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{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{Infobox Merchandise
{{Infobox Merchandise
|image        = Torchwood title logo.jpg
|image        = Torchwood title.jpg
|aka          =
|publisher    = BBC Wales
|publisher    = BBC Wales
|publisher2  = Starz
|publisher2  = Starz
|type        = TV series
|publisher3  = Big Finish Productions
|release date = [[22 October (releases)|22 October]] [[2006 (releases)|2006]] - [[9 September (releases)|9 September]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]
|type        = TV, prose, audio, and comic series
|release date = [[22 October (releases)|22 October]] [[2006 (releases)|2006]] - [[9 September (releases)|9 September]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]], [[10 August (releases)|10 August]] [[2017 (releases)|2017]] -
|trailer      = Torchwood Season 1 Trailer
|trailer      = Torchwood Season 1 Trailer
|trailer2    = Torchwood Children of Earth Trailer - BBC One
|trailer2    = Torchwood Children of Earth Trailer - BBC One
|bts          = Torchwood At 10
|bts          = Torchwood At 10
}}{{dab page|Torchwood (disambiguation)}}
}}{{dab page|Torchwood (disambiguation)}}'''''Torchwood''''' was a multi-media ''[[Doctor Who]]'' [[Doctor Who spin-offs|spin-off]] series about the adventures of [[Jack Harkness]] and the [[Torchwood Institute]].
'''''Torchwood''''' was a ''[[Doctor Who]]'' television spin-off. As an in-house [[BBC Wales]] production for digital television station [[BBC Three]], it was the first television spin-off of ''Doctor Who'' since the pilot of ''[[K9 and Company]]'' in 1981 and the first to be commissioned for a full 13-part series. It originally featured the adventures of the [[Torchwood Institute|Torchwood]] [[Torchwood Three|branch located in Cardiff]] and later the [[Torchwood (team)|Torchwood team]] that succeeds it, and was set on Earth after the events of ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]'' (and for lead character [[Jack Harkness]] the events of ''[[The Parting of the Ways (TV story)|The Parting of the Ways]]'').


The spin-off series has not yet featured [[the Doctor]] himself, though the materialisation sound of [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] is heard in the final episode of season one, and other dialogue references have been made, most recently in the ''[[Torchwood: Miracle Day]]'' arc. Likewise, the appearance of [[Martha Jones]] in the second series provides vital continuity between [[Series 3 (Doctor Who)|third]] and [[Series 4 (Doctor Who)|fourth series]] of ''Doctor Who''. Conversely, Jack, as well as his team of [[Gwen Cooper]] and [[Ianto Jones]] featured (and former team members [[Owen Harper]] and [[Toshiko Sato]] are mentioned) in the last two episodes of [[Series 4 (Doctor Who)|the fourth series]] of ''Doctor Who''.
Originally created as a television show by [[Russell T Davies]] in [[2005 (production)|2005]], ''Torchwood'' was the first TV spin-off of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' to be commissioned for a full 13-part series. The first four series, produced by [[BBC Wales]], were supplemented by [[BBC Books]] [[BBC Torchwood novels|novels]], [[BBC Audio]] [[BBC Torchwood audio stories|audio stories]], and [[Titan Publishing Group]] [[Torchwood comic stories|comics]] and [[Torchwood short stories|short stories]]. The [[Series 4 (Torchwood)|fourth series]], released in [[2011 (releases)|2011]], was co-produced with the American cable network [[Starz]] and was accompanied by [[Web of Lies|an animated online serial]].


Regular characters have included [[Gwen Cooper]], [[Jack Harkness]], [[Ianto Jones]], [[Toshiko Sato]], [[Owen Harper]], [[Rex Matheson]] and [[Esther Drummond]]. [[Martha Jones]], [[Suzie Costello]] and [[Vera Juarez]] have also been portrayed as part of the Torchwood team led by Harkness. Semi-regulars [[Rhys Williams]] and [[Andy Davidson|Sgt Andy Davidson]] are the only non-Torchwood members who have recurred across all series.
In [[2015 (releases)|2015]], [[Big Finish Productions]] began an [[Torchwood - Monthly Range|series of monthly ''Torchwood'' audio dramas]], and in [[2017 (releases)|2017]] they began an official continuation of the television show under the title ''[[Torchwood: The Story Continues]]''.


The [[12 October (production)|12 October]] [[2016 (production)|2016]] marks the 10th anniversary of ''Torchwood''. In celebration of that, and due to its popularity, cast and crew were invited to the Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, and a special screening of [[Everything Changes (TV story)|the very first ever episode]] was shown for the fans.<ref>http://www.bafta.org/wales/whats-on/special-screening-10-years-of-torchwood</ref> [[Big Finish]] also produced a special audio story to celebrate the show's anniversary.
== History ==
 
In [[2002 (production)|2002]], before the revival of ''Doctor Who'', Russell T Davies began to develop an idea for a science-fiction/crime drama in the style of American fantasy drama series like ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' and its spin-off series, ''Angel''.{{fact}}
== Origins ==
In [[2002 (production)|2002]], before the revival of ''Doctor Who'', Russell T Davies began to develop an idea for a science-fiction/crime drama in the style of American fantasy drama series like ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' and its spin-off series, ''Angel''.


