Moffat: I'm not blocking Torchwood returnBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 13 September 2016 - Reported by Josiah Rowe
John Barrowman has recently spoken about the obstacles preventing Torchwood's return to television.
Speaking at the Wizard World Chicago Comic Con Barrowman mentioned Doctor Who's current lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat as the reason Torchwood would not be back, to which Moffat has clarified that he is not one of those obstacles:
You may be aware that John Barrowman has been saying, publicly, that I've been blocking a new series of Torchwood. To be very clear - I haven't blocked it; I wouldn't block it; I wouldn't even be ABLE to block it. I didn't even know a revival had been mooted till I read about it on the Internet. As John perfectly well knows, it's not my show and I could no more prevent it happening that he could cancel Sherlock. I am bewildered, and a little cross, even to be included in this conversation. For the record, I really liked the show (especially the third series) and would be very happy to see more - monsters and mayhem, why not? But the fact is, it has nothing to do with me. Please pass this on to the anxious and the angry - I've had enough hate mail now.

Acknowledgement: Wizard World Chicago Comic Con coverage report via YouTube, courtesy of ChristineDoesCons




FILTER: - John Barrowman - People - Steven Moffat - Torchwood

The Lives of Captain JackBookmark and Share

Saturday, 10 September 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Big Finish have announced further adventures for Captain Jack Harkness with a new series coming in June 2017.

The Lives of Captain Jack (Credit: Big Finish)John Barrowman (Doctor Who, Torchwood, Arrow, The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow) returns to the Doctor Who universe as Captain Jack Harkness in The Lives of Captain Jack, a set of four full cast audio adventures from Big Finish, made under licence from BBC Worldwide.

Captain Jack - an immortal adventurer with a wicked sense of everything - has led an extraordinary set of lives. We all know he travelled with the Doctor, we all know he ran Torchwood - but what else did he get up to? The four adventures in this full cast series from Big Finish provide some of the answers.

Starring John Barrowman, and guest starring Russell Tovey (Doctor Who, Being Human and Looking), Camille Coduri (Doctor Who, Him & Her), Alexander Vlahos (Merlin, Versailles, The Confessions of Dorian Gray), Sarah Douglas (Superman I, Superman II, Space 1999, V, Strippers vs Werewolves), Scott Haran (Wizards vs Aliens), Aaron Neil (Class) and Katy Manning (Doctor Who) the four adventures see Captain Jack in different times and on different planets, doing battle with a variety of strange and horrible enemies, from Mother Nothing to the Council Of Three.

John Barrowman laughs:
I find it really easy to slip into Captain Jack. There’s a bit of Jack in John and vice versa. What’s great about these stories is that they’re the kind of episode we didn’t have time for on TV – exploring aspects of Jack that you’ve never seen before in a timey-wimey way. And getting to work with Camille was amazing. If you’re a fan of Captain Jack, or Torchwood or Doctor Who, then I say get them.
Producer James Goss says:
We love John. He understands Captain Jack like no-one else, and easily provided the various versions of him – having just spent three days playing Torchwood Jack, he suddenly delivered preppy Time Agent Jack, Satellite 5 Jack, End of Time Jack, and effortlessly locked horns with Jackie Tyler. Watching him together in the studio with Camille was genuinely one of the happiest days of my life. We were so lucky to get John, and can’t wait to get him back.

Released in June 2017, The Lives of Captain Jack is written by Guy Adams and James Goss. The stories include:
  • THE YEAR AFTER I DIED: Set in the year 200,101, on an Earth ravaged by the Daleks, we see Jack struggling to save humanity from its oldest enemy.
  • WEDNESDAYS FOR BEGINNERS: Jack and Jackie Tyler (Camille Coduri) must unite to rescue the Powell Estate from a force whose name Jackie can never say.
  • ONE ENCHANTED EVENING: Captain Jack and Alonso Frame (Russell Tovey) have only just met. But why did the Doctor want them to be together?
  • MONTH 25: He’s the young star of the Time Agency, and his whole life is about to fall apart. But that’s not going to stop him winning.

The Lives of Captain Jack is available to pre-order from the Big Finish website.




FILTER: - Audio - Big Finish - John Barrowman - Torchwood

Torchwood Comic Released WednesdayBookmark and Share

Saturday, 30 July 2016 - Reported by Marcus
Next Wednesday, 3rd August, sees the release of the first edition of the new Torchwood Comic from Titan.

