With the news series of Torchwood due to begin airing next Thursday in the UK, the BBC Press Office has released interviews with the main cast and crew of Torchwood: Miracle Day.
An interview with John Barrowman ahead of the new series of Torchwood, BBC, via BBC Press Office - may not play outside of the United Kingdom
John Barrowman on Jack's relationship with Gwen Cooper:
Jack's relationship with Gwen is – he is very fond of her, but it's more than that. He is very protective of her. Gwen was always the heart of the group, but she has evolved herself. She's still the heart, but now is a bit of the muscle. And Jack, through the process of them being together, has taught her the art of fighting, gun slinging and all that stuff. She has come a very long way. But their relationship is funny, because it's almost like a brother and sister relationship and it's almost like a husband and wife relationship. But there's nothing sexual between them, it's the type of thing where she might finish one of his sentences or vice versa because they know each other so well. And, between Jack and Gwen, if they're in a sticky situation, all it needs is a look from one of them and then they know exactly what they're thinking.
Eve Myles on Gwen's life since Torchwood disbanded:
At the end of Children Of Earth, both Jack and Gwen went their separate ways. Jack went off somewhere and Gwen moved to a very quiet part of the country into hiding because she was being hunted. She's been wanted because she's the last remaining member of Torchwood. She goes away and has a baby and lives there with her husband, and they've got quite a perfect, chocolate box kind of cottage, and it's idyllic.
But she is so bored. She's in limbo land and she never switches off. She's constantly in Torchwood mode and always on alert. So when this particular event happens and Captain Jack turns up, he couldn't have turned up at a better time for her, because she was lost.
I wouldn't describe Rex as arrogant but I think he's certainly set in his ways. There's a certain amount of edge to him. I think he's determined and strong and focused. And I think once he has it set in his mind that he wants to do something, that's what he goes out and does. He just goes out and makes it happen, He's very much a black or white person – he's not a grey area guy.
When Rex first meets Captain Jack, they just flat out don't like each other. John's a great guy in person – really funny – loves life. And he's always singing and dancing around and saying crazy things, so I just love the guy. But our characters, definitely in the beginning, clash, there's no question about that. We definitely have different approaches to things. And I haven't figured him out yet.
Russell T Davies on moving production for the new series to America:
Coming to the US for Torchwood (the organisation) is like another case. They've dealt with galaxies and universes, so another country is not that big of a deal. It is, however, a big deal for Gwen. She's separated from her husband and from her child. She's arrested and taken to America, so it's heartbreaking on that level. But for Jack, he hits the ground running. For many years Torchwood (the series) has had an American actor in the lead role, so in that sense it feels entirely natural. For the show to hit America, I think it's a new start without being a reboot. That's what's exciting about it. This is simply a new horizon. We have different producing partners, and it has added a new influx of imagination, and frankly, a bigger budget as well.
Julie Gardner reassures new viewers:
If you haven't watched Torchwood before, the first important thing to say is – don't be afraid. You don't have to know anything about the show or its history. Everything is explained from the beginning. In that way, it's a completely welcoming new show for a brand new audience. And you should watch because it should be a lot of fun. It's a thriller that is properly answered in 10 episodes. It's not the type of show where you have to hang on for five years and at the end of that you're weeping trying to understand who everyone is and how stories have properly been tied together.
Our story really begins in a very precarious moment for the earth and my character in particular. He is getting three lethal injections, because he has been convicted as a murderer/paedophile. And the surprise is that he doesn't die. He survive a very horrendous experience, but his body is still alive.
And then everyone in the hospital realises that other people haven't died in that hospital and in that city, in the country, in the world for 24 hours or so. They realise this is a new paradigm of how and what it is to be human. For Oswald, it begins a journey of beginning to realise that he is going to survive and that he's going to be free because they haven't been able to kill him.