This idea, originally titled ''Excalibur'', was abandoned until [[2005 (production)|2005]], when BBC Three Controller [[Stuart Murphy]] invited Davies to develop a post-{{w|watershed (television)|watershed}} science fiction series for the channel. The word "Torchwood" (an [[anagram]] of "Doctor Who") originated during production of the new ''Doctor Who'' series, when television pirates were eager to get their hands on the tapes. Someone in the production office suggested that the tapes be labelled "Torchwood" instead of "Doctor Who" to disguise their contents as they were being sent to [[London]]. Davies thought that this was a clever idea and remembered the name.
This idea, originally titled ''Excalibur'', was abandoned until [[2005 (production)|2005]], when BBC Three Controller [[Stuart Murphy]] invited Davies to develop a post-{{w|watershed (television)|watershed}} science fiction series for the channel. The word "Torchwood" (an [[anagram]] of "Doctor Who") originated during production of the new ''Doctor Who'' series, when television pirates were eager to get their hands on the tapes. Someone in the production office suggested that the tapes be labelled "Torchwood" instead of "Doctor Who" to disguise their contents as they were being sent to [[London]]. Davies thought that this was a clever idea and remembered the name.


Davies connected the word Torchwood to his earlier ''Excalibur'' idea and decided to make the series a ''Doctor Who'' spin-off. Subsequently, the word Torchwood was seeded in several ''Doctor Who'' episodes and other media which aired in 2005 and 2006.
Davies connected the word Torchwood to his earlier ''Excalibur'' idea and decided to make the series a ''Doctor Who'' spin-off.{{fact}} Subsequently, the word Torchwood was seeded in several ''Doctor Who'' episodes and other media which aired in 2005 and 2006.


== Premise ==
The series was set in contemporary [[Cardiff]] and followed the Welsh branch of a covert agency called the [[Torchwood Institute]], which investigates extraterrestrial incidents on Earth and scavenges alien technology for its own use. As established in the ''Doctor Who'' episodes ''[[Tooth and Claw (TV story)|Tooth and Claw]]'' and ''[[Army of Ghosts (TV story)|Army of Ghosts]]'', the Institute had been formed by [[Victoria|Queen Victoria]] following an incident involving the [[Tenth Doctor]] and a [[Lupine Wavelength Haemovariform|werewolf]], ostensibly to protect the [[British Empire]] from aliens and other creatures — as well as from [[the Doctor]] himself.
The series was set in contemporary [[Cardiff]] and followed the Welsh branch of a covert agency called the [[Torchwood Institute]], which investigates extraterrestrial incidents on Earth and scavenges alien technology for its own use. As established in the ''Doctor Who'' episodes ''[[Tooth and Claw (TV story)|Tooth and Claw]]'' and ''[[Army of Ghosts (TV story)|Army of Ghosts]]'', the Institute had been formed by [[Victoria|Queen Victoria]] following an incident involving the [[Tenth Doctor]] and a [[Lupine Wavelength Haemovariform|werewolf]], ostensibly to protect the [[British Empire]] from aliens and other creatures — as well as from [[the Doctor]] himself.


To paraphrase [[Torchwood]] Three's commander-in-chief, [[Jack Harkness]], the organisation was separate from the government, outside the police, and beyond the [[United Nations]] (the last reference thereby placing Torchwood in a different realm than [[Unified Intelligence Taskforce|UNIT]]).
To paraphrase [[Torchwood Three|Torchwood Three's]] commander-in-chief, [[Jack Harkness]], the organisation was separate from the government, outside the police, and beyond the [[United Nations]] (the last reference thereby placing Torchwood in a different realm than [[UNIT]]).


Although a secret organisation, the existence of Torchwood was known by the public, and Torchwood operatives made no secret of their identity when on duty (they even drove a vehicle emblazoned with the name). Their public perception was as merely a "special ops" group, with their true responsibilities kept secret to all but a select few.
Although a secret organisation, the existence of Torchwood was known by the public, and Torchwood operatives made no secret of their identity when on duty. Their public perception was as merely a "special ops" group, with their true responsibilities kept secret to all but a select few. Regular characters included [[Gwen Cooper]], [[Jack Harkness]], [[Ianto Jones]], [[Toshiko Sato]], [[Owen Harper]], [[Rex Matheson]] and [[Esther Drummond]]. [[Martha Jones]], [[Suzie Costello]], and [[Vera Juarez]] have also been portrayed as part of the Torchwood team led by Harkness. Semi-regulars [[Rhys Williams]] and [[Andy Davidson|Sgt Andy Davidson]] are the only non-Torchwood members who recurred across all televised series.


The events of the first series took place some time after the ''Doctor Who'' ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]'' series two finale, in which Torchwood's London headquarters was destroyed, and just before the series three finale; the final episode of Series 1 led directly into the ''Doctor Who'' episode ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]''.
The events of the first series took place some time after the ''Doctor Who'' ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]'' series two finale, in which Torchwood's London headquarters was destroyed, and just before the series three finale. Though the series has not yet featured [[the Doctor]] himself, the materialisation sound of [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] was heard in the final episode of season one, which led directly into the ''Doctor Who'' episode ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'', and other dialogue references have been made, notably in the ''[[Torchwood: Miracle Day]]'' arc. Likewise, the appearance of [[Martha Jones]] in the second series provided vital continuity between [[Series 3 (Doctor Who 2005)|third]] and [[Series 4 (Doctor Who 2005)|fourth series]] of ''Doctor Who''. Conversely, Jack, as well as his team of [[Gwen Cooper]] and [[Ianto Jones]] featured (and former team members [[Owen Harper]] and [[Toshiko Sato]] are mentioned) in the last two episodes of [[Series 4 (Doctor Who 2005)|the fourth series]] of ''Doctor Who''.


