Season Five Arrives!

By now you've heard that Big Finish have produced an officially sanctioned Torchwood: Season 5 - well, it's available right now!

The new adventures - titled 'Aliens Among Us' - bring Jack and Gwen back together in Cardiff, where they set up a brand spanking new team-T, which includes characters created by Russell T Davies himself.

Enough from us. Go listen, right now.

Torchwood's back. Enjoy!

Bizarrely Named Adventure!

Those cheeky chappies at Big Finish have announced a new Torchwood audio drama coming this June. It's called torchwood_cascade_CDRIP.tor (yes, really!) and features Naoko Mori as Tosh.

The cover & synopsis:

WARNING: The unauthorised reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Your downloads are monitored. Internet piracy is a crime and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a fine of £250,000 or death. 

Come on, we’ve all done it. We’ve all downloaded a cheeky little something we shouldn’t have. After all, what’s the harm, eh? You never get caught. No-one knows. No-one knocks at your door and tells you you’re about to die. 

Turns out, there’s something hiding in the internet. It knows what you’ve done. And it’s going to stop you.

Written & Directed by Scott Handcock

Meanwhile last week saw the release of the first issue of Titan Comics' Torchwood: Volume Two. They've kindly provided preview pages for the issue:

The issue can be bought from all comic book shops - or through Forbidden Planet.com (ships internationally)

Out Now - Torchwood One: Before The Fall

Torchwood One: Before The Fall, a new boxset from Big Finish covering London's Torchwood One, has been released. In it, Tracy-Ann Oberman reprises her role as Yvonne Hartman alongside Gareth David-Lloyd (Ianto Jones) - in linked stories set before Doctor Who's Army of Ghosts.

Featuring three new stories:

New Girl by Joseph Lidster

It’s Rachel Allan’s first day at Torchwood. Torchwood only takes the brightest and the best – and Rachel’s wondering if Yvonne Hartman’s made a terrible mistake in picking her. Plunged into a world of alien invasions and office politics, Rachel’s desperate to fit in. For one thing, she really wants this job. And, for another, she knows what happens at Torchwood if you fail.

Through The Ruins by Jenny T Colgan

Away Days at Torchwood aren’t what you’d expect. Yes, there’s the forced camaraderie, the team-building exercises, and the chance for long-held rivalries to boil over. But Torchwood Away Days also have the potential to get very lethal very quickly. Yvonne Hartman’s extremely worried by this year’s Away Day. But she’s got other things on her mind – something’s very wrong with Torchwood.

Uprising by Matt Fitton

Torchwood has experienced some radical changes, but things are finally settling down. Everyone has pulled together and is trying to put the past behind them. Well, except for Yvonne Hartman – she’s out to win the future. There’s one problem. Someone seems to have started an interstellar war. Someone who knows Torchwood from the inside out.

You can click here to order!

DW: Slaver's Song - Part 1 [Comic Preview]

Out today from Titan Comics... #9 of their ongoing Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor series!

Jack features within, and this current storyline may answer the long lingering question of what happened to those missing 2 years of Captain Jack's memories...

We've been sent some preview pages from our friends at Titan:

(Apologies about the resolution quality of that last image.)

You can order the issue by clicking here.

Meanwhile another storyline from the series - titled Doctormania, and also featuring Captain Jack - is released collected in graphic novel form.

That book can be ordered internationally from here.

Elsewhere... Torchwood 2 #1 hits shelves on February 8th!

Titan Comics - Torchwood 2 Updates

Titan Comics have changed the release dates for the Torchwood 2 series:

Torchwood 2 #1

Captain Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper and the rest of the crew of the Ice Maiden investigate a case the likes of which even they haven’t seen before! Does the ship’s unconventional crew have what it takes?

Release date now 08/02/17 (was 01/02/17)

Torchwood 2 #2

Jack, Gwen and the crew of the Ice Maiden must stop the threat that started in the Skagerrak Strait, before disaster ensues. And what is Rona’s secret? Meanwhile, the mystery of Lady Karina and Torchwood House continues!

Release date now 08/03/17 (was 01/03/17) 

Torchwood 2 #3 

The Torchwood team must deal with the threat posed by Lady Karina, but can they find out her secret and stop her plans? And the mystery of Rona continues; can the Ice Maiden crew find out more about their young stowaway?

Release date now 05/04/17 (was 29/03/17) 

Torchwood 2 #4 

Synopsis... classified!

Release date now 03/05/17 (was 26/04/17)

***

The four issues will be collected into a graphic novel later in 2017.

Burn! 'Eggs! The Full Monty!

Since the last update, Big Finish have released a full statement confirming Burn Gorman's return to Torchwood!

