Big Finish's Series 2 Debuts!

Blimey, that was quick.

Only a month on from the conclusion of their first run of Torchwood stories, Big Finish have today released part one of their second. 

The Victorian Age features Captain Jack, and Queen Victoria - the founder of Torchwood, as well you might remember from the Doctor Who episode 'Tooth & Claw':

I'm hearing that we'll be getting an announcement soon enough about full cast audio plays (which may suggest a new TV series isn't on the cards) - so watch this space! In the meantime, head over to Big Finish to buy this latest release.

Woodies Round-Up: One Rule

We're up to One Rule (the fourth release in Big Finish's Torchwood series) in our catch-up run down of external reviews:

Doctor Who TV ("one of those stories you can listen to all day and never grow bored.")
Red Rocket Rising ("Tracy-Ann Oberman’s performance is to be enjoyed...and worth at least two listens!")
Doctor Who Watch ("Despite the fact that it’s been a decade since her appearance in Series 2, [Tracy-Ann Oberman] plays the character so perfectly that it feels like no time has passed at all.")
Cult Box ("As well as being exciting, ‘One Rule’ is damn funny too")
Warped Factor ("I had trouble getting through this audio story, not because it doesn’t flow – it absolutely does – but because I was laughing so hard.")
Planet Mondas ("A rough night in a rough part of a beautiful City but a diamond performance from all involved and a polished script")
Blogtor Who ("This one is a proper treat and the tale is a real hoot, except when it isn’t.")
Sci-Fi Pulse ("Throughout, Oberman ate the scenery with all the condiments…obviously.")
Enigmania ("It allows for a lot of cool, funny and sometimes dark scenes that is just the sort of thing Torchwood fans loved watching on TV.")
Third Eye Cinema ("It’s not only atmospheric, well written and well acted, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun.")
The Grawlix Podcast ("I found myself thinking… “Yeah. I would listen to a Yvonne Harman series.”)
Starburst Magazine ("6/10: We found this hour of Torchwood to be pretty forgettable. Chuck it in the Rift, we say.")
Karl Bate ("One criticism, or maybe a commercial win, is it left me wanting more.")
Outpost Skaro ("May ultimately end up being more divisive than previous episodes")

From Youtube:

If you've listened to One Rule, let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. Alternatively, provide a link to your own site.

Seconds

Big Finish has been busy, producing a second run of Torchwood adventures that they start to release this month. Here's everything that has been announced so far...

Release 2.1

First up, out any day now is The Victorian Age - written by newcomer AK Benedict. This features John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, in the heart of 1890's London, as Torchwood founder Queen Victoria comes for an inspection of the Institute...

(Nice mutton chops, John)

You can listen to the trailer here.

Release 2.2

Next is Zone 10. This release features the long awaited return of Naoko Mori as Toshiko Sato, and features the KVI; Russia's answer to the Torchwood Institute! It's written by David Llewellyn and is available to buy/download from April.

You can listen to the trailer here.

Release 2.3

Calling all PC Andy fans! He's back in May, for an adventure called Ghost Mission. The synopsis is pretty bare at the moment, and just reads "Sergeant Andy meets Norton Folgate - a Torchwood agent with his own agenda..." It's not clear if this is set after the life of the TV series/some of the first series audio adventures. Anyhoo, it's written by James Goss.

No cover or trailer have been released as of yet.

Release 2.4

Guy Adams has written Moving Targets, an adventure featuring Indira Varma as Suzie Costello, whereby Cardiff just... stops. It's up to Suzie to get to the bottom of the mystery. Presumably this takes place prior to the start of the show. This is released in June.

No trailer yet, folks.

Release 2.5 & 2.6

Nothing is known about the final two releases in the series - although one of them is likely to feature John Barrowman. Though, maybe not Eve Myles...

All releases are directed by the very talented Scott Handcock. They can be purchased direct from Big Finish - on CD for £9.99 (this also includes a free downloaded copy) or digitally for £7.99. Of course, they are also available on the high street, too. But don't buy that way - Big Finish are ace, so support them by buying on their site!

Woodies Round-Up: Forgotten Lives

In an attempt to catch back up, here's a run down of external reviews for Big Finish's third Torchwood release - Forgotten Lives, featuring Eve Myles and Kai Owen.