The initial main writer alongside Davies was [[Chris Chibnall]], creator of the BBC light drama show {{wi|Born and Bred}} (who later moved over to work on {{wi|Law & Order: UK}}). Other writers include [[P.J. Hammond]], [[Toby Whithouse]], ''Doctor Who'' [[script editor]] [[Helen Raynor]], [[Catherine Tregenna]], and ''Doctor Who'' cast member [[Noel Clarke]].
The initial main writer alongside Davies was [[Chris Chibnall]], creator of the BBC light drama show {{wi|Born and Bred}} (who later moved over to work on {{wi|Law & Order: UK}}). Other writers include [[P.J. Hammond]], [[Toby Whithouse]], ''Doctor Who'' [[script editor]] [[Helen Raynor]], [[Catherine Tregenna]], and ''Doctor Who'' cast member [[Noel Clarke]].


In a [[17 October (production)|17 October]] [[2005 (production)|2005]] announcement unveiling the series, BBC Three controller [[Stuart Murphy]] described Torchwood as "sinister and psychological...As well as being very British and modern and real." Davies further described it as "a British sci-fi paranoid thriller, a cop show with a sense of humour. [...] Dark, wild and sexy, it's ''[[The X-Files]]'' meets {{wi|This Life}}."{{fact}} Davies later denied ever making this comparison, instead describing the show as "alleyways, rain, the city".
In a [[17 October (production)|17 October]] [[2005 (production)|2005]] announcement unveiling the series, BBC Three controller [[Stuart Murphy]] described Torchwood as "sinister and psychological...As well as being very British and modern and real." Davies further described it as "a British sci-fi paranoid thriller, a cop show with a sense of humour. [...] Dark, wild and sexy, it's ''[[The X-Files]]'' meets {{wi|This Life}}."<ref>Frame, Anna (2006-10-25). The X-Files meets This Life. Daily Express p. 49. [note: potentially originated in a RadioTimes piece]</ref> Davies later denied ever making this comparison, instead describing the show as "alleyways, rain, the city".{{fact}}


As ''Torchwood'' was a post-{{w|watershed (television)|watershed}} show — that is, after 9 p.m. — it had more mature content than ''Doctor Who''. Davies told ''[[SFX (magazine)|SFX]]'': "We can be a bit more visceral, more violent, and more [[sexuality|sexual]], if we want to. Though bear in mind that it's very teenage to indulge yourself in blood and gore, and ''Torchwood'' is going to be smarter than that. But it's the essential difference between [[BBC One]] at 7 pm, and [[BBC Three]] at, say, 9 pm. That says it all — instinctively, every viewer can see the huge difference there."
As ''Torchwood'' was a post-{{w|watershed (television)|watershed}} show — that is, after 9 p.m. — it had more mature content than ''Doctor Who''. Davies told ''[[SFX (magazine)|SFX]]'': "We can be a bit more visceral, more violent, and more [[sexuality|sexual]], if we want to. Though bear in mind that it's very teenage to indulge yourself in blood and gore, and ''Torchwood'' is going to be smarter than that. But it's the essential difference between [[BBC One]] at 7 pm, and [[BBC Three]] at, say, 9 pm. That says it all — instinctively, every viewer can see the huge difference there."{{fact}}


Davies also joked to a [[BBC Radio|BBC Radio Wales]] interviewer that he was "not allowed" to refer to the programme as "''Doctor Who'' for grown-ups". The first and second series included content never before seen or heard in the televised side of the ''Doctor Who'' franchise, including intense [[sex|lovemaking]] scenes (in episodes such as ''[[Day One (TV story)|Day One]]'', ''[[Out of Time (TV story)|Out of Time]]'' or ''[[Dead of Night]]''), [[homosexuality|same-sex]] kissing in a romantic/sexual context (in ''[[Cyberwoman (TV story)|Cyberwoman]]'' or ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (TV story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]'', for example), and use of extreme profanity in several episodes. Such content was controversial among aspects of ''Who'' fandom, and, as the series progressed, such scenes were minimised, to the point where, by [[series 3 (Torchwood)|series 3]], relatively little of this content remained.
Davies also joked to a [[BBC Radio|BBC Radio Wales]] interviewer that he was "not allowed" to refer to the programme as "''Doctor Who'' for grown-ups".{{fact}} The first and second series included content never before seen or heard in televised ''Doctor Who'', including intense [[sex]] scenes (e.g. ''[[Day One (TV story)|Day One]]'', ''[[Out of Time (TV story)|Out of Time]]'', ''[[Dead of Night (TV story)|Dead of Night]]''), [[homosexuality|same-sex]] kissing in a romantic/sexual context (e.g. ''[[Cyberwoman (TV story)|Cyberwoman]]'', ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (TV story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]''), and use of extreme profanity in several episodes. Such content was controversial,{{fact}} and, as the series progressed, such scenes were minimised, to the point where, by [[series 3 (Torchwood)|series 3]], relatively little of this content remained.
 
The show's first two series shared the format used by ''Doctor Who'' at the time, thirteen episodes aired weekly over a span of months. However, the format changed in the third season, which was one five-part story, ''[[Children of Earth]]'', written by Russell T. Davies and released over the course of a week in [[July (releases)|July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]. The fourth season, a 2011 coproduction between [[BBC Wales]] and [[Starz]], similarly took the form of one long story, '' [[Torchwood: Miracle Day|Miracle Day]]'', but stretched across ten episodes. No fifth series followed on television.
 