The series is written by Captain Jack himself John Barrowman, along with his sister Carole Barrowman, and illustrated by Antonio Fuso (Drive, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest) and Pasquale Qualano (Batman ’66, She Hulk, Harley Quinn).

The debut issue comes with variant covers to collect from Doctor Who 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.).

The new comics series will run in continuity with the new Torchwood audio dramas from Big Finish.
Captain Jack Harkness is back in Cardiff, and there's only one person he can turn to, the last person who expected to see him, Gwen Cooper! On the road, on the run, and under fire, can the pair put aside their differences and rebuild the heart of Torchwood, before its flame is stamped out forever?
Torchwood #1 - Cover A: Tommy Lee EdwardsTorchwood #1 /  Cover B: Photo VariantTorchwood #1 -  Cover C: Elena CasagrandeTorchwood #1 - Cover D: Blair SheddTorchwood #1 - Cover E: Rod ReisTorchwood #1 - Books-a-Million / Fried Pie Variant: Claudia Caranfa


Doctor Who News will release a review of the comic next Wednesday morning.




FILTER: - Comics - Torchwood

BBC Audio: a collection of TalesBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 8 June 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Audio have released details of three collections coming later this year, collating previously released audio tales featuring the Tenth Doctor, Eleventh Doctor and Torchwood:

Tenth Doctor Tales (Credit: BBC Audio)Tenth Doctor Tales
Published by BBC Books 4th August 2016 [pre-order from Amazon UK]

David Tennant, Catherine Tate and Michelle Ryan read this exclusive collection of original audio adventures. Join the Tenth Doctor on these seven adventures in Time and Space, written specially for audio:
  • Pest Control by Peter Anghelides, read by David Tennant
  • The Forever Trap by Dan Abnett, read by Catherine Tate
  • The Nemonite Invasion by David Roden, read by Catherine Tate
  • The Rising Night by Scott Handcock, read by Michelle Ryan.
  • The Day of the Troll by Simon Messingham, read by David Tennant
  • The Last Voyage by Dan Abnett, read by David Tennant
  • Dead Air by James Goss, read by David Tennant
With thrilling music and sound design, these seven adventures are based on the hit BBC TV series.

Duration: 13 hours approx
Torchwood Tales (Credit: BBC Audio)Torchwood Tales
Published by BBC Books 1st September 2016 [pre-order from Amazon UK]

Eve Myles, Gareth David-Lloyd, Kai Owen and others read ten stories based on the hit BBC TV series. Written specially for audio, with additional sound design, the stories feature the original Torchwood line-up including Captain Jack, Gwen, Ianto, Owen and Toshiko, plus Rhys and PC Andy. The titles are:
  • Hidden by Steven Savile, read by Naoko Mori
  • Everyone Says Hello by Dan Abnett, read by Burn Gorman
  • In the Shadows by Joseph Lidster, read by Eve Myles
  • The Sin Eaters by Brian Minchin, read by Gareth David-Lloyd
  • Department X and Ghost Train by James Goss, read by Kai Owen
  • Army of One by Ian Edginton, read by Kai Owen
  • Fallout by David Llewellyn, read by Tom Price
  • Red Skies by Joseph Lidster, read by John Telfer
  • Mr Invincible by Mark Morris, read by Tom Price
Duration: 16 hours approx
Eleventh Doctor Tales (Credit: BBC Audio)Eleventh Doctor Tales
Published by BBC Books 6th October 2016 [pre-order from Amazon UK]

Matt Smith, Arthur Darvill and Meera Syal are among the readers of this exclusive collection of original audio adventures. Join the Eleventh Doctor on journeys in Time and Space in the stories:
  • The Runaway Train by Oli Smith, read by Matt Smith
  • The Ring of Steel by Stephen Cole, read by Arthur Darvill
  • The Jade Pyramid by Martin Day, read by Matt Smith
  • The Hounds of Artemis by James Goss, read by Matt Smith & Clare Corbett
  • The Gemini Contagion by Jason Arnopp, read by Meera Syal
  • Eye of the Jungle by Darren Jones, read by David Troughton
  • Blackout by Oli Smith, read by Stuart Milligan
  • The Art of Death by James Goss, read by Raquel Cassidy
  • Darkstar Academy by Mark Morris, read by Alexander Armstrong
  • Day of the Cockroach by Steve Lyons, read by Arthur Darvill
  • The Nu-Humans by Cavan Scott & Mark Wright, read by Raquel Cassidy
  • The Empty House by Simon Guerrier, read by Raquel Cassidy
  • The Sleepers in the Dust by Darren Jones, read by Arthur Darvill
  • Snake Bite by Scott Handcock, read by Frances Barber
Duration: 15 hours approx.