Red Rocket Rising ("a wonderful story")
Cultbox (Awarded 4/5 - "makes good use of a small cast and it is great to hear some more mature voices")
Warped Factor ("a story that you’ll struggle to forget)
Doctor Who Watch ("another fantastic example from Big Finish of exactly what Torchwood does best")
Planet Mondas ("Definitely not one to forget. 9/10.")
Outpost Skaro ("If there’s any niggles, there is a bit of accent drift in the southerly direction in a couple of cases")
Blogtor Who ("The sound effects... were so convincing that I was reaching for my big coat and my sou’wester.")
Sci-Fi Pulse ("Eve Myles and Kai Owen demonstrated why they are one of the most underrated double acts in science fiction.")
Third Eye Cinema ("an oft quite witty script from Emma Reeves.")

From Youtube:

Tell us what you thought of the release in the comments section below.

Woodies Round-Up: Fall to Earth

External reviews for Big Finish's second Torchwood adventure, Fall to Earth:

Red Rocket Rising ("The story entertains... it does a good job of keeping the balls rolling")
Doctor Who TV ("It's perhaps more successful than The Conspiracy because the latter was realy exposition heavy")
CultBox (Awarded 5/5)
Blogtor Who (Awarded 10/10)
Planet Mondas (Awarded 10/10)
Sci-Fi Pulse ("A dry and witty two hander")
Third Eye Cinema ("David-Lloyd comes off as far less dispassionate and equivocal than John Barrowman did last month"

The post will be updated over the next month or so, as individuals and sites post their opinions.

Meanwhile, tell us what you thought of the adventure in the comments section below.

Woodies Round-Up: The Conspiracy

Big Finish's The Conspiracy has been out for over a week now. Here's a round up of reviews for the adventure. More will be added over the next few days/weeks.

Blogtor Who (8/10)
CultBox (4/5)
Doctor Who News - Review ("This is when everything changes for audio storytelling")
Doctor Who TV ("It is a story you can listen to over and over again")
Doctor Who Watch ("Overall it's easily a success at bringing that old Torchwood feeling back")
Grawlix Podcast (5/5)
Planet Mondas (6/10)
Red Rocket Rising ("Torchwood needs a bit more of the team chemistry to really shine")
Sci-Fi Bulletin (8/10)
Sci-Fi Pulse ("A tight, well acted set-up episode")
Starburst Magazine (5/10)

Meanwhile the Radio Times have published "5 Things we learned from The Conspiracy"

Janet's Papa

Those watching Doctor Who's new season opener The Magician's Apprentice got a surprise last night, as a couple of very familiar alien foes made surprise reappearances...

I'm talking about a Weevil and Blowfish, of course. Spotted early on, at the Maldovarium bar, they drank alongside Sycorax, Hath, Ood and many other oddities. TORCHWOOD.tv can exclusively reveal that the Weevil shown is actually the father of Torchwood captive Janet, and he's named Julian. After Janet was lost through the rift (and thrown back through time) Julian turned to alcohol, and the rest, as they say, is now history.

***

In more serious news, Big Finish have announced the titles of the final two releases in their initial cycle of Torchwood audio dramas:

Release#5 is Uncanny Valley. It stars John Barrowman as Captain Jack, and is written by David Llewllyn. Big Finish confirm it "sees Jack still on his quest to find out more about the mysterious Committee. What is their involvement in the life of a reclusive billionaire?" There's no indication as to where this play takes place chronologically (aside from the fact it must be set after The Conspiracy from Jack's P.O.V.)

Release#6 (and the final adventure in this "Committee" arc) is called More Than This, and is by Guy Adams. It stars Eve Myles as Gwen on "a very special mission". From previous Big Finish teases, we know that this adventure will also feature other Torchwood stars too. Most likely Jack and Ianto.

For those interested, the company has also put out a full trailer for their new UNIT series, featuring Jemma Redgrave. No doubt it'll crossover with Torchwood at some point...

More Tosh

Might we be seeing a return for Naoko Mori as Toshiko Sato? There's certainly some hints dropped in this interview regarding her involvement with Big Finish...

You can catch Mori in Everest, out today in cinemas and IMAX theatres across the UK.

Meanwhile Big Finish producer James Goss has spoken to Doctor Who News about his involvement in the company's Torchwood releases. I wonder who he's referring too when he discusses two people monster hunting in London... Martha and Mickey?

Finally, John Barrowman presents the National Lottery Stars Awards on BBC One, Monday 21st September at 10:35pm.

Torchwood Crossovers!

Big Finish have announced today that Tracy-Ann Oberman is to headline their fourth Torchwood audio adventure, One Life.