In 2015, [[Big Finish Productions]] began [[Torchwood - Monthly Range|monthly ''Torchwood'' audios]], including some set following the events of ''Miracle Day''. This led to their 2017 announcement that, with the cooperation of Russell T. Davies, they would be releasing a fifth series of ''Torchwood'' on audio.<ref>[https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/russell-t-davies-season-5-torchwood-audio-drama Season 5 of Torchwood is finally coming, just as an audio drama]</ref> Like series 3 and 4, it was marketed under a new subtitle, ''[[Aliens Among Us]]''. It was followed by series 6, ''[[God Among Us]]'', in 2018, and ''[[Torchwood: The Story Continues#Among Us|Among Us]]'', in 2023.<ref>[https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/a860252/torchwood-big-finish-series-6/ Torchwood returning for official series 6 at Big Finish]</ref><ref>[https://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/torchwood-is-among-us Torchwood is Among Us!]</ref>
 
[[12 October (production)|12 October]] [[2016 (production)|2016]] marked the 10th anniversary of ''Torchwood''. In celebration, cast and crew were invited to the Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, and a special screening of [[Everything Changes (TV story)|the first episode]] was shown for the fans.<ref>http://www.bafta.org/wales/whats-on/special-screening-10-years-of-torchwood</ref> [[Big Finish]] also produced a special audio story to celebrate the show's anniversary, entitled ''[[The Torchwood Archive (audio story)|The Torchwood Archive]]''.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
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* [[Jillian Kitzinger]] - [[Lauren Ambrose]] (series 4)
* [[Jillian Kitzinger]] - [[Lauren Ambrose]] (series 4)


== Television stories ==
== Main series ==
=== Series 1 - 2006-2007 ===
=== Series 1 - 2006-2007 ===
{{main|Series 1 (Torchwood)}}
{{main|Series 1 (Torchwood)}}
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=== Series 3 - 2009 ===
=== Series 3 - 2009 ===
{{main|Series 3 (Torchwood)}}
{{main|Torchwood: Children of Earth}}


=== Series 4 - 2011 ===
=== Series 4 - 2011 ===
{{main|Series 4 (Torchwood)}}
{{main|Torchwood: Miracle Day}}
 
=== Series 5 - 2017-2018 ===
{{main|Aliens Among Us}}
 
=== Series 6 - 2018-2019 ===
{{main|God Among Us}}
 
=== Series 7 - 2023 ===
{{main|Among Us}}


== Other media ==
== Other media ==
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=== Web series ===
=== Web series ===
''[[Web of Lies]]''
''[[Web of Lies (webcast)|Web of Lies]]''