FILTER: - BBC Audio - Eleventh Doctor - Tenth Doctor - Torchwood

Torchwood back as ComicBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 13 April 2016 - Reported by Marcus
Titan Comics have announced that Doctor Who TV spinoff Torchwood is back, in an all-new ongoing comic series starring the daring Captain Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper.

The series is written by Captain Jack himself – John Barrowman – and Carole E. Barrowman, and with issues illustrated by Antonio Fuso (Drive, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest) and Pasquale Qualano (Batman ’66, She Hulk, Harley Quinn).

In continuity with the new hit Torchwood audio dramas from Big Finish, as part of the official continuation of the Torchwood 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 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.).

Torchwood #1 - Cover A: Tommy Lee EdwardsTorchwood #1 /  Cover B: Photo VariantTorchwood #1 -  Cover C: Elena CasagrandeTorchwood #1 - Cover D: Blair SheddTorchwood #1 - Cover E: Rod Reis




FILTER: - Comics - Torchwood

James Goss - Torchwood Q&ABookmark and Share

Thursday, 17 September 2015 - Reported by Thomas Buxton
Credit: Big Finish Productions The first instalment of the new Torchwood series from Big Finish, The Conspiracy was released last week. You can read our review of the story here.

Doctor Who News put some questions to the producer of the series, James Goss.

DWN: Like any long-running franchise, the 'Torchwood' brand carries the weight of expectation on its back - how much pressure did you feel to satisfy its devotees in producing the new series for Big Finish?

JG: Massively. The Torchwood fans care enormously about that show - there was no point in just doing half-a-dozen stories that would fit nicely in the 2015 Torchwood Annual. We wanted to make something really special and make the fans as massively excited as we are.

Based on the production experience to date, how smooth a transition do you feel the show has made from TV to audio? Has having John Barrowman, Eve Myles and many of the other 'Torchwood' regulars aboard helped in this respect?

The cast have been enormously, enormously supportive. They're all tremendously busy but have made time for us, somehow. John records in a studio in Palm Springs, Gareth came in straight after finishing a gruelling theatre tour, Kai travelled halfway across the UK for the recording... the list goes on. And they're an utter delight in the studio. At every single recording the engineer spends most of their time laughing. It's that much fun.

It's really great to decide we're going to just tell stories concentrating on brilliant Torchwood characters. There are so many of them, and it makes each release feel special.

We'll of course learn more about how the Committee factors into Torchwood's ongoing history as more of Season One hits shelves. Was the lack of references to team members, events etc. aside from Gwen in 'The Conspiracy' an intentional move to allow newcomers to experience it without feeling bogged down by past continuity?

Yes. David Llewellyn did a very clever job of making it easy to get into. People are always worried that it's going to be difficult, or require complicated knowledge. We've worked hard to make sure that it's not.

The Conspiracy is just a thing that's around, ticking away in the background, nudging events here and there. It's building towards a grim conclusion... eventually.

What for you has been the most fulfilling element of working to bring Big Finish's latest endeavour to life so far?

That's totally unfair. Getting the first one recorded and announced while I was in Spain was very strange, and not the most relaxing holiday (leaping around a swimming pool in the dark trying to get enough signal to find out what Twitter was doing). Recording with Gareth was staggering - it was a truly remarkable performance, the most fun you can have with Ianto Jones. The joy of getting Eve and Kai back together and watching them recreate the magic of the Welsh Steed and Mrs Peel. And then, last week, spending a day in studio with Tracy-Ann Oberman. She turned up with a spare pair of high heels in her handbag, and the whole day was like that.

It's such a delight heading to the studios - the writers have done such great, great work. They really love the show and that makes it feel so worthwhile. Emma Reeves has written Gwen and Rhys perfectly, and Joe Lidster throws all of Cardiff at Yvonne - you almost feel sorry for her.