Oberman was the face of Torchwood in Doctor Who's second series finale Army of Ghosts/Doomsday, playing its leader Yvonne Hartman. Her London Hub, based on Canary Wharf, was destroyed in a battle between the Daleks and the Cybermen. In the process, Yvonne was Cyber-converted. Now, she's back!

One Life takes place a year before the battle of Canary Wharf, and sees Yvonne visiting Torchwood's Cardiff base. Producer James Goss promises she'll become "thoroughly unstuck" there...

The story is released this December, and you can order it here.

We still don't know who's in the fifth release... but the sixth story sees a mix of established characters reuniting - with Eve Myles already confirmed for the adventure.

***

In other news, the new issue of Doctor Who Magazine (issue 491) has been released. It features an interview with Torchwood costume designer Ray Holman (who has returned to the fold, designing Doctor Who's ninth season costumes), as well as confirming that they'll be a slight Doctor Who/Torchwood crossover, as an Arcateenian alien (one debuted in 2006's Greeks Bearing Gifts, and then Sarah Jane's Invasion of the Bane) will feature in new series adventure Under the Lake/Before the Flood.

An Arcateenian

Over in SFX Magazine land, Gareth David-Lloyd is interviewed briefly about Torchwood: Fall to Earth in their latest issue, number 266.

The 2nd 'Series Two'

Big Finish have announced that they'll follow their 6-part Torchwood series... with another 6-part Torchwood series. The current run ends February 2016, and just a month later "series two" of releases will begin its run.

This isn't the proposed "season 5" continuation teased last month in Doctor Who Magazine. For that, watch this space!

***

Meanwhile, the fourth release in Big Finish's first cycle is confirmed as One Rule, written by Joseph Lidster and directed by Barnaby Edwards. It was recorded Friday September 11th.

Any guesses which Torchwood star it'll feature?

The Conspiracy - Release Day

September 10th is here!

Our first new slice of Torchwood pie since 2012's Exodus Code hits this morning, as Big Finish offer the first chapter in their new Torchwood 6-part saga to buy/download.

Expect it to go live on their site by midday.

In the meantime, you can listen to their new version of the theme tune here.

Also... If you've ever wanted to see John Barrowman crossdress in a TARDIS outfit, well you're in luck!

***

Don't forget to vote in our Reader Awards. There's three categories. Click below for each:

The Episodes
Cast & Crew
Merchandise

Gwen & Rhys Reunited!

Gwen Cooper and husband Rhys Williams will return this November, Big Finish Productions has announced.

The pair will star in the company's third Torchwood release - Forgotten Lives, by Emma Reeves - who says, 'I still can’t believe that I’ve been asked to write a story for the brilliant characters of Gwen and Rhys, I’ve been lucky enough to write for Eve before, on Belonging, and I know that she has a unique gift of imbuing every syllable with the deepest meaning. Getting Eve Myles and Kai Owen, too, is basically like winning the writer lottery.'

The announcement confirms the pair's storyline is set in the days following Miracle Day. It also confirms that Gwen will return later on in the series; most likely the finale? 

You can read the full news article on Big Finish.com, and pre-order the release here.

Music to Your Ears!

There's now 5 days to go until the release of The Conspiracy.

Big Finish have uploaded this further tease:

In the comments of the image, when asked if the current theme tune would be used, they've also revealed:

"It's the same theme, but a brand new version! Stay tuned for more details later this week... All will be revealed!"

Let's pray this isn't it:

Six Days...

Big Finish have made an announcement...

Yep. Torchwood: The Conspiracy is out this coming Thursday (September 10th).

Pre-order now!

Season 5 Teased!

Vortex, Big Finish's promotional magazine, has released its September 2015 issue. Guess what made the cover?

Inside, the creatives who brought the new series together discuss the background to the series;

Gary Russell: "Russell [T Davies] and I began plotting ideas for what would have been an audio season five, set post-Miracle Day, with some new, some older characters and a new set-up back in Cardiff (where I feel Torchwood absolutely belongs)"

When Gary moved away to Australia, he explains that he had to relinquish his responsibilities for the series. When the current series was pitched, he made sure "they could be set during the first four seasons of Torchwood but not tread on the toes of the still-planned season five."

There we have it. As things currently stand Big Finish has plans to produce an official Torchwood Season 5!

For the rest of the magazine's Torchwood coverage, click here to read Vortex magazine all for yourself!