=== Magazines ===
=== Magazines ===
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* ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'' continues directly from the closing moments of the "Torchwood" [[Series 1 (Torchwood)|Series 1]] finale [[TV]]: ''[[End of Days (TV story)|End of Days]]'', in which both Jack Harkness and the audience hear the sound of [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]].
* ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'' continues directly from the closing moments of the "Torchwood" [[Series 1 (Torchwood)|Series 1]] finale [[TV]]: ''[[End of Days (TV story)|End of Days]]'', in which both Jack Harkness and the audience hear the sound of [[the Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]].
* [[Abaddon]] from [[TV]]: ''[[End of Days (TV story)|End of Days]]'' is referred to as the son of [[The Beast (The Impossible Planet)|the great Beast]] from [[TV]]: ''[[The Impossible Planet (TV story)|The Impossible Planet]]'' and [[TV]]: ''[[The Satan Pit (TV story)|The Satan Pit]]''.
* [[Abaddon]] from [[TV]]: ''[[End of Days (TV story)|End of Days]]'' is referred to as the son of [[The Beast (The Impossible Planet)|the great Beast]] from [[TV]]: ''[[The Impossible Planet (TV story)|The Impossible Planet]]'' and [[TV]]: ''[[The Satan Pit (TV story)|The Satan Pit]]''.
* In "Torchwood" [[Series 2 (Torchwood)|Series 2]], [[Freema Agyeman]] reprised her role of [[Martha Jones]] in the episode [[TV]]: ''[[Reset (TV story)|Reset]]''. Her alias [[Samantha Jones]] references a companion of the [[Eighth Doctor]].
* In "Torchwood" [[Series 2 (Torchwood)|Series 2]], [[Freema Agyeman]] reprised her role of [[Martha Jones]] in the episode [[TV]]: ''[[Reset (TV story)|Reset]]''. Her alias [[Sam Jones]] references a companion of the [[Eighth Doctor]].
* [[UNIT]], an organisation closely associated with the [[Third Doctor]] in particular, appears in a flashback in [[TV]]: ''[[Fragments (TV story)|Fragments]]'' as well as throughout ''[[Series 3 (Torchwood)|Torchwood: Children of Earth]]''.
* [[UNIT]], an organisation closely associated with the [[Third Doctor]] in particular, appears in a flashback in [[TV]]: ''[[Fragments (TV story)|Fragments]]'' as well as throughout ''[[Series 3 (Torchwood)|Torchwood: Children of Earth]]''.
* [[Toshiko Sato]] explains her appearance as the doctor in [[TV]]: ''[[Aliens of London (TV story)|Aliens of London]]'' as her filling in for Owen, who had a hangover.
* [[Toshiko Sato]] explains her appearance as the doctor in [[TV]]: ''[[Aliens of London (TV story)|Aliens of London]]'' as her filling in for Owen, who had a hangover.
* A [[Hoix]] makes a small appearance in [[TV]]: ''[[Exit Wounds (TV story)|Exit Wounds]]''. The Hoix first appeared in [[TV]]: ''[[Love & Monsters (TV story)|Love & Monsters]]''.
* A [[Hoix]] makes a small appearance in [[TV]]: ''[[Exit Wounds (TV story)|Exit Wounds]]''. The Hoix first appeared in [[TV]]: ''[[Love & Monsters (TV story)|Love & Monsters]]''.
* The episode [[TV]]: ''[[Turn Left (TV story)|Turn Left]]'' presents an alternate timeline, nicknamed [[Donna's World]], where, by saving the Earth from [[Sontaran invasion of Earth|a Sontaran invasion]] (an event shown in the usual timeline in [[TV]]: ''[[The Sontaran Stratagem (TV story)|The Sontaran Stratagem]]'' and [[TV]]: ''[[The Poison Sky (TV story)|The Poison Sky]]''), [[Gwen Cooper]] and [[Ianto Jones]] die, while [[Jack Harkness]] is captured and taken to [[Sontar]]. (In this alternate timeline, as in the normal one, [[Toshiko Sato]] and [[Owen Harper]] have already died.)
* The episode [[TV]]: ''[[Turn Left (TV story)|Turn Left]]'' presents [[parallel world (Turn Left)|a parallel world]], where, by saving the Earth from [[Sontaran invasion of Earth|a Sontaran invasion]] (an event shown in the usual timeline in [[TV]]: ''[[The Sontaran Stratagem (TV story)|The Sontaran Stratagem]]'' and [[TV]]: ''[[The Poison Sky (TV story)|The Poison Sky]]''), [[Gwen Cooper]] and [[Ianto Jones]] die, while [[Jack Harkness]] is captured and taken to [[Sontar]]. (In this parallel world, as in the normal one, [[Toshiko Sato]] and [[Owen Harper]] have already died.)
* In [[TV]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]]'' and [[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'', the surviving Torchwood team and [[the Hub]] appear. While Jack goes off to save the [[Tenth Doctor]], Gwen and Ianto remain in the Hub to fight off a [[Dalek]]. [[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'' concludes with Jack offering Martha a job with Torchwood.
* In [[TV]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]]'' and [[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'', the surviving Torchwood team and [[the Hub]] appear. While Jack goes off to save the [[Tenth Doctor]], Gwen and Ianto remain in the Hub to fight off a [[Dalek]]. [[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'' concludes with Jack offering Martha a job with Torchwood.
* After leaving Earth in [[TV]]: '' [[Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story)|Day Five]]'', following all the deaths he's claimed responsibility for up to and including [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]] and [[Steven Carter|Steven]], Jack Harkness is seen at a [[Zaggit Zagoo bar|bar]] drinking his sorrows. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')
* After leaving Earth in [[TV]]: '' [[Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story)|Day Five]]'', following all the deaths he's claimed responsibility for up to and including [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]] and [[Steven Carter|Steven]], Jack Harkness is seen at a [[Zaggit Zagoo bar|bar]] drinking his sorrows. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')
* [[Captain John Hart]] makes a cameo appearance in [[TV]]: ''[[Time Heist (TV story)|Time Heist]]'', his image appearing alongside other criminals.


=== Crossover characters/aliens ===
=== Crossover characters/aliens ===
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* [[Toshiko Sato]] ''(Series 1 and 2)''
* [[Toshiko Sato]] ''(Series 1 and 2)''
* Captain [[Jack Harkness]] ''(Series 1 through 4)''
* Captain [[Jack Harkness]] ''(Series 1 through 4)''
* [[Cyberman (Pete's World)|Cyberman]] (partially converted) ''([[Cyberwoman]])''
* [[Cyberman (Pete's World)|Cyberman]] (partially converted) ''([[Cyberwoman (TV story)|Cyberwoman]])''
* [[Hoix]] ''([[Exit Wounds (TV story)|Exit Wounds]])''
* [[Hoix]] ''([[Exit Wounds (TV story)|Exit Wounds]])''
* [[Martha Jones]] ''([[Reset (TV story)|Reset]], [[Dead Man Walking (TV story)|Dead Man Walking]], [[A Day in the Death (TV story)|A Day in the Death]])''
* [[Martha Jones]] ''([[Reset (TV story)|Reset]], [[Dead Man Walking (TV story)|Dead Man Walking]], [[A Day in the Death (TV story)|A Day in the Death]])''


===== To ''Doctor Who'' =====
===== To ''Doctor Who'' =====
* [[Gwen Cooper]] ''([[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]], [[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]])''              
* [[Gwen Cooper]] ''([[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]], [[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]])''
* [[Ianto Jones]] ''([[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]], [[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]])''
* [[Ianto Jones]] ''([[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]], [[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]])''
* [[Weevil]]s ''([[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]])''
* [[Weevil]]s ''([[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]])''
* [[Blowfish]] (''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'', ''[[Nightmare in Silver (TV story)|Nightmare in Silver]]'', ''[[The Magician's Apprentice (TV story)|The Magician's Apprentice]]'')'
* [[Blowfish]] ''([[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'', ''[[Nightmare in Silver (TV story)|Nightmare in Silver]]'', ''[[The Magician's Apprentice (TV story)|The Magician's Apprentice]]'')


==== ''The Sarah Jane Adventures'' ====
==== ''The Sarah Jane Adventures'' ====
Line 177: Line 189:


=== Video game ===
=== Video game ===
In an interview with Robert Nashak of BBC Worldwide, it was revealed that the BBC were looking into creating a game for ''Torchwood''. Whether these would be in the form of [[Doctor Who: The Adventure Games|the Adventure Games]], or for retail on platforms, is unknown. <ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/torchwood-the-game-8995.htm</ref>
In an interview with Robert Nashak of BBC Worldwide, it was revealed that the BBC were looking into creating a game for ''Torchwood''. Whether these would be in the form of [[The Adventure Games]], or for retail on platforms, is unknown. <ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/torchwood-the-game-8995.htm</ref>


== Aborted ideas ==
== Aborted ideas ==
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=== American series ===
=== American series ===
In January 2010 US media reported that Davies, [[Julie Gardner]] and [[Jane Tranter]] were planning a US version of ''Torchwood'' for the Fox network, which had previously aired the [[Doctor Who (1996)|1996 ''Doctor Who'' TV movie]]. According to the reports, Barrowman and other original cast members may have appeared. The media coverage did not indicate whether or not the series was expected to be a remake/standalone, or if it would tie in with existing Whoniverse continuity. On the 20th January 2010 it was announced that Fox had ordered a pilot script for a US version of ''Torchwood'' from BBC Worldwide.<ref>http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=1&article=53791 C21Media - Fox ignites Torchwood pilot script <small>accessed 22nd March 2010</small></ref>
In January 2010 US media reported that Davies, [[Julie Gardner]] and [[Jane Tranter]] were planning a US version of ''Torchwood'' for the Fox network, which had previously aired the [[Doctor Who (TV story)|1996 ''Doctor Who'' TV movie]]. According to the reports, Barrowman and other original cast members may have appeared. The media coverage did not indicate whether or not the series was expected to be a remake/standalone, or if it would tie in with existing Whoniverse continuity. On the 20th January 2010 it was announced that Fox had ordered a pilot script for a US version of ''Torchwood'' from BBC Worldwide.<ref>http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=1&article=53791 C21Media - Fox ignites Torchwood pilot script <small>accessed 22nd March 2010</small></ref>
On 21st April 2010, however, BBC Worldwide announced that Fox had chosen not to proceed with the series, which according to the BBC was to have been a 13-episode, serialised programme, similar to the UK original.<ref>[http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/04/american-torchwood-on-hold.html Doctor Who News Page - Fox Withdraw from American Torchwood] <small>accessed 22nd April 2010</small></ref>
On 21st April 2010, however, BBC Worldwide announced that Fox had chosen not to proceed with the series, which according to the BBC was to have been a 13-episode, serialised programme, similar to the UK original.<ref>[http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/04/american-torchwood-on-hold.html Doctor Who News Page - Fox Withdraw from American Torchwood] <small>accessed 22nd April 2010</small></ref>


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== External links ==
== External links ==
{{official website|www.bbc.co.uk/torchwood/}}
{{official website|www.bbc.co.uk/torchwood/}}
{{YouTube|channel/UC8EY2Nlow8wdUMCBucHEaOg}}
{{youtube|torchwoodofficial}}
{{youtube|torchwoodofficial}}


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{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}
{{TWTV}}
{{TWTV}}
{{Spin-offs}}


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Latest revision as of 23:31, 31 July 2024

RealWorld.png

You may wish to consult Torchwood (disambiguation) for other, similarly-named pages.

Torchwood was a multi-media Doctor Who spin-off series about the adventures of Jack Harkness and the Torchwood Institute.

Originally created as a television show by Russell T Davies in 2005, Torchwood was the first TV spin-off of Doctor Who to be commissioned for a full 13-part series. The first four series, produced by BBC Wales, were supplemented by BBC Books novels, BBC Audio audio stories, and Titan Publishing Group comics and short stories. The fourth series, released in 2011, was co-produced with the American cable network Starz and was accompanied by an animated online serial.

In 2015, Big Finish Productions began an series of monthly Torchwood audio dramas, and in 2017 they began an official continuation of the television show under the title Torchwood: The Story Continues.

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

In 2002, before the revival of Doctor Who, Russell T Davies began to develop an idea for a science-fiction/crime drama in the style of American fantasy drama series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off series, Angel.[source needed]

This idea, originally titled Excalibur, was abandoned until 2005, when BBC Three Controller Stuart Murphy invited Davies to develop a post-watershed science fiction series for the channel. The word "Torchwood" (an anagram of "Doctor Who") originated during production of the new Doctor Who series, when television pirates were eager to get their hands on the tapes. Someone in the production office suggested that the tapes be labelled "Torchwood" instead of "Doctor Who" to disguise their contents as they were being sent to London. Davies thought that this was a clever idea and remembered the name.

Davies connected the word Torchwood to his earlier Excalibur idea and decided to make the series a Doctor Who spin-off.[source needed] Subsequently, the word Torchwood was seeded in several Doctor Who episodes and other media which aired in 2005 and 2006.

The series was set in contemporary Cardiff and followed the Welsh branch of a covert agency called the Torchwood Institute, which investigates extraterrestrial incidents on Earth and scavenges alien technology for its own use. As established in the Doctor Who episodes Tooth and Claw and Army of Ghosts, the Institute had been formed by Queen Victoria following an incident involving the Tenth Doctor and a werewolf, ostensibly to protect the British Empire from aliens and other creatures — as well as from the Doctor himself.