"WE'VE GOT BURN!!! It's so exciting," says producer James Goss. "We've been trying to get Burn Gorman since we started. We've been hunting him across the globe, from Man In The High Castle to And Then There Were None, and we kept getting so close - and then he vanished into the depths of Hungary to make a film for months - but as soon as the project wrapped he was raring to go"

The full statement can be read by clicking here!

Meanwhile the Radio Times spotting a cheeky reference to Torchwood hidden within episode 2 of Sherlock's fourth series (click here to read the story).

And! There's a trailer for Kai Owen's UK tour of The Full Monty. Of course you want to see it!

Click here for an interview with Kai about the production.

It's Burn, Baby!

The latest Big Finish podcast reveals some great news - actor Burn Gorman is returning to Torchwood! He's set to reprise his role as Owen Harper in an upcoming audio adventure. We're promised more news this Friday via Big Finish and excited producer James Goss. Watch this space!

The current release schedule for the new audios, plus Titan's ongoing comic (please be aware that dates for the comics slip quite often - we'll do our best to update you on changes):

TORCHWOOD: VOLUME 1 ARRIVES IN APRIL

January 2017

The Torchwood Archives goes on general release.

March 2017

01/03: Torchwood #2.2 (Titan Comic)

29/03: Torchwood #2.3 (Titan Comic)

31/03: Visiting Hours (BF audio - with Rhys)

April 2017

11/04: Torchwood: Volume 1 (Titan Comic, collecting #1.1-1.4)

26/04: Torchwood #2.4 (Titan Comic)

30/04: The Dollhouse (BF audio - with 1970's Torchwood LA!)

May 2017

31/05: Corpse Day (BF audio - with PC Andy Davidson)

June 2017

07/06: Torchwood #3.1 (Titan Comic)

30/06: TBA (BF audio - cast TBC)

July 2017

12/07: Torchwood #3.2 (Titan Comic)

31/07: TBA (BF audio - cast TBC)

August 2017

16/08: Torchwood #3.3 (Titan Comic)

31/08: TBA (BF audio - cast TBC)

September 2017

20/09: Torchwood #3.4 (Titan Comic)

Meanwhile you can currently pick up Torchwood: Rift War (a comic strip adventure that originally featured in Titan's Torchwood: The Official Magazine) for £2.99 by clicking here.

A Week Of Big Finishes

It's been a busy week for Torchwood updates - all courtesy of Big Finish Productions.

Firstly, The Torchwood Archive was announced; a release to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the series launch in October. It reunites the original series cast (bar Burn Gorman), ties into the current Committee storyline, and tells tales from across the Torchwood timeline. It's a perfect celebration of the show - so thanks Big Finish, we promise to pre-order it now!

Meanwhile they'll be another series of 6 single disc releases coming in 2017 - the first of which features the return of Rhys' Mum! Once more the series will jump across Torchwood's history, and we'll visit the Torchwood of 1970's L.A.!

There's two prequel boxsets coming...

The first is Torchwood: Before The Fall, which takes place at Torchwood London's Canary Wharf arm. It tells the story of when Ianto Jones worked for Yvonne Hartman, and is out in January.

Then, The Lives of Captain Jack! It tells the story of Jack immediately following Doctor Who's The Parting Of The Ways as he lies trapped in the year 200,101 - recently returned to life, on a post-Dalek Earth! It then skips ahead to his life in the 20th and 21st Centuries, and will guest star Jackie Tyler and Midshipman Alonso Frame!

***

Titan Comic's Torchwood comic continues its monthly releases. Issue 2 is coming 28th September.

Titans

Of course you've heard by now that Torchwood is returning in comic book form. Via publishers Titan Comics:

Titan Comics is excited to announce that Doctor Who TV spinoff Torchwood is back, in an all-new ongoing comic series starring the daring Captain Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper.

Written by Captain Jack himself – John Barrowman – and Carole E. Barrowman, and with issues illustrated byAntonio Fuso (Drive, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest) and Pasquale Qualano (Batman ’66, She Hulk, Harley Quinn), this spectacular original ongoing series is not to be missed.

In continuity with the new hit Torchwood audio dramas from Big Finish, as part of the official continuation of theTorchwood saga, the comic arrives in stores on July 6 – the week of Titan’s third annual Doctor Who Comics Day event – Saturday, July 9 2016.

The BAFTA-winning cult science-fiction drama by Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, which aired for four successful seasons from 2006 to 2011, follows the exploits of Captain Jack, Gwen (Eve Myles - Broadchurch), and their team as they investigate the unusual, the strange, and the extraterrestrial.

The hotly anticipated Torchwood comic sees Captain Jack return to Cardiff to engage the help of the last person who expected to see him again, Gwen Cooper! A dark technology from a forgotten species has been claimed by a conspiratorial power… and in this collision between an ancient civilization and an all-new evil, the Earth itself may be forfeit! Only Jack, Gwen, and their allies from what remains of Torchwood hold the key to stopping a cataclysmic wave of destruction… On the road, on the run, and under fire – can Jack and Gwen put aside their differences and rebuild the heart of Torchwood… before its flame is stamped out forever?!