Torchwood: The Conspiracy should be released any day now, and we're still awaiting news on releases 3-6 in the current series.

We Have Trailers!

"Currently I'm feeling up a Big Brother winner..."

Courtesy of Big Finish, we now have trailers for the first two releases in their new Torchwood series - The Conspiracy, and Fall to Earth. Click on the links to listen now!

https://soundcloud.com/big-finish/torchwood-11-the-conspiracy-trailer

https://soundcloud.com/big-finish/torchwood-12-fall-to-earth-trailer

(Share those links with your friends, and encourage them to pre-order the releases through Big Finish)

There's still no word on the third release, or who it features. My money is on Myfanwy...

Regardless, Big Finish promises more news very soon.

More 'Big' News Coming?

I just received an email tip off that we'll be getting some more Big Finish related news this week. I've no idea who the source is (or how reliable they are) - but they claim it's an announcement regarding the third Torchwood release.

Makes sense.

Watch this space for more (and Big Finish.com too, of course)!

Could this have anything to do with it? (Source: Twitter @Kaikaiowen)

Updates to follow... Maybe.

Conspiracy!

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine (issue 490) has been released. Within its pages a preview of the new Big Finish Torchwood audio series.

Producer James Goss is interviewed, and confirms a number of details:

"All of them are loosely linked, but they take place at various different points in Torchwood's history - like, all of Torchwood's history!"

Looks like we might be revisiting the late 1800s or the 20th Century...

Meanwhile, it's confirmed how the audios will work: "It won't be like an audiobook. There's a lot of dialogue in it, we've got quite a few other characters in it, so it will be Jack interacting with other(s)"

The Magazine confirms that the first release The Conspiracy introduces us to George Wilson, a newsreader turned prominent conspiracy theorist. His thinking behind organisations and global events may turn out to be correct...

Writer David Llewellyn confirms they'll be aliens, of course - the mysterious 'Committee'.

You can find out more when The Conspiracy is released next month, through Big Finish Productions.

DWM#490 is out now priced £4.99 through newsagents, or £3.99 digitally.

Due Date

As you're probably well aware by now, Torchwood is returning soon via Big Finish Productions. The new audio adventures of Jack, Gwen et al are expected to launch at some point next month (September 2015) - but when exactly?

For anybody not familiar with Big Finish, the company doesn't disclose specific release dates. They also release all their products on different days, across the month. This is due to a number of reasons, but chiefly because Big Finish release that much stuff now it prevents their release schedule becoming crowded, and smaller releases being obscured by more prolific series.

Tomorrow they release The Sixth Doctor - The Last Adventure, exclusively through Big Finish.com. This was originally stated to be a September 2015 release, but that window has been brought forward by two weeks - probably to stop too many customers ordering through other retailers. As this was their most high profile release scheduled for September... it frees up the launch of Torchwood to be their big marketing push for the month.

Ok... so back to my original question. When exactly does the series see the light of day? As far as I can see, there's a few options:

1) The beginning of the month. It's out of the shadows of both The Sixth Doctor - The Last Adventure, and the launch of Doctor Who series 9 on TV. We don't know if the new issue of Doctor Who Magazine carries any sort of Torchwood preview. If it does then this (and option 2) are most likely. If it doesn't... then we're probably looking at the end of the month.

2) During the launch weekend of Doctor Who series 9. Not all that likely, as the limelight will (rightly) be on the parent show, not the audio adventures of its spin-off.

3) The end of the month. Again, however, Doctor Who is back on TV. The series would still be launhing in the shadows of its parent show - would Big Finish take that gamble?  Most likely not.

So... Torchwood @ Big Finish. When's it most likely to launch? TORCHWOOD.tv predicts:

Some point prior to 19th September 2015.

Watch this space for updates on all upcoming releases.

Try To Keep Up, TORCHWOOD.tv...

In what's hardly 'breaking news' (the story was first published mid-July) Gareth David-Lloyd has spoken to the Radio Times website about Big Finish's new Torchwood series.

The full feature is here, but some highlights below:

Gareth David-Lloyd states: "The series is linked - it's about the same event, the same story but the team have split up... It's not ghost Ianto... It's during the time frame the first two series were set."

He doesn't confirm which other Torchwood stars may be making a return in later instalments of the series, mind.

There's another general interview with David-Lloyd here, where he talks about returning to the role - and his thoughts on Ianto's shrine in Cardiff Bay!