To paraphrase Torchwood Three's commander-in-chief, Jack Harkness, the organisation was separate from the government, outside the police, and beyond the United Nations (the last reference thereby placing Torchwood in a different realm than UNIT).

Although a secret organisation, the existence of Torchwood was known by the public, and Torchwood operatives made no secret of their identity when on duty. Their public perception was as merely a "special ops" group, with their true responsibilities kept secret to all but a select few. Regular characters included Gwen Cooper, Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, Toshiko Sato, Owen Harper, Rex Matheson and Esther Drummond. Martha Jones, Suzie Costello, and Vera Juarez have also been portrayed as part of the Torchwood team led by Harkness. Semi-regulars Rhys Williams and Sgt Andy Davidson are the only non-Torchwood members who recurred across all televised series.

The events of the first series took place some time after the Doctor Who Doomsday series two finale, in which Torchwood's London headquarters was destroyed, and just before the series three finale. Though the series has not yet featured the Doctor himself, the materialisation sound of the Doctor's TARDIS was heard in the final episode of season one, which led directly into the Doctor Who episode Utopia, and other dialogue references have been made, notably in the Torchwood: Miracle Day arc. Likewise, the appearance of Martha Jones in the second series provided vital continuity between third and fourth series of Doctor Who. Conversely, Jack, as well as his team of Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones featured (and former team members Owen Harper and Toshiko Sato are mentioned) in the last two episodes of the fourth series of Doctor Who.

The initial main writer alongside Davies was Chris Chibnall, creator of the BBC light drama show Born and Bred (who later moved over to work on Law & Order: UK). Other writers include P.J. Hammond, Toby Whithouse, Doctor Who script editor Helen Raynor, Catherine Tregenna, and Doctor Who cast member Noel Clarke.

In a 17 October 2005 announcement unveiling the series, BBC Three controller Stuart Murphy described Torchwood as "sinister and psychological...As well as being very British and modern and real." Davies further described it as "a British sci-fi paranoid thriller, a cop show with a sense of humour. [...] Dark, wild and sexy, it's The X-Files meets This Life."[1] Davies later denied ever making this comparison, instead describing the show as "alleyways, rain, the city".[source needed]

As Torchwood was a post-watershed show — that is, after 9 p.m. — it had more mature content than Doctor Who. Davies told SFX: "We can be a bit more visceral, more violent, and more sexual, if we want to. Though bear in mind that it's very teenage to indulge yourself in blood and gore, and Torchwood is going to be smarter than that. But it's the essential difference between BBC One at 7 pm, and BBC Three at, say, 9 pm. That says it all — instinctively, every viewer can see the huge difference there."[source needed]

Davies also joked to a BBC Radio Wales interviewer that he was "not allowed" to refer to the programme as "Doctor Who for grown-ups".[source needed] The first and second series included content never before seen or heard in televised Doctor Who, including intense sex scenes (e.g. Day One, Out of Time, Dead of Night), same-sex kissing in a romantic/sexual context (e.g. Cyberwoman, Captain Jack Harkness), and use of extreme profanity in several episodes. Such content was controversial,[source needed] and, as the series progressed, such scenes were minimised, to the point where, by series 3, relatively little of this content remained.

The show's first two series shared the format used by Doctor Who at the time, thirteen episodes aired weekly over a span of months. However, the format changed in the third season, which was one five-part story, Children of Earth, written by Russell T. Davies and released over the course of a week in July 2009. The fourth season, a 2011 coproduction between BBC Wales and Starz, similarly took the form of one long story, Miracle Day, but stretched across ten episodes. No fifth series followed on television.

In 2015, Big Finish Productions began monthly Torchwood audios, including some set following the events of Miracle Day. This led to their 2017 announcement that, with the cooperation of Russell T. Davies, they would be releasing a fifth series of Torchwood on audio.[2] Like series 3 and 4, it was marketed under a new subtitle, Aliens Among Us. It was followed by series 6, God Among Us, in 2018, and Among Us, in 2023.[3][4]

12 October 2016 marked the 10th anniversary of Torchwood. In celebration, cast and crew were invited to the Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, and a special screening of the first episode was shown for the fans.[5] Big Finish also produced a special audio story to celebrate the show's anniversary, entitled The Torchwood Archive.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Secondary cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main series[[edit] | [edit source]]

Series 1 - 2006-2007[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Series 1 (Torchwood)

Series 2 - 2008[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Series 2 (Torchwood)

Series 3 - 2009[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Torchwood: Children of Earth

Series 4 - 2011[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Torchwood: Miracle Day

Series 5 - 2017-2018[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Aliens Among Us

Series 6 - 2018-2019[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: God Among Us

Series 7 - 2023[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Among Us

Other media[[edit] | [edit source]]

Prose[[edit] | [edit source]]

Novels[[edit] | [edit source]]

See list of Torchwood novels

Short stories[[edit] | [edit source]]

See list of Torchwood short stories

Video games[[edit] | [edit source]]

Comics[[edit] | [edit source]]

See list of Torchwood comic strips

Reference books[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audio[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audiobooks[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audio stories[[edit] | [edit source]]

Torchwood[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Big Finish Torchwood series

Radio[[edit] | [edit source]]

Web series[[edit] | [edit source]]

Web of Lies

Magazines[[edit] | [edit source]]

Torchwood The Official Magazine was a title launched in 2008 and published by Titan Publishing Group, that ran for twenty-five issues. The licence expired as a consequence of a realignment of Torchwood merchandising in response to the BBC's co-production agreement with Starz.

