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.

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.

Ghost Watch

Doctor Who Magazine # 370 is released in newsagents across the UK tomorrow, but I've managed to grab a sneak peak, and found some very interesting Torchwood news inside.

As well as commenting upon the casting of Burn Gorman and Naoko Mori, the magazine also exclusively reveals the director of the second block of filming on Torchwood (which consists of just two episodes). This particular block will be completed by Colin Teague, a director who has already headed up some notable episodes of Holby City (along with producer Richard Stokes). We wish Colin all the luck in the world, and here's hoping he produces some incredible episodes!

Colin's two episodes will not contain Noel Clarke's episode like previously thought. Instead, block two will contain a script by Toby Whithouse (Doctor Who - "School Reunion"), as well as script editor Helen Raynor's story, which has the working title of "The Ghost Machine". Now that's what I call an excellent episode title!

Below is an updated episode guide. Any spoilers associated with particular episodes will be printed in invisotext next to the title, so again, DO NOT HIGHLIGHT IF YOU WANT TO STAY SPOILER FREE! Don't say I didn't warn you! Information in brackets is currently awaiting confirmation.

EPISODE ONE - "Flotsam and Jetsam"
Written by: Russell. T. Davies, Directed by :Brian Kelly
Jack Harkness has returned from the far future, to modern day Cardiff where he's found a job working amongst Torchwood, an ultra secret military organisation. Jack believes that by staying near to the 'Rift' the Doctor will return one day and find him. Whilst investigating some alien gangsters (supposidly) he meets a police woman called Gwen Cooper, and soon Gwen has become part of Torchwood itself, replacing a former Torchwood operative named Suzie who has since gone rogue.

EPISODE TWO - "Dark Revelations (tbc)"
Written by: Chris Chibnall, Directed by: Brian Kelly
Current rumours suggest that during this episode Gwen Cooper's boyfriend learns the secret of Torchwood, and is taken over by a great evil. During the course of the episode Gwen learns exactly what it means to work for a top secret co-government agency.

EPISODE THREE(?) - "tbc"
Written by: Toby Whithouse, Directed by: Colin Teague
No details currently available. Bah!

EPISODE FOUR (?)- "tbc"
Written by: Noel Clarke, Directed by: (block three)
Noel appeared on GMTV last week and revealled that his episode is currently sheduled to be episode four of Torchwood. For now we'll continue to place the episode here. No specific details are yet available.

EPISODE FIVE (?) - "The Ghost Machine"
Written by: Helen Raynor, Directed by: Colin Teague
Thing's go bump in the night, but that's all I'm saying. The clue's in the name.

EPISODE SIX (?)- "Small World"
Written by: PJ Hammond, Directed by: (block three)
Gwen is still feeling her way in to the world of Torchwood, which she has just joined. This episode revolves around some "malevolent fairies". Hammond confirms in Dreamwatch magazine that the episode is no longer the third of the series.

OTHER EPISODES:
One more Russell.T.Davies script (possibly the finale)
At least three more Chris Chibnall scripts
A script by Si Spencer

And a quick note for fact fans: the first cast readthrough for Torchwood was Wednesday 26th April 2006, with actual filming commencing on Monday May 1st 2006. The first few weeks of filming were location shots as the team continue to settle into their new studio "Camelot".

And that's your lot for now! More news as we get it...and if anybody has any updates for our rough episode guide, then contact myself or Kurly and we'll be happy to make any changes.

The Most Perfect Timing

Sci-fi wire, the Sci-fi Channel's news service, today continues with its Torchwood headlines, suggesting that the station is gearing itself up for broadcasting series two of Doctor Who. If that's the case, there's a strong possibility that immediately after that series finishes, America could bare witness to the very first series of Torchwood too. Anyway, here's a quick interview with Russell T Davies (we should talk about him more, cos he's fantastic at what he does). The full interview can be read here.

"It all sort of gradually came together. I actually vaguely pitched the idea for the program to [executive producer] Julie Gardner before Doctor Who, when we were working together on a production of Casanova. We both love science fiction, and we used to talk about shows like Buffy [the Vampire Slayer], and one of the great joys of working together was discovering that we both loved that sort of material. She said, 'Wouldn't it be great to do that sort of thing in Britain?' So I pitched the opening scene there and then in an e-mail, and she said it was marvelous. So after Doctor Who became a success, we began talking about it."

"We also had an enormous response to John Barrowman, who just became a star overnight in a supporting role. People just loved him, and he had been a star-in-waiting for many years, so we were lucky to have grabbed him at the right time."

"We only ever booked him for five episodes. I mean, a bisexual con man from the 51st century: Did you ever think that was going to work? On paper, I had doubts about it myself. So I thought, 'Oh, five episodes of that will do!' I thought he would run out of charm by then. But he turned out to be the most extraordinary success, which was John, I have to say, and all of the writers loved writing for him."

