CAPTURED BY IS: BBC ANNOUNCES NEW DOCUMENTARY SERIES

This gripping series, from the frontlines of the war against the Islamic State group, tells the story of British photojournalist John Cantlie who was kidnapped in Syria alongside his American friend James Foley. The pair were on assignment covering the civil war in 2012 when they were taken hostage and handed over to the infamous gang of British jihadis who became known as "The Beatles".

Building on the success of The Times podcast Last Man Standing, by Anthony Loyd and Manveen Rana, and with access to those close to John and James, fellow hostages, investigators and politicians, as well as British jihadis now imprisoned in Syria and Iraq, this series at once paints an intimate portrait of human survival, an important examination of the British Government's hostage policy, and a timely depiction of the risk and necessity of journalism in the world's most dangerous places.

After John and James were taken hostage, Britain and the US held to their strict policies not to negotiate with terrorists, while the ransoms of other European hostages were paid. Then the worst happened. ISIS released a horrifying video depicting James Foley being murdered.

John Cantlie’s loved ones braced themselves, but then a very different video emerged online. John was still a prisoner, but instead of kneeling in front of an ISIS executioner, he was reporting for them as a journalist. In a terrifying echo of the drama "Homeland", two possibilities emerged: was he being forced to do this in a bid to survive; or had his allegiances started to shift?

Captured By IS (w/t), a 3 x 60’ for BBC Two and iPlayer, is a co-production between Story Films and Basement Films.