A Little Bit of Cardiff in America

So, dear readers, I have returned out of the ether to add the Yank's view of Torchwood, and I came across a great opportunity for anyone to learn a little bit more about Wales, home to Torchwood, amongst many exciting artisans and craftspeople.

The 2009 Smithsonian Folk Life Festival in Washington, DC is featuring Wales this year as the country being showcased. The annual festival gives visitors a chance to learn all about Wales from attendants chosen by the Welsh Assembly to showcase the creativity and ingenuity of the Welsh people.

From organic farmers, to animators, the festival offered much to see and do. I had the good fortune to chat with many there, and one of the more common subjects discussed is that Americans have become more curious to learn about Wales because of the airing of Torchwood here in the United States.

So I wondered, "WWCJD?" (What would Captain Jack do?) Since I was with my family, randomly snogging aliens seemed right out, so I found myself befriending a pint of Cwrw Braf, while enjoying some smoked ham and Y-Fenni. (My new favorite I may add.)

The Folk Life festival is FREE all you need to do is come to Washington DC between now and July 5th and stand physically somewhere between the United States Capitol Building and the Washington Monument to experience a little bit of Wales for yourself. Oh, and while you're there, tell the artisans how much you love Torchwood! (They love to hear that you've been watching, they are proud of their show!)

For more info: http://www.festival.si.edu/2009/wales/index.aspx

Enjoy!
-Tremas

Captain Jack and the Chocolate Factory

The South Wales Echo revealed today that the shooting location for The Hub (Torchwood HQ) is located underneath Roald Daal Plass in Cardiff Bay. Rehearsals for the spinoff are beginning this week, the first day of filming still appears to be May 1st. This spot is also known as the Oval Basin and is where the TARDIS parked on the rift in Boom Town.

Scan thanks to Chronologix, of the OG forums

I'm sure if they know what's good for them they will be keeping all gawkers far from the excitement, but we always welcome first hand reports here at Torchwood.TV. So if you happen to be enjoying a nice romantic walk on the bay and see a Sycorax strolling towards you be sure and let us know.

Introducing Bachelorette #1

Our first lovely contestant tonight is wearing all black and hails from Ystradgynlais! This typical girl-next-door likes moonlight walks on the beach and says her hobbies include Yeti tracking in Cardiff. Ms. Eve Myles!

In October she was listed as #7 in Western Mail's list of sexiest Welsh lasses, now just a few months later she has been awarded the position of Bachelorette of the Year 2006. Announced today in Wales on Sunday. I'm not sure if there is a trophy of a blow-up guy included with this honor but obviously the selection process is very rigorous and only arrived at after extensive scientific research.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk

I will lose my bachelor's status in just a few months, but for the rest of you studly Woodies, I'm sure you are just what she is looking for. You just have to somehow persuade Eve to take time off for a date from her grueling shooting schedule this year for both Torchwood and Belonging. I'm sure you could soon become Mr. Myles, just so long as you don't have her pay for dinner on the first date and then ask for a copy of the credit card slip in order to get her autograph.

Happy Saint David's Day To All Our Welsh Readers!

Yes, today, March 1st is a very special day for any folk living in Wales. Today is St. David's day, (St.David being the patron saint of Wales). It's a day of national pride across all of Wales, and a day of celebration. Throughout the land all are celebrating what makes Wales so great. So, everyone at torchwoodtv wishes the Doctor Who and Torchwood offices a happy March 1st. Have a great day guys! For more info on St. David click here.

THE FLAG OF SAINT DAVID (AND WELSH PRIDE)

Now, Kurly's look at the life and times of Eve Myles is due any day now, so I thought today would be the ideal time to print some recent comments the star made to ICWales following her casting. Eve Myles says:

"I'm a huge fan of Billie. I think she's absolutely amazing - she's just fantastic. But mine is a very different character to Rose - they're pretty much like chalk and cheese.Gwen starts off as a police officer in Cardiff and then gets involved in the Torchwood team.She's a very down-to-earth girl, kind and generous, but extremely ambitious, feisty, intelligent and witty. But she's also very human - she's really the girl next door. Because I'm playing her, I put a lot of me into it and I take a lot of my own characteristics.She's a brave girl and you have to be brave in this kind of business, and take risks and be ambitious - not too ambitious though, because there's nothing worse than that.But she's very level-headed and in that sense I'm like her, although she's probably a bit braver and more inquisitive."

So, Gwen definately isn't Gwynth from last year's Doctor Who episode "The Unquiet Dead". She's a modern day police office working in Cardiff who sometimes gets caught up in the antics of Jack Harkness. The girl falls for Jack? Typical!

See you guys soon.

Catherine Zeta-Jones is Welsh?

Well perhaps I am the last person to have figured this out, but then I hadn't been investigating too closely. I was indeed suprised when I read Zeta-Jones is from Swansea today. She was quoted in the paper giving advice to Charlotte Church, saying the teen needs to lose her Welsh accent if she wants to break into the movies. I suppose I could spin it one of two ways in regards to Catherine's accent: either demanding that CZJ should just be herself, and use her natural accent more often; or I could commend her on doing such a good acting job that she has managed to pull one over on us Americans! I tend to lean towards the latter, since sporting a yankee tongue has obviously worked out well for her.


Source:http://www.esrf.fr
I do however disagree with her advice to Charlotte. CC's voice sounds fine and most people around the world couldn't spot the difference between a Welsh and an English accent anyway. Wales is a hip place now, the home of Doctor Who and Torchwood! The US is home to The Tyra Banks Show and So you Think you can Dance?

For what it's worth my great great grandfather was Welsh. Here is a list of some Welsh people who have managed to be quite successfull without hiding their heritate. That long list of fine folks includes Dalek creator Terry Nation and of course Russell T. Davies. John Wayne is noticeably absent, even though this doctor seems to have evidence that the American legend was not in fact born in Iowa, but in Cardiff!