Torchwood (series): Difference between revisions

From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
(Undo revision 250423 by 211.31.77.37 (talk))
m (Bot: Cosmetic changes)
 
(400 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Real world}}
{{title dab away}}
{{real world}}
{{Infobox Merchandise
|image        = Torchwood title.jpg
|publisher    = BBC Wales
|publisher2  = Starz
|publisher3  = Big Finish Productions
|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
|trailer2    = Torchwood Children of Earth Trailer - BBC One
|bts          = Torchwood At 10
}}{{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]].


{{Featured spotlight star}}
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]].
:''This article concerns the television series. For the organization, see [[Torchwood Institute]]. For the [[Cardiff]] branch of Torchwood, see [[Torchwood Three]].''


'''Torchwood''' is a ''[[Doctor Who]]'' television spin-off. An in-house [[BBC Wales]] production for digital television station [[BBC Three]], it is the first television spin-off of ''Doctor Who'' since the unsuccessful pilot of ''[[K-9 and Company]]'' in [[1981]] and the first to be commissioned for a full 13-part series. It features the adventures of the [[Torchwood Institute|Torchwood]] [[Torchwood Three|branch located in Cardiff]], and is set on Earth after the events of [[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'' (and for lead character [[Jack Harkness]] the events of [[DW]]: ''[[The Parting of the Ways]]''.  
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 spin-off series has not yet featured [[the Doctor]] himself, though the 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 ''[[Children of Earth]]'' arc. Likewise, the appearance of [[Martha Jones]] in the second series provides vital continuity between ''Doctor Who''s [[Series 3 (Doctor Who)|third]] and [[Series 4 (Doctor Who)|fourth series]]. Conversely, Jack, as well as his team of [[Gwen Cooper]] and [[Ianto Jones]] featured in the last two episodes of [[Series 4 (Doctor Who)|the fourth series]] of ''Doctor Who''.
== 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}}


[[File:Ep00_CoE_torchwood_team.jpg|300px|right|thumb|The team as seen in [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|Series 3]]. From left to right: Ianto Jones, Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper]]
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.


Regular characters have included Captain [[Jack Harkness]], [[Gwen Cooper]], [[Ianto Jones]], [[Toshiko Sato]], and [[Owen Harper]]. [[Martha Jones]] and [[Suzie Costello]] have also been portrayed as part of the Torchwood team led by Harkness. Semi-regulars [[Rhys Williams]] and [[Andy Davidson|PC Andy Davidson]] are the only non-Torchwood members who have recurred across all series.  
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.


==Overview==
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.
===Origins ===


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''.
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]]).


This idea, originally titled ''Excalibur'', was abandoned until 2005, when BBC Three Controller Stuart Murphy invited Davies to develop a post-[[Wikipedia:watershed (television)|watershed]] science fiction series for the channel. During the production of the 2005 series of Doctor Who, the word "Torchwood" (an [[wikipedia:anagram|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 was a clever idea and remembered the name.
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.


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.
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''.


===Premise===
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 series is set in contemporary [[Cardiff]] and follows the Welsh branch of a (semi-)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]], ostensibly to protect the Empire from aliens and other creatures -- as well as from the Doctor, himself.


To paraphrase Torchwood Three's commander-in-chief, [[Jack Harkness]], the organization is separate from the government, outside the police, and beyond the [[United Nations]] (the last reference thereby placing Torchwood in a different realm than [[UNIT]] (once known as the ''United Nations'' Intelligence Taskforce).  
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}}


Although a secret organization, the existence of Torchwood is known by the public, and Torchwood operatives make no secret of their identity when on duty (they even drive a vehicle emblazoned with the name). Their public perception is as merely a 'special ops' group, with their true responsibilities kept secret to all but a select few.
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}}


The events of the first series take 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; the final episode of Series 1 leads directly into the ''Doctor Who'' episode ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]''.  
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 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]].
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 a [[17th 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]]''." Davies later denied ever making this comparison, instead describing the show as "alleyways, rain, the city".
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>


As ''Torchwood'' is a post-[[Wikipedia:watershed (television)|watershed]] show — that is, after 9 p.m. — it has more mature content than ''Doctor Who''. Davies told ''[[Wikipedia:SFX magazine|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."
[[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]]''.