The debut issue comes with variant covers to collect from Doctor Who superstar artists including Tommy Lee Edwards(Tenth Doctor, Turf), Elena Casagrande (Tenth Doctor, The X-Files), Blair Shedd (Ninth Doctor), and Rod Reis (Doctor Who, C.O.W.L.)!

It's great to hear that it ties in with the newly established Big Finish continuity.

So, you want to see Kai Owen strip?

No, don't worry - this isn't one of those dodgy messages you get sent via email. Rather, actor Kai Owen has a new role, acting in the stage adaptation of Simon Beaufoy's The Full Monty. Based on the popular movie, here's a taste of what you might see Kai up to:

Folks, prepare yourself! The play goes on tour from September 21st.

Kai's also attending Bournemouth's Film and Comic Con this Saturday.

You can get a personal message from Kai (as well as Gareth David-Lloyd) through CelebVM, costing £15.

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.

Fans clamour for show's return

The Radio Times recently asked readers to vote whether they would like to see Torchwood return to TV, or not. An impressive 97% of those polled stated a desire to see it back - and they're not alone.

John Barrowman has been vlogging from his own bedroom, as he works his way through a re-watch of the show's first season. He's clearly loving every minute of it, but regrets that the show ended when it, feeling it had plenty more life left in it.

Let's not pretend that Miracle Day was anything other a misfire, and as great as Big Finish are it's just not the same on audio. So come on BBC/BBC America/Netflix and/or Amazon. Give us fans a break - and bring old Jack back for more!

John says in one of his videos ". . . I’m going to watch episode one — I’m going back and I’m watching Torchwood. And there’s a reason why [wink] which I’ll tell ya when I can."

So, there's some hope at least.

[Or Captain Jack is in Doctor Who season 10, maybe even Class...]

Add in Eve Myles' comments recently that she's quitting the role of Torchwood... Could discussions have taken place regarding the future of the show, that involve John but didn't involve Eve? (Hence Eve's unexpected social media outburst) I guess we'll find out soon enough.

***

In news we missed, John Barrowman is now writing a comic based off of his Arrow series, Titled 'The Dark Archer' it's available now from digital comic stores.

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.

Myles to go?

Has Eve Myles really quit playing the role of Gwen Cooper?

Reports last month suggested she had, after the actress posted a number of tweets stating as much.

Since then Eve has remained pretty quiet about the whole thing. It leaves me to wonder, however, exactly what she means. Has she ended her association with Torchwood completely (i.e. no more TV, Big Finish, etc.) - or is she merely suggesting that, five years on from her last appearance in Miracle Day, Eve no longer wants to play the role of Eve in a live-action capacity, but is willing to continue with the Big Finsh audios?

At the moment, it looks like the first option is more likely, which is a shame. Big Finish has a great reputation amongst its actors - Hell, they even managed to lure Tom Baker back! If Eve *has* quit them (which we don't know for certain)... did something happen behind the scenes?

***

I'm aware we've been away for a while. I'll slowly start to catch up on news throughout the rest of this week.

Torchwood... Rebuilt!

Big Finish have released information on the sixth and final release in their first run of Torchwood stories. Titled More Than This, the adventure features Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper - back in Cardiff, and trying to rebuild the Torchwood Hub!

Says the company: 

Gwen Cooper has triumphed against impossible odds before, but now she's finally met her match: Roger Pugh, Planning Officer for Cardiff City Council.

Mr Pugh doesn't believe the world needs Torchwood. Gwen sets out to prove him wrong. For Mr Pugh, it's a day that'll change his life. If he can survive it.

Written by Guy Adams and starring Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper and Richard Nichols as Roger Pugh, Torchwood: More Than This is the explosive series finale to Big Finish's first series of Torchwood audios – and the beginning of a brand new era for Torchwood Three!

Then go on to add:

As an extra special treat for the series finale, the episode will also contain a cameo from a Torchwood legend – one that fans will need to listen carefully to discover!

"Someone was campaigning very hard to be in the new series," admits producer James Goss, "And we were only too happy to get them in at the first available opportunity. They're great."

My money is on Tom Price, or maybe even this guy... 

He was, after all, recently at Big Finish, recording new Doctor Who adventures for his Tenth Doctor... 

You can find out the answer when you pick up the adventure in February 2016.

Series 2 Discrimination!

The brand spanking new BBC Store has launched. The online shop allows you to purchase digital copies of all of your favourite BBC series. Torchwood is there - however, series 2 is currently missing off of the available download options! No reason is given, although it's likely to do with rights issues on one or more of those particular set of episodes.

We'll update you when series 2 is ready. In the meantime, you can find the BBC Store by clicking here.

