In the run-up to Torchwood's Australian debut next Monday (June 18), the Australian media have had a few stories about the spin-off. The Sunday Telegraph of Sydney writes about the fact that the series will air on Ten instead of the ABC, the traditional home of Doctor Who in Australia. The Age of Melbourne has a longer feature story, with quotes fromRussell T. Davies andBurn Gorman. Davies talks about the origins of the programme and its attitude towards sexuality, and Gorman speaks about the cast's working dynamics.

The Adelaide Advertiser gives the programme four stars calling the cast 'led by John Barrowman as . . . simply astounding.' Sean Fewster writes that the show 'is cooler than the outside of an Ice Warrior's armour, but one that's bound to attract controversy from the get-go.' The Australian Who magazine also gives the first episode four stars and makes it their 'show of the week'.

Thanks to Adam Kirk for the links and Dr Cat for the Advertiser story.

Channel Ten have confirmed reports from the South Australian Doctor Who Fan Club that Torchwood will make its Australian debut on Monday 18 June 2007 at 9.30pm, following Supernatural.

Aussie fans will be busy in June with The Runaway Bride confirmed by the ABC to debut on Thursday 28 June at 8.35pm. Series three has also been confirmed to debut on the ABC in the regular Saturday 7.30pm timeslot on 30 June (Warning: ABC links have major spoilers!).

Thanks to the SADWFC and Martin Dunne.

Optus TV Magazine reports that Australian cable broadcaster UKTV Australia will screen the 15-minute 'cutdown' episodes of Doctor Who Confidential as part of a Doctor Who marathon of series one and two on the Australian Queen's Birthday long weekend (9-11 June).

The screenings of these Doctor Who Confidential episodes will mark the first time ever that this programme has been shown on Australian broadcast television.

Series 1 will start at midday on Saturday June 9. The Christmas Invasion, followed by Series 2, will start at midday on Sunday June 10. Each Confidential episode will be shown following its corresponding Doctor Who episode.

The marathon also marks the first time The Christmas Invasion and series two have been shown on UKTV Australia.

It has been reported that The Runaway Bride and Series 3 will have its Australian debut on the ABC in late June.

Thanks to Theta Sigma.

The South Australian Doctor Who Fan Club is reporting that theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation has scheduled both The Runaway Bride and Series 3 of Doctor Who.

According to the SADWFC, The Runaway Bride is scheduled for 8.30pm on Thursday 28 June, with the series beginning in its regular slot of 7.30pm from Saturday 30 June. Series one began in Australia on Saturday 21 May 2005, The Christmas Invasion premiered on Saturday 8 July 2006 and series two followed from the 15th of July that year.

This is subject to official confirmation by the ABC.

Thanks to the SADWFC and Benjamin F. Elliott.

The Australian Associated Press are reporting that Network Ten have purchased Torchwood and are also committed to series two of the spin-off.

Update March 5 2007: The Sydney Morning Herald today in its weekly TV guide reports on Channel Ten's "surprise move" to buy Torchwood (with a full-length photo of Captain Jack).

The SMH reports that "[m]any had assumed the ABC would land the show because of its link to the long-running Doctor Who franchise . . . Ten will launch Torchwood later this year. It remains unclear how Ten and the ABC will handle crossover storylines between the two shows."

The Age (March 8 2007) has also reported on the "keenly awaited" Torchwood being purchased by Channel Ten.

Despite earlier media reports to the contrary, the Australian TV Week magazine mentions in its latest edition that both public broadcasters, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and theSpecial Broadcasting Service (SBS) have passed on Torchwood. There is no indication that any of the Australian commercial broadcasters will pick up the show.

The ABC is expected to screen the third series of Doctor Who from mid-year but this is still subject to official confirmation.

The Sydney Morning Herald's TV section for 1 January reports that Torchwood will be among the shows premiering on the ABC network this year. The story is titled Now, Look Here! for readers checking the print edition. Torchwood is on page 4 of the online edition of the article.