Torchwood: UK premiere on course for 14th July

Monday, 27 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC Press Office have informed us today that Torchwood: Miracle Day will most likely premiere on BBC1(HD) on Thursday 14th July at 9:00pm.

The announcement ends months of speculation over when the show would be broadcast in the United Kingdom, with Starz announcing Friday 8th July for Miracle Day back in March. Canada and Australia see the show a day later, with SPACE broadcasting at 9:00pm(ET) and UKTV 9:30pm on Saturdays.

A full BBC Press Release confirming the date and time is expected in the next couple of days.





FILTER: - Torchwood - UK - Miracle Day (Series 4) - Broadcasting

SPACE goes into HD

Friday, 24 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Bell Media in Canada have announced that it will be launching a high definition version of the SPACE channel from the 6th July - just in time for Torchwood: Miracle Day!

Rick Brace, the President of Speciality Channels and CTV Production, Bell Media, said:
SPACE fans can celebrate the long-anticipated launch of SPACE HD, one of many new Bell Media HD specialty services currently or soon-to-be on offer. We’re thrilled to start the roll-out of HD programming with the highly anticipated launch of Torchwood: Miracle Day and some of the other series and movies from the channel’s engaging Summer lineup.
The channel will be available via Bell Satellite TV (channel 1746) and Bell Fibe TV (channel 1632).


The HD channel will mirror it's 'normal' version, with high definition programming being shown where available, such as the BBC series Outcasts and Syfy's Alphas.





FILTER: - Canada - Torchwood - Miracle Day (Series 4) - Broadcasting

Torchwood: Miracle Day - Starz Synopses

Friday, 24 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Starz have updated their scheduling information with a brief synopsis of the first seven episodes of Torchwood: Miracle Day (their scheduling currently only lists as far as 19th August).

**** What follows is a list of episode titles and synopses for Miracle Day
**** Could be considered spoilers!
****



1. The New World - 8th July 10:00pm

When death itself comes to a halt, the whole world faces its greatest danger yet. CIA agent Rex Matheson has only one clue – Torchwood.

2. Rendition - 15th July, 10:00pm

As the Torchwood team is reunited, Jack realizes he’s the most vulnerable man on Earth. A flight to the United States turns into a desperate battle for survival.

3. Dead of Night - 22nd July, 10:00pm

Torchwood goes on the run and finds a new enemy, but as they launch a raid on PhiCorp headquarters, Jack must confront the mysterious Oswald Danes.

4. Escape to L.A. - 29th July 2011

The fight against PhiCorp takes the Torchwood team to California, where a trap is waiting. Meanwhile, Oswald and Jilly find themselves with an enemy of their own.

5. The Categories Of Life - 5th August, 10:00pm

Torchwood goes undercover and discovers the terrible truth behind the Miracle. The enemy is closing in, and death is about to make a shocking return.

6. The Middle Men - 12th August, 10:00pm

With Gwen, Rex and Esther trapped on both sides of the Atlantic, it’s a race against time as Jack goes straight to the heart of the conspiracy.

7. Immortal Sins - 19th August 2011, 10:00pm
Gwen must fight to protect her family and takes a terrifying journey, covering both miles and decades, as the long history of the Miracle is revealed.


The other episodes still to be placed are End Of The Road, The Gathering and The Blood Line.




FILTER: - Torchwood - USA - Miracle Day (Series 4)

Torchwood: the UK wait continues

Thursday, 23 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC Press Office have now released details for Week 28 (9-15 July); however, Torchwood: Miracle Day does not feature amongst the highlights listed for that coming week.

The series is expected to begin in July, with Front Row presenter Mark Lawson announcing: "Torchwood: Miracle Day begins on BBC1 next month, alongside Radio 4's Torchwood drama." after speaking to writer/producer Russell T Davies on the show. Davies himself believed it would be during week 28, telling On The Box: "it's something like Thursday July 14th here, that's the plan, so you only have to wait six days." However, BBC News muddied the waters somewhat, reporting after the preview of episode one that: "The series will air in the US in early July and be shown later in the summer on BBC One."

Based on the press release it would currently seem that Torchwood won't begin on UK television until at least a week after its premiere in the United States. However, as always, the Press Office states:
Scheduling information in Network TV Programme Information is subject to change.

Update: the BBC Press Office issued a tweet on Friday 24th June to say: "Torchwood schedule is still being determined and once there's a date, we'll let you know."





FILTER: - Torchwood - UK - Miracle Day (Series 4)

Torchwood: Miracle Day - Welsh Preview

Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
After the blaze of publicity in London for Monday's preview of episode one of Torchwood: Miracle Day, another, lower key preview took place in Wales last night as cast and crew gathered to watch in Swansea, where UK filming took place earlier in the year.

The preview took place at the Branwyn Hall (seen itself in the previous series, Children of Earth), and as with London the principal cast and crew were available to speak to the press, with an emphasis upon the show's Welsh roots.