In 2010, Titan began publishing a monthly comic book for the North American market, Torchwood The Official Comic, reprinting comic strips and short stories from the UK magazine. Material from the magazine was also used in the Torchwood The Official Magazine Yearbook (2008) and the Torchwood The Official Magazine Yearbook (2009).

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crossover characters/aliens[[edit] | [edit source]]

Doctor Who[[edit] | [edit source]]

From Doctor Who[[edit] | [edit source]]
To Doctor Who[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Sarah Jane Adventures[[edit] | [edit source]]

To The Sarah Jane Adventures[[edit] | [edit source]]
From The Sarah Jane Adventures[[edit] | [edit source]]

Future[[edit] | [edit source]]

John Barrowman, in an 2010 interview with The Scottish Sun, said that he expected Torchwood to run until 2017.[6]

However, Russell T Davies stated in October 2012 that for personal reasons the show was on an indefinite hiatus.[7][8]

Video game[[edit] | [edit source]]

In an interview with Robert Nashak of BBC Worldwide, it was revealed that the BBC were looking into creating a game for Torchwood. Whether these would be in the form of The Adventure Games, or for retail on platforms, is unknown. [9]

Aborted ideas[[edit] | [edit source]]

Musical[[edit] | [edit source]]

According to Russell T Davies in The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter, two former members of the pop group ABBA issued a proposal for a stage musical based upon Torchwood. The proposal was rejected, and in his book Davies strongly indicates that the idea was never taken seriously.[10]

American series[[edit] | [edit source]]

In January 2010 US media reported that Davies, Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter were planning a US version of Torchwood for the Fox network, which had previously aired the 1996 Doctor Who TV movie. According to the reports, Barrowman and other original cast members may have appeared. The media coverage did not indicate whether or not the series was expected to be a remake/standalone, or if it would tie in with existing Whoniverse continuity. On the 20th January 2010 it was announced that Fox had ordered a pilot script for a US version of Torchwood from BBC Worldwide.[11] On 21st April 2010, however, BBC Worldwide announced that Fox had chosen not to proceed with the series, which according to the BBC was to have been a 13-episode, serialised programme, similar to the UK original.[12]

The show was later picked up by the American network Starz, which co-produced the fourth series.

Merchandising[[edit] | [edit source]]

Torchwood-themed product ranges included:

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ Frame, Anna (2006-10-25). The X-Files meets This Life. Daily Express p. 49. [note: potentially originated in a RadioTimes piece]
  2. ↑ Season 5 of Torchwood is finally coming, just as an audio drama
  3. ↑ Torchwood returning for official series 6 at Big Finish
  4. ↑ Torchwood is Among Us!
  5. ↑ http://www.bafta.org/wales/whats-on/special-screening-10-years-of-torchwood
  6. ↑ http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/torchwood-2017-13416.htm
  7. ↑ http://www.denofgeek.us/tv/russell-t-davies-on-the-future-of-torchwood/22566/russell-t-davies-on-the-future-of-torchwood
  8. ↑ http://screenrant.com/torchwood-season-5-delay-scott-163133/
  9. ↑ http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/torchwood-the-game-8995.htm
  10. ↑ BBC News - Abba duo linked to Torchwood musical accessed 22nd March 2010
  11. ↑ http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=1&article=53791 C21Media - Fox ignites Torchwood pilot script accessed 22nd March 2010
  12. ↑ Doctor Who News Page - Fox Withdraw from American Torchwood accessed 22nd April 2010
v • e
Torchwood television stories
Series 1
Series 2
Series 3
Children of Earth: Day One • Day Two • Day Three • Day Four • Day Five
Series 4
Stories listed here are only those that have been officially licensed by the BBC.
v • e
Spin-offs and connected series
 
Licensed by the BBC
TV
PROSE
Target Books
BBC Books
Panini Comics
AUDIO
Silver Fist/
Who Dares
Big Finish
BBC Audio
COMIC
Marvel UK
HOMEVID
BBV Productions
 
Licensed from copyright holders
TV
Metal Mutt
Productions
HOMEVID
Reeltime Pictures
BBV Productions
AUDIO
BBV Productions
(Audio Adventures
in Time & Space)
Magic Bullet
Productions
BBC Radio 4
Bafflegab
Productions
Storytel
Radio Static
AUK Studios
PROSE
Souvenir Press
World Distributors
Sparrow Books
Virgin Books
The New Adventures (1997-99) • Decalogs (1997)
Mad Norwegian
Press
Faction Paradox (2002-06, 13)
Allison & Busby
Random Static
Telos Publishing
Novelisations
Big Finish
New Worlds
Obverse Books
Obverse
Quarterly
Obverse
Sextet
Simon and
Schuster
Headline Review
The Berkley
Publishing Group
Candy Jar Books
Thebes Publishing
Meteoric Books
Arcbeatle Press
Snowbooks Ltd
Lethe Press
Salt Publishing
Harper Collins
Self-published
Mango
Ce Acatl
Trinitite Team
Titan Books
Titan Sherlock
Holmes books
Oak Tree Books &
Chinbeard Books
Odd Tales Productions
The Cheshire House
Overmorrow Publishing
COMIC
Souvenir Press
World Distributors
TV Century 21
Marvel UK
Image Comics
Graveyard Shift
Comics
Comeuppance
Comics
Self-published
Meteoric Books
Lucky Comics
Telos Publishing
Cutaway Comics
Unlikely Heroes Studios
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