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". The first series includes content never before seen or heard in the ''Doctor Who'' franchise, including lovemaking scenes (in episodes such as ''Day One'' and ''Out of Time''), same-sex kissing in a romantic/sexual context, and use of extreme profanity in several episodes. Such content was controversial among aspects of Who fandom, and as the series has progressed such scenes have been minimized, to the point where by Series 3 relatively little of this content remained.
== Cast ==
=== Main cast ===
* [[Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]
* [[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]]
* [[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]]
* [[Owen Harper]] - [[Burn Gorman]] (series 1-2)
* [[Toshiko Sato]] - [[Naoko Mori]] (series 1-2)
* [[Ianto Jones]] - [[Gareth David-Lloyd]] (series 1-3)
* [[Rex Matheson]] - [[Mekhi Phifer]] (series 4)
* [[Esther Drummond]] - [[Alexa Havins]] (series 4)
* [[Oswald Danes]] - [[Bill Pullman]] (series 4)


==Regular cast==
=== Secondary cast ===
* [[John Barrowman]] - Captain [[Jack Harkness]]
* [[Andy Davidson]] - [[Tom Price]]
* [[Eve Myles]] - [[Gwen Cooper]]
* [[Martha Jones]] - [[Freema Agyeman]] (series 2)
* [[Gareth David-Lloyd]] - [[Ianto Jones]] (Series 1-3)
* [[Lois Habiba]] - [[Cush Jumbo]] (series 3)
* [[Burn Gorman]] - [[Owen Harper]] (Series 1 and 2 only)
* [[John Frobisher]] - [[Peter Capaldi]] (series 3)
* [[Naoko Mori]] - [[Toshiko Sato]] (Series 1 and 2 only)
* [[Vera Juarez]] - [[Arlene Tur]] (series 4)
* [[Kai Owen]] - [[Rhys Williams]] (recurring)
* [[Jillian Kitzinger]] - [[Lauren Ambrose]] (series 4)
* [[Tom Price]] - PC [[Andy Davidson]] (recurring)
* [[Freema Agyeman]] - [[Martha Jones]] (several episodes in Series 2)


Gorman and Mori left the series at the end of Series 2 due to their characters being killed off. As David-Lloyd's character is killed off in Series 3, it is assumed that he will not return for a Series 4.
== Main series ==
=== Series 1 - 2006-2007 ===
{{main|Series 1 (Torchwood)}}


==Broadcasts==
=== Series 2 - 2008 ===
{{main|Series 2 (Torchwood)}}


''Torchwood'' premiered on Sunday 22nd October 2006 on [[BBC Three]]. It has the unusual distinction of having been broadcast on all three of the BBC's networks, as Series 2 aired on [[BBC Two]], and Series 3 on [[BBC One]].
=== Series 3 - 2009 ===
{{main|Torchwood: Children of Earth}}


Series 1 and 2 were full 13-episode seasons. For Series 3 the BBC decided to change the format of the series, producing a five-episode mini-series that aired over consecutive evenings. Although a Series 4 is currently (August 2009) under consideration, it is not known if the series will return to its 13-episode format or remain as a mini-series.
=== Series 4 - 2011 ===
{{main|Torchwood: Miracle Day}}


As of 2009, ''Torchwood'' has not yet produced a holiday special (although Series 1 did include an episode set at Christmastime), or a mini-episode for charity.
=== Series 5 - 2017-2018 ===
{{main|Aliens Among Us}}


==Initial rumours/media reports==
=== Series 6 - 2018-2019 ===
Following the announcement of ''Torchwood'', media outlets covered the show extensively.
{{main|God Among Us}}