Russell T Davies, who was born in the city, told the South Wales Evening Post:
I don't come as often as I should, but it is lovely to be back. Torchwood has such a Welsh heritage, we wanted to bring it here to show it off and repay the city really.

One of the first scenes in the first episode is at the (white National Trust) house in Rhossili. I spent my life wondering what it was like inside and I never thought we would get it, but lo and behold we managed it. It was a joy to film there and it looks epic and huge.

It is an exciting adventure to be in Los Angeles and America at my age (48) but you will always come home to Swansea.
Speaking to the Western Mail, he added:
There is a fair bit of swagger in Miracle Day. We go to Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington as well as Wales. Of course, being in America meant more money, more production value, bigger explosions, but it was also very important to recognise Wales. If we had just shot it out there it would not have been believable.

It is a Welsh show with Welsh characters, that is very important and is part of the reason why it works. The story starts in Wales, the middle is in America and it ends in Wales.

Eve Myles said:
We had the premiere in London on Monday, which was lovely, but this is the one I am really excited about.

It was unbelievable to film at Rhossili, it was wonderful. I had always wanted to live at that house and the beach is where I walk my dog, so it was unbelievable to blow it up!

It is one of the most important things on the whole show, a huge element of it is Welsh, the show will always have a link to Wales."

BBC Wales have released a video with Bill Pullman at the event, talking about his character.

Russell T Davies also featured on BBC Radio 4's Front Row last night, chatting to presenter Mark Lawson about taking Torchwood from the UK into the US, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and on other topics like the austerity measures within the BBC, the importance of the watershed, and his enthusiasm for his next writing project.

Having talked about what would happen with The Sarah Jane Adventures, discussion then turned towards the audience that would watch Torchwood, and that though it isn't aimed for children some would still watch it through its Doctor Who/Captain Jack connection. Davies commented:
You have to be quite careful with it, more careful than you'd normally would be, because now obviously Torchwood goes out at 9 o'clock, and we've got it coming up on BBC1 now, but we've never had Captain Jack swear because he's loved by children, and children will come to watch it. So we don't tone Torchwood down as such, there's still strong meat and there's some great visuals and some great gore in this show - and, you know, Captain Jack freely has an open and honest and wonderful sex life, but that's fine - it's just the harsher elements, the swearing and his actions as well - I don't think you're ever going to see Captain Jack stab someone brutally or something like that because he's a children's hero.
Talking about the co-production deal, he said:
The move to America partly coincided with the success of the last series of Torchwood which has allowed us to get co-production money. This new series of Torchwood is in conjunction with Starz, who are a premium cable network over there, so they brought a level of funding that we wouldn't have got from the BBC. I have to say if we hadn't, we could still have made this series. But you know, this co-production stuff is nothing new, you haven't seen a Dickens drama made for about 25 years that didn't have money from Boston in it or something, so this is the way of the world now, co-production money is natural.





FILTER: - Torchwood - Special Events - UK - Radio - Miracle Day (Series 4)

Torchwood: Web of Lies - update (iOS only)

Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Worldwide and Starz have released new details on the tie-in "motion comic" Torchwood: Web of Lies, which has been revealed to consist of a series of ten, three minute interactive narratives that will offer clues to the mysteries conjured up in Miracle Day. It has been written by Jane Espenson and Ryan Scott, and has been developed by Double Barrel Motion Labs for BBC Worldwide Productions and BBC Worldwide Digital Entertainment and Games.

However, the series will only be released through an application designed for the Apple-based iOS operating system, available through iTunes.

The press release provides details on how Web of Lies fits in with Miracle Day:
Torchwood: Web of Lies is an episodic interactive experience for iOS that fuses together motion comic and gameplay elements to tell an original and digitally exclusive Torchwood story. Players will participate in a parallel storyline to Torchwood: Miracle Day that includes lead characters Captain Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper – voiced by John Barrowman and Eve Myles.

Torchwood: Web of Lies runs alongside weekly premieres of Torchwood: Miracle Day, providing fans with a way to engage in the world of Torchwood between episodes. It reveals a past day in the lives of Captain Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper - a day they’ve both forgotten. The events of that day fuel a modern day conspiracy-laced treasure hunt, as Holly Mokri, voiced by Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse, Tru Calling, Buffy The Vampire Slayer), labours to uncover the secrets of Miracle Day.

Each week a new episode unlocks, allowing players to access another piece of original motion comic narrative and game which ties into and extends plot developments of the show, as well as providing new twists in its own narrative.

The first narrative and game will be released promotionally and the remaining nine can be purchased inside the app in packs of three, each for $0.99/59p. A special bundle for all 10 narratives and game can be purchased for $2.99/£1.79.

No information has been forthcoming as to whether fans of Torchwood using other operating systems will also be able to access the complimentary material featured in Web of Lies.





FILTER: - Torchwood - Games - Miracle Day (Series 4)

Torchwood: Miracle Day - UK Preview

Tuesday, 21 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Last night saw the first episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day - The New World - receive its UK premiere at the British Film Institute; cast and crew were in attendance for the screening in front of both press and fans.

