Torchwood Moves To BBC1

[RitaLittlewood]

From Teletext?

Torchwood moves to BBC1

Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood has been booted upstairs to BBC1, writes Jonathan Donald.

The Cardiff-set sci-fi saga, starring John Barrowman and created by Russell T Davies, began on BBC3 before moving to BBC2 for series two this year.

Series three will air in spring 2009 on the flagship channel, but instead of 13 episodes will be cut to just five, to be shown over one week.

Barrowman will return as central hero Captain Jack Harness.

But yet to be confirmed are Yves Miles (Gwen Cooper) and Gareth David-Lloyd (Ianto Jones). Torchwood colleagues Owen Harper, played by Burn Gorman, and Toshiko Sato (Naoko Mori) were both killed off in series two.

Little Britain has also previously made the leap from BBC3 to BBC1. Production is due to begin in mid-August.

[sootycat]

I certainly hope that Gwen and Ianto return, we've already lost Tosh and Owen.

I'm not sure if I like the thought of it on over a week.

[RitaLittlewood]

Maybe it's to tie in with the DW specials so next year they aren't really doing much of anything.

Patsy

[eithne]

Its very strange the fact that there will only be five episodes instead of the usual 13, but then equally I suppose they are showing a vote of confidence in the show by having it on BBC1. Still very unexpected though.

[RitaLittlewood]

Press release:

Filming under way for new series of Torchwood

Category: TV Drama; BBC One; Wales
Date: 26.08.2008

Filming for the third series of the smash hit drama Torchwood, created by Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies, has begun in Cardiff.

Due to transmit in 2009 on BBC One, the series – called Torchwood: Children Of Earth – sees the team embarking on a single action-packed adventure as they battle for the future of the human race against the fiercest force they have encountered.

The highly-motivated Torchwood team are John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper and Gareth David-Lloyd as Ianto Jones.

Other regular cast involved in their high-octane adventure are Kai Owen as Rhys Williams, Gwen's husband, and Tom Price as PC Andy.

Special guests in the five part series are Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who, The Thick Of It, Skins), who plays the role of Mr Frobisher – a civil servant who is hiding a terrible secret; Paul Copely (Coronation Street, The Bill) as Clem – the survivor still haunted by his past; and Liz May Brice (Bad Girls, The Bill) as Johnson – the cynical covert government agent determined to expose Torchwood.

Russell T Davies said: "The new series of Torchwood is hugely bold and promises to be bigger and better than ever – the audience is in for an amazing ride.

"This series is one big serial and the most ambitious story we've ever made, and we've got plenty of surprises in store."

Julie Gardner, Head of Drama, BBC Wales, said: "We hope to make Torchwood a gripping and surprising TV event with storylines that push our team into greater danger and sacrifice.

"Joining our main cast are some fantastic guest artists who will only add to making this unmissable TV."

The first two series of Torchwood have received global critical acclaim and the hit drama has been sold to more than 20 countries.

The second series of the BBC Wales-produced series, broadcast on BBC Two earlier this year, attracted audiences of around 3.4 million, peaking at 4.2 million for the first episode. Including viewers on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer the consolidated audience was 5.1 million.

When it launched on BBC Three in October 2006, it attracted the channel's highest viewing figures, with an audience of 2.5 million for the first episode.

Torchwood is executive produced by Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner. The producer is Peter Bennett (Doctor Who).

Torchwood is written by Russell T Davies, John Fay (Clocking Off, Coronation Street, Mobile) and James Moran (Doctor Who, Torchwood) and directed by Euros Lyn (best director in BAFTA Cymru TV Awards, Doctor Who, George Gently).

Torchwood is a BBC Wales for BBC Drama Production and was commissioned by Jane Tranter, BBC Controller of Fiction.


Press quotes

"One of the best programmes on TV." The Observer

"This show has been brilliant." The Sun

"Torchwood lightens up but doesn't dumb down as series two kicks off in style." London Evening Standard

AF2/BR/LS2

[eithne]

So no Mickey and Martha then?

[RitaLittlewood]

I thought you were going to say Mickey and Minnie. LOL!

Patsy

[Nick]

Well did anyone see it?

all in all a dissapointment....if all they had to do was what Capt. Jack did in episode 5..why didn't they do it in episode 1 ??

And Russell T must have seen the recent Stephen King film 'The Mist' that consisted of aliens that you couldn't quite see shrouded in mist and the hero shoots himself his son and three friends at the end just before the problem is solved..even the 'haunting' music was the same

So thats all the original Torchwood team killed off then !!..what will happen if they bring it back?

they could always go to the Doctor ask him to nip back in the TARDIS and save them all before they die!!

[Deleted]

We recorded it during the week, and watched all 5 episodes over Fri/Sat.

Without being overly picky about what was right/wrong about continuity or back history, we really enjoyed it.

We had stopped watching Torchwood after a few episodes of Series II, mainly due to amount of other stuff we were recording at the time, so this was really quite 'fresh' to us.

We thought it had just the right amount of scary moments, certainly enough excitement and suspense, and generally good performances.

With only Gwen and Jack left, is that the end of Torchwood, or will Rhys and Lois be joining them full time?

I admit there were a couple of moments cribbed from other shows/films, but it certainly didn't stop our enjoyment at all.

Good stuff - glad we watched it.

[sootycat]

I loved it even though there were pinched bits from other sci-fi programmes.

I was sad at the ending though......and got a horrible feeling that this was the last Torchwood.