Looking ahead, can you tease what fans and newbies alike have to look forward to as Season One progresses and as a whole new season of adventures beckons from March 2016?

We learn of Captain Jack's unique way of interrogating robots, we meet Mr Pugh, the one man who can say No to Torchwood, and two very interesting people go monster-hunting across London and stop for ice cream.

The Conspiracy is available to order from Big Finish now.

(with thanks to James Goss and Joseph Smith)




FILTER: - Big Finish - People - Torchwood

Tracy-Ann Oberman back as Yvonne Hartman in TorchwoodBookmark and Share

Thursday, 17 September 2015 - Reported by Harry Ward
Torchwood: One Rule (Credit: Big Finish Productions) Big Finish has announced that Tracy-Ann Oberman is to return as Yvonne Hartman in Torchwood: One Rule, the fourth release in its new series of Torchwood audio plays. One Rule is written by Joseph Lidster, who has written episodes of Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. Tracy-Ann Oberman last appeared in Doctor Who as Yvonne Hartman in the Series 2 finale Army of Ghosts / Doomsday.

Joining the cast of One Rule are Dan Starkey as Ross Bevan and Catrin Stewart as Meredith Bevan.

It’s been three weeks since the Mayor of Cardiff was killed by a shop dummy and the fight is on to see who will replace him.

Yvonne Hartman is visiting the city to retrieve an invaluable alien device. She's in charge of Torchwood One, she's saving the British Empire and she doesn't care about local politics. But she is going to find herself caught up in that fight. There’s a bloodthirsty alien stalking the streets and there’s a special offer on at the all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet.

It’s the 26th of March 2005 and it’s the day that everything changes.

Producer James Goss said:
When we presented the idea of using Yvonne, Matt Nicholls at BBC Worldwide came up with a brilliant caveat – he suggested we could have Yvonne, but not the all-powerful Queen Bee of Canary Wharf. Instead he wanted her to come thoroughly unstuck in Cardiff.

Writer Joseph Lidster said:
Torchwood was my first piece of writing for television and it remains my favourite series. Not just the television episodes but the books, audiobooks, radio plays, all of it. I'd have been gutted not to have been involved in some way - I'd have happily gone into the studio and made the tea!

James Goss gave me a choice of available characters but it was Yvonne who leapt out at me. She's one of my favourite characters to have appeared in Doctor Who - she has questionable beliefs but she genuinely thinks she's doing the best thing for her country. She's also incredibly funny and brilliantly performed by the magnificent Tracy-Ann Oberman.

Torchwood: One Rule will be released in December from the BigFinish.com.





FILTER: - Big Finish - Torchwood

Second series of Torchwood for Big FinishBookmark and Share

Saturday, 12 September 2015 - Reported by Harry Ward
Torchwood: Series Two (Credit: Big Finish Productions) Big Finish has announced that a second series of Torchwood is currently in pre-production for release in early 2016. Series 2 will begin with the first of six stories in March 2016; just one month after the first series has concluded. The original release schedule for Series 1 had Episode 2, Fall to Earth being released in March 2016 but will now be released next month.

Torchwood Producer James Goss said:
Everyone involved's just had so much fun that we didn't want to stop, and Big Finish said, "It's okay, you don't have to". We've already got the first script in and it's a delight.

Big Finish Executive Producer Jason Haigh-Ellery added:
It’s wonderful to be able to commit so soon to a second series of Torchwood, this is completely down to the immense support we have received from the fans of the series. We are delighted to be continuing the adventures of Captain Jack and his team!

Co-Executive Producer Nicholas Briggs said:
I couldn’t really imagine that the response to our Torchwood series wouldn’t be positive, so I’m very pleased not to have been proved wrong. The series has so many dedicated followers and the audios have been written, directed and produced with such love for the source material. James Goss, as producer, has brought so much enthusiasm and joy to the project. I find myself hoping every day that I’ll receive another excited email from him.

And we’re so grateful that the brilliant stars of Torchwood have come in to record and have been so bloomin’ good! Russell T Davies has been so supportive and full of encouragement too. Frankly, we had no choice but to get on with a second series as soon as possible.

