OK... A few weeks ago this blog was abuzz with the rumors posted by "BBCINSIDER." He/she said the following: "It seems that cos of JBs hectic schedule - Torchwood has finished for now in its present state. What will be filmed however, and later than normal, are 5 stand alone episodes. AND THEN THAT WILL BE IT !!!"
Here is a bonafide article from TVGUIDE that confirms SOME of the insider's comments:
They say: 'Fans, however, may not be so happy with the mere five hours slated for next season. "We've decided to do a five-part mini-series, one big story that will run during one week,' says Gardner, adding, "I wanted to make a really big noise about the show."So far, the BBC has only green lit these five hours, but there could be more, we're told. "
So this we can confirm, as of now the 5 episodes are legit... As for it being the end, I am not so sure... neither is TVGUIDE, but I would want to avoid speculation at this point... We'll have to wait and see. So for now, to respond to the many queries, we know that some of the comments are true, and confirmed.
For the full TVGUIDE article click here.
14 comments:
That's a shame, I just watched all the shows off iTunes. Hopefully thre will be more than 5 episodes.
Feel free to check out my review on my site and let me know what you think. Thanks for the update.
Not at all surprised by this news.
Survivors is the brand new shiney toy for the BBC. Torchwood was never a programme they wanted to succeed - look at the erratic scheduling for the end of Season 2 for evidence of that.
Very sad if they are ending Torchwood, but typical BBC. Probable ending - bloodbath, if I remember how they ended Blake's 7 !!
They don't it to succeed but are moving it to BBC1 and making it into a promanemt week-long television event?
If they wanted the series to die they were under no obligation to make ANY more episodes.
I suspect this has as much to do with the complete change-over of all the Production Team in Cardiff and the Beebs current cash problems as anything else.
No.
5 episodes? And then what?
NOTHING?
No.
I have contacted the news and started a petition.
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/SAVETW/petition.html
I'm probably the only one to think this but maybe this show's time has come. To end, I mean.
I am just heartbroken. I mean, I'm glad JB is getting a ton of work elsewhere, but this is going to kill the show to be honest. People will lose interest & I bet the series will die after the miniseries... Oh well, I guess we'll still have Dr. Who then.
I can't believe some of the comments. I am also suspicious - as a Brit who is very familiar with the BBC and its working, it is virtually unprecendented to have a mini-series *every day* for 5 days. BBC1 is the premier channel and I haven't heard of anything getting a slot like that.
It is possible however - they like to experiment, and Torchwood would be a good show to do such an experiment on, since it is one of the most popular.
The BBC do not put anything on BBC1 that it intends to axe - it puts it on late night, on BBC2 or BBC Three. If there is truth to these rumours, then the most likely scenario is that it will be prior to a further, traditional 13 part season.
But there has been nothing official at all coming out of the BBC, so until then, its just speculation. I think it is highly unlikely that the BBC is going to cut Torchwood, however. It would hardly make sense to cut a show that makes the BBC a fortune.
"BBC Insider" is a liar. The five episodes are in no way related to John Barrowman's schedule. He did not accept other work until after his schedule for season 3 of Torchwood was confirmed to him. Torchwood is John's absolute top priority and he has been very clear that Torchwood comes before any of his other commitments.
Currently there are plans to do a fourth season of Torchwood, tentatively scheduled to start filming early in 2009, to air in 2010. Both Doctor Who (s5) and Torchwood (S4) will b back to full length seasons of 13 episodes.
The five-episode season 3 has been widely reported in the press and by proven insiders on websites such as OG for months now; most likely this "BBC Insider" is simply repeating news s/he read elsewhere and embellishing it negatively.
Yeah I too heard the "tentative S4" from a much more reliable source than someone commenting on a blog. So I don't believe that Torchwood is going to be canceled after S3.
Do you all think they're mad at me cos I leaked it before they had a chance to? What I told you was near enough more truth than they're willing to pass on. No insult was meant to JB about his schedule - it was information passed on to me via a source who is closely involved with TW and could check his schedule. I'm sure JB's committment to TW is second to none. Shame about everyone else eh??
bbcinsider
An email I got that I have also seen posted in other spots reads as follows:
"The reason for the 5 episode Series 3 of Torchwood is basically budgetary. In January 2007 the BBC failed miserably to get the licence fee settlement it requested and planned for. Budget cuts have been made all over the place, and inevitably one of these is Upper Boat.
During the financial year 2007-8 there were 2 production teams working full time. This roughly equated to 9 months filming Doctor Who, 9 months filming Torchwood and 6 months filming SJA. For the financial year 2008-9 there will be just one team which will produce SJA (April - August), Torchwood (September - December) and Doctor Who (January - March).
AFAIK, the plan for 2009-10 is to go back to 2 teams, with a full Series 5 of Who and a full Series 4 of Torchwood, hopefully as well as SJA Series 3.
Owing to the enormous amount of spin-off merchandise etc, what the BBC have had to do is ensure that the programmes get made, whilst at the same time making more out of less. Therefore both Torchwood Series 3 and the Doctor Who 2009 Specials will be marketed as *event television*.""
Ok, so at first I wasn't happy abut these rumours, even less so when I read that this has been confirmed. My motto was "if it ain't broke don't fix it!"
However, after reading the comments on here I feel that this should be interesting and I suppose it could be a good lead-up to series 4. I guess we'll just have to wait and see now.
Well, at least we are not losing Torchwood altogether, which is what I was mostly afraid of.
I know, it's just a TV show, right? It's a TV show, but not "JUST" A TV show.
Torchwood has made John Barrowman a huge star in the US, and I'm sure he has great respect for that. So if he wants to be Captain Jack, we'll be waiting. They're doing something a little different for budgetary and probably a bit of scheduling reasons, but then it keeps people interested, too.
LONG LIVE TORCHWOOD!! WE AWAIT THE DOCTOR!! HAVE TEA WITH SARAH JANE SMITH!!
Amy
The BBC has never done 5 episodes of any one program right after each other in a week. maybe there just trying something new. Also i hope they do do a FULL 4th series!
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