The screening was followed by an Q&A with its stars John Barrowman, Eve Myles, and Bill Pullman, and writer/executive producer Russell T Davies; other members of the cast and crew were present in the audience, including Kai Owen, Tom Price, executive producer Julie Gardner and director of episode one, Bharat Nalluri.



Avoiding spoilers for what comes up later in the series, the guests focused upon their many anecdotes from the shoot, with Barrowman and Myles discussing the excitement of making the show at Warner Bros - not to mention the pranks the former likes to pull! - and Pullman commenting on what it was like to work with his Welsh co-stars on the project. When asked about if the show could become fully "American" in later (potential!) series, Davies indicated that he'd want Torchwood to remain Welsh at its heart.

Highlights from the Q&A are expected to be available to watch on the BFI website from next week.


Prior to the screening, the press were able to chat to the stars about the show, and the BBC have published an article including a video interview featuring Barrowman, Myles, Pullman and Davies discussing their thoughts on making a new, co-funded series in America.


"There's no time to breath, it slams you in the face with action, with drama and with the best narrative we've ever told."


"Jack's a hero, but he's been a bad guy in his times, so there's more depth and I think the audience love that - they like to see their characters portrayed a little flawed."


"In amongst all that, you have great big Torchwood chases, stunts and thrills, and jokes, and tragedies as well - so it's the same old Torchwood world."


"This character is almost like the impossible scenario - can you survive this? - which is to be clearly fingered as the worst person anyone has ever meet ... given this chance at immortality."


Bill Pullman appeared on BBC's Breakfast this morning, discussing the development (and name!) of his character, and also on what he thought of Russell T Davies:
I wasn't expecting - I'm thinking prototypical Welsh like Anthony Hopkins or Richard Burton, dark, moody - but he's bright, just such a passion, he is such a generous spirit, and very special to everybody that works with him. He has really, now, quite a following in the States - he and Julie Gardner run a very professional operation.
 

Davies himself can be heard discussing how he took the show from Wales to Los Angeles tonight on Front Row (BBC Radio 4) from 7:15pm.





FILTER: - Torchwood - Special Events - UK - Miracle Day (Series 4)

Canadian Premiere Date for Torchwood: Miracle Day

Friday, 17 June 2011 - Reported by Harry Ward
The Canadian channel, SPACE has announced that the new series of Torchwood will start on July 9th at 9pm ET with the first episode, The New World.

This currently only leaves the United Kingdom out of the four initial countries broadcasting Miracle Day to announce when the show will premiere; the BBC Press Office released details yesterday for Week 27, but Torchwood did not feature in the schedule listings leading up to the 8th July.





FILTER: - Canada - Torchwood - Miracle Day (Series 4)

Torchwood infiltrates SDCC2011

Thursday, 16 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Starz have announced that the cast of Torchwood: Miracle Day will appear at the annual Comic Con taking place at the San Diego Convention Center on 22nd July 2011.

A panel for the show is scheduled for 10:00am at the event, with Starz naming the following to appear for the Q&A session: John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness), Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), Bill Pullman (Oswald Danes), Mekhi Phifer (Rex Matheson), Alexa Havins (Esther Drummand), Lauren Ambrose (Jilly Kitzinger) and series writer Jane Espenson.

The event will also present a special advanced screening of the third episode of the series, Dead Of Night, on the 21st at 9:30pm - the evening before its official broadcast date.


The San Diego Comic Con is no stranger to Torchwood: back in 2009, John Barrowman appeared on a panel alongside Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner and Euros Lyn to promote Torchwood: Children of Earth.








FILTER: - Torchwood - Special Events - USA - Miracle Day (Series 4)

Torchwood: UK broadcast date still uncertain

Thursday, 16 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
With just three weeks until Torchwood: Miracle Day premieres on Starz on 8th July, potential viewers in the UK are still awaiting a date for when the series will air on BBC1(HD).

Speculation over the planned timeslot has raged ever since the Starz announcement in March, and it was hoped by by fans in the UK for a similar Friday 8th July evening premiere - however, the BBC Press Office have now released details for Week 27, and Torchwood has not been scheduled for any time that week.

The confirmation that Miracle Day won't be shown on the same evening as the United States is not unexpected, as this coming Friday sees the new, final series of My Family commencing at 9:00pm on BBC1, followed by a repeat of Miranda at 9:30pm - based on its post-watershed content, the 9:00-10:00pm timeslot seemed most likely for Miracle Day (Children of Earth was in shown at this time for similar reasons).

As the weekly coverage from the BBC only reaches 8th July, it cannot be confirmed quite yet whether the series will commence over the following weekend, as with UKTV in Australia (Saturday 9th, 9:30pm), or at a later date.

SPACE have also yet to confirm their premiere date for Canada.





FILTER: - Torchwood - UK - Miracle Day (Series 4) - Broadcasting