Series 1 continues in October with Torchwood: Fall to Earth, starring Gareth David-Lloyd as Ianto Jones, followed in November by Torchwood: Forgotten Lives with Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper and Kai Owen as Rhys Williams. Three further releases will follow at monthly intervals.





FILTER: - Big Finish - Torchwood

Eve Myles and Kai Owen in Torchwood - Forgotten LivesBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 8 September 2015 - Reported by Marcus
Torchwood - Forgotten Lives (Credit: Big Finish)Big Finish have announced the return of Eve Myles and Kai Owen as husband-and-wife team Gwen Cooper and Rhys Williams in the third release in a new series of Torchwood Audio Dramas.

Producer James Goss told of his excitement at the pairing
Captain Jack's the poster boy, Ianto's the style, but Eve and Kai are the heart of Torchwood. Listening to the two of them back together is an utter joy. We pick up their story after Miracle Day. How has life been treating them? It's a delight to find out.
Eve Myles appeared in all 41 episodes of the BBC series, created by Russell T Davies. A dedicated police officer turned Torchwood second-in-command, Gwen fought tooth and nail to defend Cardiff and her family from the very worst the Rift had to offer. Husband Rhys supported her from home, keeping their infant daughter Anwen safe during the worldwide phenomenon known as the Miracle.

Eve and Kai return in Forgotten Lives. The couple are plagued by the same alien plot uncovered by Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) in opening story The Conspiracy. Many years later, and Torchwood is just a fond memory for Gwen and Rhys. Then, one day, the phone rings....

Forgotten Lives is written by Emma Reeves who is the co-creator and lead writer of robot drama Eve for CBBC. Other TV credits include The Dumping Ground, Tracy Beaker Returns, Hetty Feather, Dead Gorgeous, Young Dracula, Spirit Warriors, The Murder of Princess Diana, Doctors and Belonging. She also writes for radio, and for stage, where her work includes the Olivier nominated adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson’s Hetty Feather.
I still can’t believe that I’ve been asked to write a story for the brilliant characters of Gwen and Rhys. I’ve been lucky enough to write for Eve before, on Belonging, and I know that she has a unique gift of imbuing every syllable with the deepest meaning. Getting Eve Myles and Kai Owen, too, is basically like winning the writer lottery.
Myles will make a return appearance later in the series; of which more details will be revealed soon. Torchwood: Forgotten Lives will be released in November, and can be pre-ordered from the Big Finish website.




FILTER: - Big Finish - Torchwood

Ianto Jones ReturnsBookmark and Share

Thursday, 16 July 2015 - Reported by Marcus
 Gareth David-LloydAudio Producer Big Finish have announced that fan-favourite actor Gareth David-Lloyd will star as Ianto Jones for the second release in a new series of Torchwood Audio Dramas.

Producer James Goss is delighted
Well, how could we not? Ianto's such a brilliant character, and if we kept people on tenterhooks any longer, we'd be fools. Of course he's in it and as soon as possible. We recorded with him literally the first day after he finished a theatre tour. Did he want to put his feet up? Nope. He wanted to be Ianto.
David-Lloyd appeared throughout the first three series of the TV verion of Torchwood, created by Russell T Davies. A mild-mannered administrator for the Torchwood team, Ianto helped defend Cardiff from the horrors of the rift, and aided the Tenth Doctor in a battle against the Daleks in two episodes of Doctor Who.

Ianto made his final TV appearance in the 2009 mini-series Children of Earth, but his popularity and legacy has stood the test of time, with a special commemorative memorial for the character erected in Cardiff Bay. The character's last outing was in a BBC Radio Play The House of the Dead part of the Torchwood: The Lost Files series broadcast in 2011.

The character will return in Fall To Earth, following on from John Barrowman's return as Captain Jack Harkness in the opening instalment, The Conspiracy.

Director Scott Handcock spoke about the recording
Seeing Gareth in studio was an absolute delight. He clearly loves the part and had a great time. And can't wait to be back.
The new story will be released in October, allowing for an unbroken run of stories from September. Four more releases will follow at monthly intervals through 2016.

James Goss explained the timetable
There was originally going to be a gap after the first release, but we soon realised that everyone we spoke to was being so helpful, we'd be in studio a lot earlier. Actors, writers, agents, BBC Worldwide have all been amazing. So it's coming out early.
Torchwood: Fall To Earth will be released in October.




FILTER: - Big Finish - Torchwood