Interviewed on ITV1's afternoon chat show ''Loose Women'' on [[18th October]] 2005, Barrowman suggested that the series might be repeated on [[BBC One]] sometime after its initial BBC Three airing. He also stated that it would not be revealed in the series how Jack Harkness has arrived in the early 21st century. This is technically true -- the revelation actually occurs in the ''Doctor Who'' episode, ''Utopia''.
=== Series 7 - 2023 ===
{{main|Among Us}}


Among casting rumours, the tabloid ''The Daily Star'' wrote that singer and chat show host [[Charlotte Church]] would appear as a Satan-worshipping villain in the series. This never occurred.
== Other media ==
=== Prose ===
==== Novels ====
''[[BBC Torchwood novels|See list of Torchwood novels]]''


===Story arcs===
==== Short stories ====
Various lines of dialogue of [[Series 1 (Torchwood)|Series 1]] makes reference to "something in the darkness", which might refer to either [[Abaddon]] or possibly either [[Durac]] from the following season. [[Series 2 (Torchwood)|Series 2]] has the dual arcs of the return of Jack's brother [[Gray]] (foreshadowed in the episodes ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]'' and ''[[Adam (Torchwood story)|Adam]]'') and the death and resurrection of [[Owen Harper]]. [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|Series 3]] consists of a single storyline, ''[[Children of Earth]]''.
''[[Torchwood short stories|See list of Torchwood short stories]]''


==The stories==
=== Video games ===
* ''[[Torchwood Mission Game (video game)|Torchwood Mission Game]]''


===Television===
=== Comics ===
*[[List of Torchwood television stories]]
''[[Torchwood comic stories|See list of Torchwood comic strips]]''


===Novels===
=== Reference books ===
[[BBC Books]] have released a [[BBC Torchwood novels|series of novels]] based on the series.
* ''[[Torchwood: The Encyclopedia]]''
* ''[[The Torchwood Archives]]''


===Comics and short fiction===
=== Audio ===
''[[Torchwood Magazine]]'', published by [[Titan Books]], has published [[Torchwood Comic Strip Stories|comics]] by several different artists and writers, as well as short stories. Titan has to date also issued one graphic novel compiling the comic strips.
==== Audiobooks ====
* ''[[Another Life (novel)|Another Life]]'' Read by [[John Barrowman]] (abridged)
* ''[[Border Princes (novel)|Border Princes]]'' Read by [[Eve Myles]] (abridged)
* ''[[Slow Decay (novel)|Slow Decay]]'' Read by [[Burn Gorman]] (abridged)


===Audio===
==== Audio stories ====
====[[BBC Radio Dramas]]====
* ''[[Hidden (audio story)|Hidden]]'' Read by [[Naoko Mori]]
*[[Lost Souls]]
* ''[[Everyone Says Hello (audio story)|Everyone Says Hello]]'' Read by [[Burn Gorman]]
*[[Asylum (Torchwood)|Asylum]]
* ''[[In the Shadows (audio story)|In the Shadows]]'' Read by [[Eve Myles]]
*[[Golden Age]]
*[[The Dead Line]]


====Original audiobooks====
* ''[[The Sin Eaters (audio story)|The Sin Eaters]]'' Read by [[Gareth David-Lloyd]]
*[[Hidden]]
* ''[[Department X (audio story)|Department X]]'' by [[James Goss]]
*[[Everyone Says Hello]]
* ''[[Ghost Train (audio story)|Ghost Train]]'' by [[James Goss]]
*[[In the Shadows]]
*[[The Sin Eaters]]


