who wasn’t simply a villain. He didn’t want to make it easy for viewers to judge him, because despite his awful actions, the character is also trapped in a difficult situation and isn’t someone you’d actually feel sorry for.

It would have been simple to portray him as either someone you strongly dislike or someone you deeply sympathize with. But I wanted him to be flawed and complex – somewhere in between those extremes, a bit of a troubled character.

I knew Joe Dempsie was perfect for the role, so I was thrilled when he accepted. He’s given a really nuanced performance, and it’s clear he was also drawn to the character’s complicated side.

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The episode reached a significant turning point with the death of Frank Napier, allowing Pierson to break free from his grasp.

Now that Whitlock has been arrested, and Pierson and Carey are fighting between themselves, we’ll probably learn the truth in the next few episodes.

The Capture season 3 will continue on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday 29 March 2026.

Don’t miss out on The Capture! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a global TV production company. He has a BA degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-03-23 10:09