Torchwood as we all know changes life drastically, and Esther gets a firsthand knowledge of that. There's intrigue and her curiosity pretty much gets the best of her. We start with Esther's very safe, comfortable 9-5 job. But all of a sudden, once she steps into the world of Torchwood, she's launched into a whole different path. Quickly we find her on the run. She's trying to survive, but her instincts kick in. So it's interesting watching this person that doesn't have the experience and training as Jack or Gwen or Rex would. I love watching her as a character and playing her and reading the scripts. She's trying to get out of life and death situations and she stumbles a little because she's still a newbie
Jilly Kitzinger works in public relations. She's a sleek, slick, clever PR person who works for the potentially evil corporation PhiCorp, a giant pharmaceutical company. She's always on the move, seems to always be traveling on a different airplane going to a different city.
Bill Pullman plays a death row prisoner who's about to be executed and he doesn't die, so he becomes a media star and I want him for my company. We want him – we want to use him. I find him and I convince him that he needs me. He of course doesn't need me, but I have other plans for him.
My character, Dr. Juarez, starts off having a pretty normal day, and all of a sudden, everybody starts coming in to the hospital and staying there – they're not dying. Rex comes in, after he's impaled in his accident, and because of the miracle, I am able to work on him and save his life. I'm Rex's liaison to keep him pain free.
So the miracle saved his life, and as the show goes on, you see all the troubles that come with over-population and everything that we have to deal with – from the government to lack of medication and how we're going to deal with that.
Torchwood: Miracle Day is now available to pre-order from online shops. Amazon UK has given a UK release date for Series 4 as 14 November 2011.
DVD Description One day, nobody dies. All across the world, nobody dies. And then the next day, and the next, and the next, people keep ageing - they get hurt and sick - but they never die. The result: a population boom, overnight.
With all the extra people, resources are finite. It’s said that in four month's time, the human race will cease to be viable. But this can’t be a natural event – someone’s got to be behind it. It’s a race against time as C.I.A. agent Rex Matheson investigates a global conspiracy. The answers lie within an old, secret British institute. As Rex keeps asking “What is Torchwood?" he’s drawn into a world of adventure, and a threat to change what it means to be human, forever.
Special Features Magical FX on Miracle Day Special Behind the Scenes Motion Comic Art Dept Tour Audio Nav & Description
Torchwood: Miracle Day is available to pre-order now in both DVD (Region 2) and Blu-ray formats.
The latest edition of the Radio Times (9th-15th July 2011) features a front cover dedicated to Torchwood: Miracle Day, which premieres on BBC1(HD) on 14th July 2011.
The issue features a three page article on the show, which features comments from executive producers Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter on Torchwood's arrival in Hollywood, plus writer Jane Espenson, Captain Jack himself John Barrowman and Eve Myles aka Gwen Cooper.
Russell: The audience will see that Captain Jack is darker, but he’s still got his wit. The journey he goes on is extremely different from the journey he’s been on before. It’s absolutely, jaw-droppingly exciting.
Julie: We wanted to do more episodes, we wanted to find a way to tell a bigger length of story, and all of that thinking coincided with us being in America.
The premiere also features prominently as one of Thursday's choices, as well as the usual synopsis and cast details on the channel listing for BBC1 at 9:00pm.
There is also a behind-the-scenes video on the Radio Times website featuring John Barrowman and Eve Myles as they step back into costume for the Radio Times cover shoot and talk about the new series.
Earlier in the month we reported that members of the Torchwood: Miracle Day" cast and crew would be appearing as this year's San Diego Comic Con, courtesy of Starz. Today, BBC America have announced that Doctor Who will also be represented, with Matt Smith and Karen Gillan making their first appearance at such an event.
The two time travellers will be on a panel on Sunday 24th July, alongside writer Toby Whithouse and executive producers Beth Willis and Piers Wenger, as detailed below:
12:30 – 1:30 pm, BBC America’s Doctor Who – Stars Matt Smith and Karen Gillan make their first Comic-Con appearance for a panel and Q&A with Doctor Who writer Toby Whithouse (Being Human creator) and executive producers Piers Wenger and Beth Willis. They’re bringing with them exclusive new footage from the new episodes airing later this summer on BBC AMERICA. Doctor Who follows the adventures of the Doctor, the mysterious traveler who journeys throughout all of time and space, picking up companions along the way and almost always sidestepping danger.