==Cross-continuity with the [[Doctor Who Universe]]==
* ''[[Army of One (audio story)|Army of One]]'' by [[Ian Edginton]]
In [[Series 1 (Torchwood)|Series 1]], ''[[Everything Changes]]'' and ''[[Cyberwoman]]'' made direct reference to the cross-over of the [[Cybus Cybermen]] into our [[Earth]] in ''[[Army of Ghosts]]'' and ''[[Doomsday]]'' and the latter story to the [[Battle of Canary Wharf]], while the presence of [[the Doctor's hand]] makes reference to his losing it in ''[[The Christmas Invasion]]''. Graffiti seen in [[the Ritz]] in ''[[Captain Jack Harkness]]'' makes reference to the [[Bad Wolf meme]] and to "[[Harold Saxon]]", while ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'' follows directly on from the closing moments of the ''Torchwood'' Series 1 finale ''[[End of Days]]'', in which both Jack Harkness and the audience hear the sound of the [[the Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]].
* ''[[Fallout (audio story)|Fallout]]'' by [[David Llewellyn]]
* ''[[Red Skies (audio story)|Red Skies]]'' by [[Joseph Lidster]]
* ''[[Mr Invincible (audio story)|Mr Invincible]]'' by [[Mark Morris]]


[[Jack Harkness]] explains in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' story ''[[The Sound of Drums]]'' that he had made Torchwood over in honour of the Doctor, while "Saxon" explains he has sent Torchwood Three on a "wild goose chase" to the [[Himalayas]].
==== Torchwood ====
{{Main|Big Finish Torchwood series }}


In [[Series 2 (Torchwood)|Series 2]], [[Freema Agyeman]] reprised her role of [[Martha Jones]], while in the episode ''[[Reset (Torchwood story)|Reset]]'', with her choice of an alias making reference to [[Samantha Jones]], a companion of the [[Eighth Doctor]]. [[UNIT]], an organization closely associated with the [[Third Doctor]] in particular, appears in flashback in ''[[Fragments]]'' and [[Toshiko Sato]] makes mention of and explains her appearance in the ''Doctor Who'' episode ''[[Aliens of London]]'', in which she first appeared.
==== Radio ====
* ''[[Lost Souls (audio story)|Lost Souls]]''
* ''[[Asylum (audio story)|Asylum]]''
* ''[[Golden Age (audio story)|Golden Age]]''
* ''[[The Dead Line (audio story)|The Dead Line]]''
* ''[[The Devil and Miss Carew (audio story)|The Devil and Miss Carew]]''
* ''[[Submission (audio story)|Submission]]''
* ''[[The House of the Dead (audio story)|The House of the Dead]]''


The ''Doctor Who'' [[Series 4 (Doctor Who)|Series 4]] episode ''[[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 ''[[The Sontaran Stratagem]]'' and ''[[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.)
=== Web series ===
''[[Web of Lies (webcast)|Web of Lies]]''


In ''[[The Stolen Earth]]'' and ''[[Journey's End]]'', the surviving Torchwood team and [[the Hub]] appear. While Jack goes off to save [[Tenth Doctor|the Doctor]], Gwen and Ianto remain in the Hub to fight off a [[Dalek]]. ''[[Journey's End]]'' concludes with Jack offering Martha a job with Torchwood. He also possibly recruits [[Mickey Smith]], first seen in ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'' in [[Series 1 (Doctor Who)|Series 1]] of ''Doctor Who''.
=== Magazines ===
''[[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]].


Captain Jack holds a bolt gun in ''[[Random Shoes]]'' which was first seen in ''[[The Satan Pit]]''.
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)]].


