Heartbreak of Jack & Ianto

One of the things I've found most satisfying with the whole Children of Earth storyline is how well it's served the Jack and Ianto relationship. Honestly, the tail end of series one their relationship was utterly laughable - but how far we've come since then. Between series two, the recent audio dramas and this run of adventures, I'm at last feeling their love. It's real, and at times it's so convincingly heartbreaking.

Yes, I've seen Day Four at last - but I won't say anything further on the matter, not wanting to spoil anything for readers outside of the UK or Australia. Let's just say, it's another chapter in the "Janto" relationship, and quite an important one...

If you haven't seen the episode yet, avoid the comments section below.

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Children of Earth - Day Four was watched by 6.2 million viewers; that's the highest figure yet! Normally shows that run across five nights see a drop-off throughout the week. Well, Torchwood is the exception! 27% of the available viewing audience were watching at the time, and it was the 2nd most watched programme of the day.

Our friends at the Doctor Who News Page report that 82,000 watched on BBC HD, and a further 232,000 watched the BBC Three repeat. A great success!

Torchwood: Children of Earth - Day Five is the final part of the serial, and airs tonight at 9pm on BBC One. It follows 15 hours later on Australian television's UKTV Channel.

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"The Best 5 Hour Movie EVER!!"

At least that's how one of our readers is describing Torchwood: Children of Earth so far. I guess they're not alone in that opinion, as the ratings for Day Three indicate that the figures have gone back up to the level they were at on Monday, with 5.9 million people watching. That's 300,000 up from the night before, making the programme the 3rd most watched of the night (after the soaps) with an audience share of 27.1% and an amazing audience appreciation of 90/100 - to put that in its place, anything over 85 is considered exceptional.

The BBC HD figures, BBC Three repeats and iPlayer views also remain very strong.

It's astonishing just how well received this mini series has been thus far. People at my work who used to scoff at the mention of Torchwood before have been coming up to me and saying how brilliant they're finding this adventure, and asking when the next series starts. My family are addicted, too. Oh, and for people on the bus or on the street it's watercooler television, as everybody I hear is talking about it.

Torchwood has become must watch television, great stuff.

Honestly, the BBC would be fools not to recommission the drama now, wouldn't they?

Torchwood: Children of Earth - Day Four airs tonight on BBC One from 9pm, and is also showing across in Australia mere hours later, at 8:15pm on UKTV.

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Britain is Taken!!

The second episode of the five part Children of Earth serial grabbed an average of 5.6 million viewers last night - just 300,000 short of the night before. That's not an all that significant drop in viewers, so I'd say the prospects for a fourth series just got that little bit better...

(That 5.6 million translates to 24% of the available viewing audience... oh, and the show was - for the very first time ever! - the most watched programme of the day. It beat the likes of the soaps, and the Michael Jackson memorial over on BBC 2.)

As for some reactions...

Ed Martin is loving how the series has become 'event' television.

Charlie Jane Anders has some horribly nice things to say about the show.

It's 3 stars out of a possible 5 from DigitalSpy.

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Torchwood: Children of Earth - Day Three airs tonight on BBC One, at 9pm. In Australia that same episode airs a mere 15 hours later, at 8:15pm on UKTV.

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Reactions - Day One

Children of Earth's opening episode managed a rating of 5.94 million viewers (on average) between 9pm and 10pm last night. Not only does this make Torchwood the 5th most watched programme on British television for Monday July 6th, but it's the show's highest ever rating! And if you're wondering, that equates to 25.58% of the available audience watching!!

We were beaten only by the three main soaps - the pesky Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Eastenders.

It's likely that tonight's installment will see a drop of in figures (as is usual between first and second episodes of any show) and the figure should probably settle at around the 4.5-5 million mark.

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Elsewhere, reviews are coming in from a number of places. BEWARE, if you haven't seen the episode in question yet the links contain nasty SPOILERS:

Sam Wallaston at the Guardian gives his (mixed) review.

Brian Viner from the Independent offers another analysis.

Keith Watson of Metro is in a playful mood (SPOILERS for episode 2).

Meanwhile Charlie Brooker's You Have Been Watching wants your Torchwood reviews, because next week's episode is dedicated entirely to the show! You can tweet them to Brooker direct through this Twitter page!

Oh, and here's one we missed first time around - it's an interview Eve Myles conducted with Under the Radar magazine. Thanks to Mark Redfern for alerting us to it.

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Don't forget, Torchwood: Children of Earth - Day Two airs tonight at 9pm on BBC One, or for readers Down Under, that's 8:15pm on UKTV.

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