Christmas Without Scrooge

As Smitty revealled in the comments box earlier today, John Barrowman is set to appear with the BBC Concert Orchestra in a show callled "A Musical Christmas".

PLEASE JOHN...NO CLIFF RICHARD (WE'RE BEGGING YOU!)

Like "The Sound of Musicals" the show sees John singing his favourite hits from musicals, but with a Christmas-sy twist. He's also set to sing everybody's favourite Christmas hits...and all at torchwood.tv would like to make one tiny suggestion to John...

Don't sing "Mistletoe and Wine". It's that bad.

Further details can be found here, including information on how you can become part of the audience!

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

Our friends at 'unitnews' carry a news story that was earlier today posted on the bbc press office site. The story states that a particular 'John Barrowman' (whoever he may be) will soon star in a BBC talent contest called "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?".

SADLY THIS ISN'T JOHN'S LATEST TORCHWOOD COSTUME...

Unitnews states: The show is looking for a new West End star who will win the lead role of Maria in the West End stage show of The Sound of Music which opens later this year. Ten contenders will go through to the live TV show where the viewers will get the chance to vote for their favourite. How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? will be hosted by Graham Norton and will air later this summer on BBC ONE.

Meanwhile, the full story can be located here, at the BBC's own press office. It's thought that the series will coincide with the end of filming on Torchwood filming...so don't worry that the star is spreading himself too thin!

Oh, and one last thing...

As ever John, good luck. But we all know you don't need it.

Lucas Out...Whedon In

Issue # 145 of SFX Magazine is published next week in the UK, and I've been lucky to have a sneak peak inside.

The news section's top story features Torchwood, specifically, the start of filming on the series. However, the magazine also includes an "exclusive" interview with producer Richard Stokes, from which key quotes have been lifted and posted below.

Over to you Richard...

"They're fun, action adventures with a sense of joy and real heart. Each story should pack a punch like a feature-lenght movie"

"It will feel darker in tone...More 'Serenity', less 'Star Wars'..."

"There will be little continuity (between Doctor Who and Torchwood)...We're very keen to keep the shows editorially distinct...It's important that spin-offs to find their own identity and make their mark...But there will be occassional reminders we're in the same fictional universe."

"There will be a developing series arc over the 13 episodes...the dynamics between the regulars will shift as the show progresses..."

"In 'Boomtown' a time-rift was established underneath (Cardiff)...The idea is the Torchwood Hub is located underneath this place - directly on top of the rift..."

"Jack will be very much the Jack from Doctor Who...maybe a little bit more mysterious though...he doesn't want his team to know a lot about where he's come from, and what he's done...but you'll find out a lot about Jack in this series."

Rather cheekily, the magazine also comments "Torchwood comes to BBC Three this October. Or November. Look, just keep your eye out." I couldn't have said it better myself. Until next time...

The Torchwood Redemption

I've just stumbled across this fine piece of fan fiction by the mysterious "Danny_B" over at whofic.com. The story concerns the first adventure of the ELVENTH Doctor (a woman). It takes place mere days after the end of "The Christams Invasion", and features lots of Torchwood action. You can read the story here.

What's great about this fan fiction is that we've not even got a series to compare ourselves too yet, but still it comes. Us Woodies are a dedicated bunch! Come October it will be nice to look back and compare our expectations of the show and its central concept with what eventually came. Who's betting that so far, we're all totally off the mark! Anyway, October's not long away now (four months or so!), but still, we have plenty of time for more fan fiction.

UPDATE: Smitty has brought several new stories to my attention. Visit Mary_pseud's one at:
http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=5872,
as well as Smitty's own at:
http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=6203 and http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=6534.

If you write a story, e-mail to myself, and I'll be sure to give it an honoury mention right here on torchwood.tv. Oh, the fame! See you soon...

Come And Have A Go (If You Think Your Smart Enough)

No real topic of discussion today, but anyways, it might be worth visiting www.torchwood.org.uk and seeing what happens...

And Mr. Barrowman, if you're reading (if so, a big hello!) , it seems a lot of people love you right now. Sky showbiz reports "Dancing On Ice star John Barrowman is the man you girls want to sit in with the lovely Fern Britton on This Morning.John stepped in last month for a few days and the switchboard went into meltdown. The plan is to get him back as quickly as possible." Well, no 'fence ITV but you'll have to wait! The brilliant John Barrowman is a little busy right now, on a little show called Torchwood. You guys might even have heard of it. It's going to wipe the floor with whatever you produce, and become every bit as popular and successful as Doctor Who.

Hear that? That's the sound of ITV running scared.

And so they should, because Torchwood's coming.