Doctor Who, from award winning lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, stars BAFTA nominee Matt Smith as the Doctor and Karen Gillan as his companion Amy Pond, along with Arthur Darvill as Rory and Alex Kingston who plays River Song. Part One of the new season, which premiered in April, delivered record ratings for BBC AMERICA and marked the first time Doctor Who filmed on American soil. Its finale ended with the unveiling of a massive secret and the words "Let’s Kill Hitler" on screen.
Part One of Doctor Who arrives on Blu-ray/DVD on July 19 and Part Two premieres late summer on BBC AMERICA’s Supernatural Saturdays.
The BBC have now updated their programme information for Week 29 with details of Torchwood: Miracle Day's second episode, Rendition, which will premiere in the UK on BBC1/BBC1HD at 9:00pm, 21st July.
The following is the plot synopsis for Rendition which might be considered a spoiler
As the Torchwood team is reunited, Jack realises he's the most vulnerable man on Earth; and a flight to the USA turns into a desperate battle for survival.
Starz have teamed up with Landmark Theaters to offer fans in the US the chance to attend a free advance screening of the premiere episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day, The New World on July 5th and 6th.
For your chance to attend this screening, email comments@landmarktheatres.com with "Torchwood Tickets" in the subject line. One entry per Film Club member. A limited number of Film Club members will be chosen at random and notified via email.
Please note that seating is limited by capacity. No RSVP or ticket is required as seating is first come, first served. This screening is rated TV-14 and contains mature content. Must be 14 or older to attend.
Wednesday, 29 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC have now updated their programme information for Week 28 with details of Torchwood: Miracle Day's first episode, The New World, which will premiere in the UK on BBC1/BBC1HD at 9:00pm, 14th July.
The following is the plot synopsis for The New World which might be considered a spoiler
One day, nobody dies. All across the world, nobody dies. And then the next day, and the next, and the next, people keep ageing – they get hurt and sick, but they never die. The result: a population boom, overnight.
With all the extra people, resources are finite. It’s said that in four month's time, the human race will cease to be viable. But this can’t be a natural event – someone’s got to be behind it. It’s a race against time as CIA agent Rex Matheson investigates a global conspiracy. The answers lie within an old, secret British institute. As Rex keeps asking: "What is Torchwood?", he’s drawn into a world of adventure, and a threat to change what it means to be human ... for ever.
In the launch episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day, Agent Rex Matheson is impaled in a car crash and miraculously survives, while his analyst, Esther Drummond, sets out to discover what Torchwood is. Far away, in Wales, Gwen Cooper lives in hiding with her husband Rhys and daughter Anwen – she’s the last surviving Torchwood member and is determined to stay hidden. In Kentucky, convicted murderer Oswald Danes survives his own execution. And when Esther meets the mysterious Captain Jack Harkness, assassins are activated to kill them all...
Last week, Doctor Who Magazine editor Tom Spilsbury commented on Twitter that there would be slightly different versions of Miracle Day for the US and UK broadcast, adding yesterday that "they haven't started with one 'master version' and cut it for the UK. They've prepared two parallel edits for different markets."Russell T Davies had previously mentioned in his interview with Front Row that Jack is a 'childrens hero', and clarifies in the new Issue 436 of DWM that 'racier' scenes might be edited for a BBC audience.
Attendees at last week's BFI preview had reported that The New World seemed longer than the fifty minutes originally reported in the Cannes press release; this is also confirmed in DWM, with UK episodes expected to run for some 54 minutes whereas episodes on Starz would run for 50-51 minutes. Davies pointed out that this isn't a cut to the US version, but extra material added to the UK one!
The BBC broadcast the first UK teaser for Torchwood: Miracle Day this evening, between The One Show and Eastenders; the ten second trailer reported that the show would be "Coming Soon".
An online version promoting the official Torchwood website has also been released:
The video may not play outside of the United Kingdom - click here to see embedded version
Torchwood online teaser, BBC, via BBC Website - may not play outside of the United Kingdom
Update 29th June: The BBC broadcast the teaser before The Apprentice at 9:00pm, this time confirming 14th July as the airdate to viewers.
Earlier in the month we 
The BBC have now updated their programme information for 
Starz have teamed up with Landmark Theaters to offer fans in the US the chance to attend a free advance screening of the premiere episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day, The New World on July 5th and 6th.
The BBC have now updated their programme information for 
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