In the episode ''[[Adam (Torchwood story)|Adam]]'' at the start, [[Jack Harkness]] and [[Adam Smith]] are seen holding Dalek tommy guns which were first seen in ''[[Evolution of the Daleks]]''.
== Continuity ==
* In ''Torchwood'' [[Series 1 (Torchwood)|Series 1]], the episodes [[TV]]: ''[[Everything Changes (TV story)|Everything Changes]]'' and [[TV]]: ''[[Cyberwoman (TV story)|Cyberwoman]]'' make direct reference to the [[Cyberman (Pete's World)|Cybermen]] in [[TV]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts (TV story)|Army of Ghosts]]'' and [[TV]]: ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]'' as well as the [[Battle of Canary Wharf]].
* The presence of [[the Doctor's hand]] in [[the Hub]] alludes to his losing it in [[TV]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]''.
* Graffiti seen in [[the Ritz]] in [[TV]]: ''[[Captain Jack Harkness (TV story)|Captain Jack Harkness]]'' continues the presence of the [[Bad Wolf meme]] and [[Harold Saxon]] posters are seen on the walls.
* ''[[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]]''.
* 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]]''.
* [[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]]''.
* 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.
* 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.


Although barely visible on screen, Jack is growing a [[TARDIS]] on his desk.
=== Crossover characters/aliens ===
==== ''Doctor Who'' ====
===== From ''Doctor Who'' =====
* [[Toshiko Sato]] ''(Series 1 and 2)''
* Captain [[Jack Harkness]] ''(Series 1 through 4)''
* [[Cyberman (Pete's World)|Cyberman]] (partially converted) ''([[Cyberwoman (TV story)|Cyberwoman]])''
* [[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]])''


==See also==
===== To ''Doctor Who'' =====
*[[Torchwood Declassified]], a documentary series in the vein of ''[[Doctor Who Confidential]]''
* [[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]])''
* [[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]]'')


==External links==
==== ''The Sarah Jane Adventures'' ====
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchwood/ Official BBC website]
===== To ''The Sarah Jane Adventures'' =====
[[Category:Torchwood|*]]
* [[Arcateenian]] ''([[Invasion of the Bane (TV story)|Invasion of the Bane]])''
[[Category:Doctor Who spin-offs]]
 
[[Category:Previous Spotlight Articles]]
===== From ''The Sarah Jane Adventures'' =====
* [[Trickster's Brigade]] ''([[Immortal Sins (TV story)|Immortal Sins]])''
 
== Future ==
John Barrowman, in an 2010 interview with ''The Scottish Sun'', said that he expected Torchwood to run until 2017.<ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/torchwood-2017-13416.htm</ref>
 
However, Russell T Davies stated in October 2012 that for personal reasons the show was on an indefinite hiatus.<ref>http://www.denofgeek.us/tv/russell-t-davies-on-the-future-of-torchwood/22566/russell-t-davies-on-the-future-of-torchwood</ref><ref>http://screenrant.com/torchwood-season-5-delay-scott-163133/</ref>
 
=== 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 [[The Adventure Games]], or for retail on platforms, is unknown. <ref>http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/torchwood-the-game-8995.htm</ref>
 
== Aborted ideas ==
=== Musical ===
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.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8441444.stm BBC News - Abba duo linked to Torchwood musical] <small>accessed 22nd March 2010</small></ref>
 
=== 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 (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>
 
The show was later picked up by the American network Starz, which co-produced the [[Series 4 (Torchwood)|fourth series]].
 
== Merchandising ==
''Torchwood''-themed product ranges included:
* [[Torchwood merchandise|calendars]]
* [[Torchwood - Series 1 and 2 (soundtrack)|a soundtrack release]] for series 1 and 2
* [[SciFi Collector Torchwood action figures|an action figure line]]
 
== External links ==
{{official website|www.bbc.co.uk/torchwood/}}
{{YouTube|channel/UC8EY2Nlow8wdUMCBucHEaOg}}
{{youtube|torchwoodofficial}}
 
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{TWTV}}
{{Spin-offs}}
 
[[de:Torchwood (TV-Serie)]]
[[fr:Torchwood]]
[[it:Torchwood]]
[[pt:Torchwood]]
[[ro:Torchwood (TV)]]
[[ru:Торчвуд]]
 
[[Category:Torchwood (TV series)| *]]
[[Category:Television overviews]]

Latest revision as of 20:17, 3 November 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]]