The BBC has defended its crime drama The Capture after it was hit with accusations of peddling "propaganda".
The latest episode of season three portrayed freedom of information requests concerning immigration as potential markers of extremist behaviour.
Among the critics of the scenes were the likes of Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf, while People's Channel favourites, including Ben Leo and Alex Armstrong, also hit out at the show.
Other familiar faces, such as Ant Middleton and Graham Linehan, also condemned the BBC for the show's storyline.
BBC The Capture: Joe Dempsie's character ends up targeting migrants
|BBC
A BBC spokesperson has since defended the decision, telling GB News: "This is a fictional drama and the character of James Whitlock is not based on any individual person."
The character of James Whitlock (played by Joe Dempsie) featured in the scene that first sparked the row across social media.
In the scene in question, counter-terrorism officers are investigating the character after he'd attracted attention through his online activity.
During the episode, one officer alerts her superiors that Whitlock had obtained documents through nine separate freedom of information requests whilst imprisoned.
BBC The Capture: Migrants arriving on boats are targeted by the character
|BBC
This prompted visible alarm from the leading character, Rachel Carey (Holliday Grainger), and her colleagues.
The team's concern deepens when they discover Whitlock's 4Chan account was deactivated after he posted videos accusing the government of concealing statistics on undocumented migrants.
In the footage, Whitlock describes migrant boat arrivals as a "land invasion" and declares that "civilians are allowed to fight back."
Several other scenes from Sunday's episode have since circulated online. In one snippet, Whitlock is shown peering through the sights of a rifle at an incoming boat of migrants.
BBC The Capture: James Whitlock (Joe Dempsie) | BBCLATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Through his scope, Whitlock puts a mother and child in his firing line, with the pair wearing lifejackets after making the perilous journey.
Another scene that sparked ire involves the aforementioned Carey discovering the documents Whitlock had obtained through his FOI requests.
Mr Yusuf took to X to challenge the programme's portrayal, writing: "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."
The Reform UK chairman added: "It makes you a highly useful citizen. I encourage people to do it."
BBC The Capture: DSI Tom Kendricks (Nigel Lindsay) and Rachel Carey (Holliday Grainger) were both concerned by Whitlock
| BBCMeanwhile, Mr Linehan drew on a similar experience of his own: "The BBC did the same to me with one of their afternoon soaps. The writers on 'Doctors' called a divorced character 'Graham', and made him the transphobic bad guy. I can't believe I'm not making this up."
Former SAS: Who Dares Win star Mr Middleton urged his followers to take action: "You can do your bit to stop the deep rooted msm corruption by not paying your TV license/Tax! Power belongs to the people, stop giving it to the government!" (sic)
While GB News star Alex penned on X: "Wow. They aren’t even trying to hide the propaganda anymore.
"The real issue is that this is so far from the truth of reality. How many attacks against illegal migrants vs illegal migrant attacks against citizens? Shame on the BBC for airing this." (sic)
Wow. They aren’t even trying to hide the propaganda anymore.
— Alex Armstrong (@Alexarmstrong) March 23, 2026
The real issue is that this is so far from the truth of reality. How many attacks against illegal migrants vs illegal migrant attacks against citizens?
Shame on the BBC for airing this. https://t.co/tk0Pv25SW4
The Capture's creator Ben Chanan explained his reasoning for tackling the contentious subject matter in an interview with Radio Times.
"I think whatever's going on in the news while I'm writing The Capture gets eaten up and chewed out in some form," he said. "And people were obsessed - as they still are - but they seemed particularly obsessed last year with the subject of immigration."
Mr Chanan acknowledged that Whitlock represented a departure from his previous characters, describing him as "a very analogue kind of character" despite operating in the digital sphere.
The showrunner claimed he avoided making the character straightforwardly sympathetic or villainous, instead wanting him to be "a really ugly mess in between."