Wednesday, October 11, 2006

(Not) Torchwood Magazine

This month's Doctor Who Magazine (issue 375 folks!) features a tiny amount of news on the developments surrounding Torchwood - and for the first time, we have a reason why the amount is so small.

NEIL GORTON TALKS WEEVILS...

The reason why DWM doesn't devote more of it's time and pages to Torchwood is simple, as editor Clayton Hickman tells us in the editorial. "Much as we're all excited about Torchwood...we have to be careful what we print in a family magazine." He goes on to explain that Torchwood coverage demands it's own seperate license away from that which Panini currently hold for Doctor Who. Basically, the DWM team aren't allowed to talk about Torchwood in great deal!

I have no idea what this means for Torchwood fans reading DWM, but one thing's for sure; we aren't getting episode previews like we do with Doctor Who. However, over the next couple of months the magazine promises to bring us up-to-date a little with Captain Jack, et al. But what shape this takes, we'll have to wait and see...

In the meantime, we've got a little Torchwood news! The series is CONFIRMED as airing on Sunday 22nd October 2006 - with a simutaneous broadcast on both BBC One and BBC Three! Episode two will follow immediately after on BBC Three, but for BBC One fans it's going to be a long wait for the second episode. In a bid to get as many fans buying a freeview box, episode two and the other eleven episodes won't be shown on BBC One until NEW YEAR!!!

So. Good news to fans who've been dying to see Torchwood episode one asap. Bad news though if you were planning to watch episodes 2 - 13 without a freeview or digital box!

UPDATE: Radio Times and JB's site are currently reporting the episodes will be repeated on Wednesdays on BBC2 at 9:00pm

In other news, the Torchwood website launches tomorrow, Thursday 12th October, and will feature explorations of alien autopsies, behind the scenes footage, and interactive tour of The Hub, and exclusive interviews with cast and crew that aren't available anywhere else. After the broadcast of each new episode, catch-ups will run on the site to bring all die hard Woodies (i.e the ones without BBC Three!) up to date. In short, www.bbc.co.uk/torchwood is the place to be for all Woodies!

Another website, www.torchwood.org.uk will run too, as a "fictional" site for all Torchwood employees.

The magazine also confirms the episode titles for the first six episodes of Torchwood. They are as follows:

EP1: "Everything Changes" (formerly "Flotsam and Jetsam")
EP2: "Day One" (formerly "New Girl")
EP3: "The Ghost Machine"
EP4: "The Trouble With Lisa"
EP5: "Small Worlds"
EP6: "Countrycide" (by Chris Chibnall)

The episode guide will be updated in due course.

In related news, the second Doctor Who spin-off series (you could call us spin-off mad here at Torchwood.tv) "The Sarah Jane Adventures" has begun the production process. Filming for the (expected) New Year's Day special has started, and guest stars include Jamie Davis, Joseph Millson, Juliet Cowan and Porsha Lawrence Mavour as 'Kelsey'. The full series goes into production in Spring 2007, and will consist of 10 half hour episodes for broadcast on the CBBC Channel. Matthew Bouch is confirmed as producer.

Rather cryptically, the magazine also reveals that Russell T Davies plans to write the final three episodes of Doctor Who's third season - and goes on to say that these are the episodes that feature Captain Jack. Now, we knew of his return in the season finale - but will he also be returning for the standalone episode 11 too? Fingers crossed!

Towards the back of the magazine, there's an interview with monster-maker Neil Gorton. He talks about "recurring characters, like the Weevils". He also talks about how Doctor Who and Torchwood's monsters relate to one another, and the challenges involved in bringing Torchwood's monsters to the screen.

So, although we can't expect much Torchwood coverage inside, Doctor Who Magazine is always a pleasure to read. Issue 375 is at "WHSmiths and all good newsagents" now, at a cost of £3.99.

For more details about the current issue, click here.

11 days now folks. We're almost in the final countdown stage!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think the magazine may have gotten some information wrong. Because John's official website says the show will air on BBC Three with repeats on BBC Two starting on the 25 of October.

Anthony Garnon said...

There's always the possibility that John's website is wrong...

Anonymous said...

BBC7 are saying BBC1/BBC3 as of this week and you'd think they'd know!

Abi said...

It did strike me as odd that John's site said BBC2. Until now, every mention of repeats has said BBC1.

It's possible that they got their information wrong, but I suppose it's also possible that the BBC got cold feet about putting it on BBC1. Maybe they decided that it would be safer to put it on BBC2 and they can always move it to BBC1 if it's popular enough.

The simultaneous BBC1 and 3 theory is a plausible one as well. Not only would it promote Torchwood, but it would entice viewers onto BBC3 as well (and they always seem keen to do that).

However, it is worth noting that, according to the radio times website, there are 3 post-watershed slots to be announced. 2 of them are 1 hour long, 1 is 1 hour 40 mins. Torchwood doesn't fit these gaps as it is widely reported as being 45 minutes long. Unless they plan to split the later gap and show Torchwood before or after a 55 minute program.

You'd think BBC7 would know, but like any large organisation the BBC gets its wires crossed sometimes. A poster on OG emailed a question a few weeks ago and was told Torchwood would be broadcast in November.

There might be more information in the Sunday Times article this week. If not, the tv papers on Tuesday will settle this for definite :)

curls said...

DWM went to the presses a few weeks ago, alot can change. I think the BBC2 repeats on the following wednesday is the most recent information.

Anonymous said...

See Unit News news report that the Radio Times site has now been updated with the BBC3 and BBC2 dates.

Looks like johnbarrowman.com got it right. They're cagey about confirming stuff until it's absolutely set in stone, so I thought it was unlikely they were wrong.