In other news, the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine (number 493) contains an interview with former Torchwood writer Catherine Tregenna. She talks about her time on the series, as well as writing for Peter Capaldi in Doctor Who's The Woman Who Lived:

"Torchwood was a bit 'anything goes' in that first series and that's fun, you know? It's fun to get your teeth into darker, greyer areas of morality, where not all the characters are necessarily likeable.

Tregenna goes on to discuss how she chose the name Bilis Manger, her acting career, and creating Welsh TV soaps! You pick up her interview in DWM now - in shops, or via Apple Store download.

Forgotten Update

So, in news that completely escaped me last week Big Finish have released Torchwood 1.3: Forgotten Lives. The adventure features Eve Myles and Kai Owen, reprising their roles of Gwen and Rhys. Rather excitingly, it's also set a number of years after the events of Miracle Day.

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine (issue 493) has a write up about the release, confirming the presence of an elderly man claiming to be Captain Jack Harkness...

You can buy and download through Big Finish now.

The company has also offered a preview of release 1.5 Uncanny Valley, which features the return of John Barrowman. That can be read and heard here.

As ever, let us know what you think.

The Reader Awards 2015 - Episode Results

Here we are... The results of the TORCHWOOD.tv Reader Awards!

This instalment is dedicated to the series 41 episodes - all ranked out of ten. Previously we've scored series one to three, but this is the first poll to include Miracle Day. I wonder how it's done...?

Without further ado, then...

1: "Children of Earth - Day One" - 8.77/10
2: "Children of Earth - Day Three" - 8.74/10
3: "Fragments" - 8.72/10
4: "Exit Wounds" - 8.65/10
5: "Children of Earth - Day Four" - 8.62/10

6: "Captain Jack Harkness" - 8.6/10
7: "Children of Earth - Day Two" - 8.56/10
8: "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" - 8.42/10
9: "Children of Earth - Day Five" - 8.20/10
10: "End of Days" - 8.19/10

11: "Out of Time" - 8.05/10
12: "Everything Changes" - 8.01/10
13: "They Keep Killing Suzie" - 7.93/10
14: "Reset" - 7.92/10
15: "Adrift" - 7.87/10

16: "Sleeper" - 7.83/10
17: "To The Last Man" - 7.81/10
18: "Miracle Day - The New World" - 7.8/10
19: "A Day in the Death" - 7.77/10
20: "Something Borrowed" - 7.76/10

21: "Miracle Day - The Categories of Life" - 7.74/10
22: "Small Worlds" - 7.72/10
23: "Dead Man Walking" - 7.66/10
24: "Miracle Day - Escape to L.A." - 7.59/10
25: "Adam" - 7.58/10

26: "Countrycide" - 7.55/10
27: "Ghost Machine" - 7.49/10
28: "Miracle Day - Rendition" - 7.40/10
29: "Greeks Bearing Gifts" - 7.30/10
30: "Miracle Day - Dead of Night" - 7.25/10

31: "Miracle Day - Immortal Sins" - 7.22/10
32: "Miracle Day - The Gathering" - 7.19/10
33: "Meat" - 7.14/10
34: "Miracle Day - The Blood Line" - 7.03/10
35: "Miracle Day - End of the Road" - 6.94/10

36: "From Out of the Rain" - 6.90/10
37: "Day One" - 6.69/10
38: "Random Shoes" - 6.67/10
39: "Combat" - 6.64/10
40: "Miracle Day - The Middle Men" - 6.36/10
41: "Cyberwoman" - 6.32/10

Series One

I asked you to give the whole 13-episode series a score out of ten, too. You marked it 7.47/10 (up 0.06 on 2009's results). It manages 2 episodes in the top ten, and 4 in the bottom ten.

Series Two

You gave it 7.85/10 (up 0.23). There's 3 episodes at the top end of the poll, and only 2 in the bottom.

Children of Earth

This increases the most since the 2009 results - up 0.66, to 8.58/10. Every single episode of this incredible (but limited) run features in the top ten of all time.

Miracle Day

This scores 7.249/10 for its TORCHWOOD.tv debut. This is the lowest of all four series - so it's not surprising when I say that no episode from this run features in the series top ten. Meanwhile 5 episodes feature in the bottom 10 section.

The Audios

Nothing from Big Finish marked, as the poll opened before the series' release. We'll do an update, maybe when that elusive "series 5" is released, in a couple of year's time...

1: "The Lost Files: The House of the Dead" - 8.88/10
2: "The Dead Line" - 8.29/10
3: "Lost Souls" - 7.01/10
4: "The Lost Files: The Devil & Miss Carew" - 6.60/10
5: "Golden Age" - 6.54/10
6: "Asylum" - 6.39/10
7: "The Lost Files: Submission" 5.87/10

***

More results will be revealed soon!