In other news, issue# 370 of Doctor Who Magazine comes out next week in the UK, and we're promised some Torchwood news inside. And there's been suggestions that episode seven of this year's Doctor Who, "The Idiot's Lantern", may have yet more Torchwood references, so as ever, keep your eyes and ears peeled folks!

Hub Captain!

DWM recently spoke to Torchwood producer Richard Stokes to find out all the latest news from the series. The interview is re-printed in full here (with many thanks going to the DWM team)...

QUATERMASS - A GREAT INFLUENCE ON STOKES, AS YOU'LL SEE

Congratulations on your new job, Richard! How does it feel to be starting work on the first full Doctor Who spin-off series?
Thank you. To be honest it's a bit of a dream gig. I've been attached to the show now for a few weeks, and I still can't quite believe it's happening. Long night shoots will soon bring me back down to Earth though, I'm sure.

We already know that Torchwood will have its own very seperate identity away from Doctor Who. Without giving too much away - of course! - how would you describe the tone and feel of the series?
It's much darker - both in tone and in look. I'm discussing style with directors, the design team, Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner all the time and we keep talking about a noir style, lots of shadows. Doctor Who famously sends the kids round the back of the sofa; I went the grown-ups there too. The tradition of horror films - from Wes Craven to M Night Shyamalan - has filtered through to American television for many years and we should do a bit more of that here. People like being scared and a bit unsettled. Its themes are more adult - which is not about lots of swearing and gratuitous violence - it's about exploring more adult themes and sides of humanity you may not want your kids to watch. That's not to say we don't have a laugh on the way. Both Russell and our other lead writer - Chris Chibnall - have filled their scripts with great humour.

Despite the different audience demographic, would you say that Torchwood has any similarities with Doctor Who, beyond the character of Jack himself?
The Doctor Who team has injected an iconic series with great heart and compassion and that will certainly be the same - everyone on this show wants nothing short of the very best. Like all the most memorable shows in this genre it's about us; who we are and what we're doing to ourselves and each other. Doctor Who taps into a yearning for adventure in all of us and Torchwood will, similarly, touch on universal truths in the human condition.

Doctor Who fans are, of course, already familiar with John Barrowman's character, Captain Jack, from his episodes last year. What did you make of Jack in Doctor Who, and how are you looking forward to bringing him to Torchwood?
I thought he was a fantastic character - great fun and very charismatic. He was very deliberately there to mix up the relationship between the Doctor and Rose, whereas in this series he is the heroic lead and that requires some subtle changes.

Will your job be similar to Phil Collinson's? What sort of duties do you have on a day to day basis?
Yes - very similar. Producing is about plate-spinning; making sure nothing falls and breaks during the whole process. Day to day can be very different and that's part of the joy of the job but I have an overview on everything from scripts to directors to crew to cast to design to budget to sheduling and making sure everything is delivered to the channel for the money, on time and to the high standard everyone wants and expects. And then making sure all the different departments know what's going on so that when cameras start rolling everyone is making the same show.

If this first series of Torchwood is a success, is it hoped there may be a second? Or is this planned as a self-contained series of 13 episodes?
Hopefully - if all goes to plan and the audience enjoy it - there will be more.

As a former producer of Eastenders and Holby City, how do you think producing a sci-fi drama series will compare with the soaps?
It's all about storytelling. We all look for characters with whom we can emphathise as heroes or hate as villains and it's the combination of these things in a great story which made good drama. And that's true of anything, whether it's setin Albert Square or Andromeda.

Thanks to shows like Doctor Who and Life On Mars, it seems that the BBC is looking at more fantasy drama. What do you think about this recent interest in this sort of television? Are you a fan yourself - and if so, what sort of shows have influenced you?
It's about time. We were the best at this genre in the 1950's and 60's with Quatermass, Hammer productions and the original Doctor Who and the whole thing got hijacked by America doing it very well - and with a lot more money - and TV execsin this country thinking the genre was for kids. I am a fan - I was the perfect age when Star Wars came out to completely fall for it but writers like Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel and Firefly), J.J Abrams (Alias and Lost) and Chris Carter (The X-Files) have shown how these shows can appeal to an intelligent, adult audience. It's exciting...it feels like a genuine renaissance and to be part of that is incredibly exciting.

Finally, do you have any specific aims and ambitions for Torchwood as you enter production?
To be honest - my ambition is not to fall short of Russell's vision of the show. He generates a creative atmosphere which just makes everyone want to do their best. It's infectious and great fun. I don't want to let him down, but equally I want to make a series that fans talk about and which brings in a new audience that feels the show has something to say...so no pressure then!

When You Have Nothing Useful To Say (You Resort To This)

The past few days have been very quiet for Torchwood news. So much so the tumbleweed just blew past as I type. Well, I'm sure I can still find a reason to blog despite this fact!

THE 'FANTASTIC' EVE MYLES MAKES HER DEBUT IN "THE UNQUIET DEAD"

Anyhoo and anyways, Sci-fi channel airs "The Unquiet Dead" tonight, and for many Americans it will be their first chance to see the wonderful Eve Myles in action. Eve plays Gwynth (no realation to Gwen apparently), a young Victorian maid, living slap bang on top of "The Rift" (don't ask) in central Cardiff. As the Rift plays a major role in Torchwood (according to a Barrowman interview) it would be a perfect stepping-on point for future members of The Innuendo Squad, so watch it!

This week the new issue of Doctor Who Magazine hits news-stands everywhere, and as well as previews for the first couple of episodes of Doctor Who series two, we're promised a list at long (long) last of ALL the writers of Torchwood. So, when I get the magazine myself (on Wednesday probably) I'll fill you guys in with all the relevent information. Let's just hope the Steven Moffat rumours from a while back are true.

Scripts need a woman's touch

In DWM last week they announced that Helen Raynor has teamed up with Brian Minchin to do the daunting task of script editing on Torchwood. Keeping things in the family, she has already been stationed in the script office of Doctor Who for the past few years. You may have seen her featured in DW Confidential and heard her on the DVD box commentary for last year's episode WWIII.

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

Prior to WHO she was script editor on the daytime BBC soap Doctors. Like many others involved in Torchwood Raynor came from a theatre backgound. She directed the Royal Shakespeare Company, at the Royal Opera House, and worked with several other prestigious companies. So not only will she provide a woman's touch, she could just add a spot of class to the saucy program as well.

PS: Barrowman will be on The Wright Stuff on Channel Five tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at nine. Today Radio 1 Newsbeat did a Torchwood piece which you can probably still listen to online here. However, it's nothing new we don't already know.

Keep Calm

The title above is the directive that RTD has given us, and I think for the most part we have been adhering to that. In the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine, Russell comments that changes in personnel is to be expected in the pre-production of a blossoming show such as Torchwood. He confirmed a prior report that James Hawes will not be producing the program. Looking out my window, I don't see any riots in the street yet, so it seems Woodies are dealing with this news responsibly.

Source:http://torchwood.time-and-space.co.uk/

The report also said that pre-production is still "a few weeks off" which while not implicitly stating that the show is way behind schedule, does seem to indicate we really shouldn't expect to see it on our screens until very late in the year at the earliest. If you count backwards 13 weeks from the last saturday in March of 2007 (When WHO season 29 will probably start) you end up in the last week of December 2006. Hmm, could there be a christmas premiere in the cards for the non-family-orientated Torchwood?

Finally, two new names have also been thrown into the mix, Helen Raynor as script editor and Matt Savage as designer. More on them in forthcoming posts . . . well that is if they are still associated with the show by the time I can get around to writing about them.

The Moffat Show

First he wrote the hilarious Doctor Who satire Curse of Fatal Death, then he penned one of the scariest and most highly-regarded stories in the history of the show, The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, what will Steven Moffat do for an encore? Write for Torchwood, we hope.

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

Moffat has taken full credit for creating Captain Jack so what better fit for the new show? He is interviewed in the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine which hits the newsstands thursday and the advance word is that in addition to the story he wrote for the forthcoming season of WHO he is also doing a story for season 29.

Well obviously Moffat is quite in demand and a very busy guy. He is also working on a new BBC production of Dr Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. But one just has to look at some of the dialogue he wrote for Coupling to see that Torchwood would benefit from his brilliant wit.

You know, I have never understood the male obsession with lesbianism - a whole area of sex with nothing for them to do . . . Just answered my own question, haven't I?

Sally in Coupling - S1E4

Jack won't go into church

What was reported yesterday has been confirmed today in issue #363 of Doctor Who Magazine. Rumours in the tabloids that Charlotte Church would star in Torchwood were just that, rumours. Also in the interview Russell T Davies mentioned a new Torchwood character named "Gwen." So of course the new rumours will now start. If it's not Charlotte, who will be the female lead in the show? umm . . . maybe what's her name? something Stefani?

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

For the full story, the magazine is available all over the UK and at some specialty newsstands here in the USA or can be ordered online. Russell also said that Torchwood would have a separate budget from WHO and not drain any of its resources despite sharing some of the same production base. Also, James Hawes is on as a producer and Doctor Who production designer Edward Thomas will have the same job on Torchwood.

So, Torchwood.TV bids a fond farewell to Charlotte Church, gossip about her really helped me get through these first few weeks of starting up the page. Well at least now she will have more time to work on her book.