Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). [1] Initially developed as a stand-alone show, it was reworked into a spin-off of the long-running television production Doctor Who . [2] Originally targeted towards adult audiences, compared to the family-centric nature of its parent series, the first series of Torchwood was broadcast after-watershed. [3] It premiered on BBC Three on 22 October 2006 and aired 13 episodes before concluding on 1 January 2007. [4] [5] A second series was commissioned thereafter with the programme moving to BBC Two. [6] When Captain Jack Harkness, a central character in the show, became popular with younger audiences, alternative cuts of the second series were made which removed adult content allowing a broader audience to view the episodes. [7] BBC Two broadcast the second series, also consisting of 13 episodes, between 16 January and 4 April 2008, [8] [9] although BBC Three aired seven first-run episodes from 13 February to 21 March. [10]
In its final two series, Torchwood utilised serial storytelling rather than the monster of the week format that was present in the first two. [11] The programme moved channels once more when a five-episode mini-series subtitled Children of Earth was broadcast on BBC One from 6 to 10 July in 2009. [12] The fourth and final series became an American co-production with the U.S. premium cable network Starz. [13] Subtitled Miracle Day , the 10-episode fourth series aired on Starz from 8 July until 9 September 2011, with each episode being broadcast on BBC One six days later. [14]
Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who which was used as a title ruse during early production of the latter's 2005 revival process. [15] The term was later seeded in that programme's second series. [16] The show centres around the titular organisation called Torchwood. The institute employs several elite teams of black operatives that investigate extraterrestrial incidents on Earth. Torchwood specifically centres around one of these groups, Cardiff's Torchwood Three, which is led by Captain Jack Harkness, who was first introduced in Doctor Who's first series as a companion of the Ninth Doctor. He is assisted by support officer Ianto Jones, Dr. Owen Harper, technical expert Toshiko Sato, and Gwen Cooper, a police constable recruited to assist the team. They are further aided by former Tenth Doctor companion Martha Jones in the second series and Gwen's husband Rhys Williams, who becomes a main character beginning with series three. Miracle Day sees a partial overhaul in the cast with only Harkness, Cooper, and Williams remaining. The three are joined by special agent Rex Matheson and analyst Esther Drummond from the Central Intelligence Agency, as well as death row inmate Oswald Danes. Across all four series, Torchwood had a small number of crossovers with Doctor Who, [17] making up two of the television series in the Whoniverse. [18]
In 2012 the show was placed on an indefinite hiatus [19] although Harkness continued to appear in Doctor Who with appearances in both 2020 and 2021. [20] The first two series of Torchwood were led by Chris Chibnall as head writer [21] while Davies returned as showrunner for the final two. [22] Over its run, the show explored a number of themes; prominent among these were existentialism, homosexual and bisexual relationships, and explorations of human corruptibility. [23] The programme also has a large amount of tie-in media leading to an expanded universe. [24] [25] [26] It was also broadcast in several other countries [27] gaining a cult following [28] as well as strong viewing figures and international critical acclaim. [29] During the course of the programme, 41 episodes of Torchwood aired over four series, between 22 October 2006 and 9 September 2011. [30]
Series | Episodes | Originally released (UK) | Average viewers (millions) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First released | Last released | Network | ||||
1 | 13 | 22 October 2006 | 1 January 2007 | BBC Three | 1.42 | |
2 | 13 | 16 January 2008 | 4 April 2008 | BBC Two [a] | 3.27 | |
3: Children of Earth | 5 | 6 July 2009 | 10 July 2009 | BBC One | 6.47 | |
4: Miracle Day | 10 | 14 July 2011 [b] | 15 September 2011 [b] | Starz / BBC One | 5.17 |
Series 1 focuses on Gwen Cooper, her first meeting with Jack Harkness, and her introduction to Torchwood; as well as introducing the characters of Owen Harper, Ianto Jones, Susie Costello, and Toshiko Sato. There is also a loose plot arc centring around the rift; Owen's love of Diane, a woman lost in time; and Owen and Gwen's affair, as well as her relationship to her boyfriend Rhys.
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | UK viewers (millions) [31] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Everything Changes" | Brian Kelly | Russell T Davies | 22 October 2006 | 1.1 | 2.52 |
2 | 2 | "Day One" | Brian Kelly | Chris Chibnall | 22 October 2006 | 1.2 | 2.50 |
3 | 3 | "Ghost Machine" | Colin Teague | Helen Raynor | 29 October 2006 | 1.3 | 1.77 |
4 | 4 | "Cyberwoman" | James Strong | Chris Chibnall | 5 November 2006 | 1.4 | 1.39 |
5 | 5 | "Small Worlds" | Alice Troughton | Peter J. Hammond | 12 November 2006 | 1.5 | 1.26 |
6 | 6 | "Countrycide" | Andy Goddard | Chris Chibnall | 19 November 2006 | 1.6 | 1.22 |
7 | 7 | "Greeks Bearing Gifts" | Colin Teague | Toby Whithouse | 26 November 2006 | 1.7 | 1.31 |
8 | 8 | "They Keep Killing Suzie" | James Strong | Paul Tomalin & Dan McCulloch | 3 December 2006 | 1.8 | 1.12 |
9 | 9 | "Random Shoes" | James Erskine | Jacquetta May | 10 December 2006 | 1.9 | 1.08 |
10 | 10 | "Out of Time" | Alice Troughton | Catherine Tregenna | 17 December 2006 | 1.10 | 1.03 |
11 | 11 | "Combat" | Andy Goddard | Noel Clarke | 24 December 2006 | 1.11 | 0.83 |
12 | 12 | "Captain Jack Harkness" | Ashley Way | Catherine Tregenna | 1 January 2007 | 1.12 | 1.23 |
13 | 13 | "End of Days" | Ashley Way | Chris Chibnall | 1 January 2007 | 1.13 | 1.23 |
Series 2 focuses on the disappearance of Jack and his subsequent return, as well as his past; and also introduces the mysterious yet dangerous character named John Hart.
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [a] | Prod. code | UK viewers (millions) [32] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 | 1 | "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" | Ashley Way | Chris Chibnall | 16 January 2008 | 2.1 | 4.22 |
15 | 2 | "Sleeper" | Colin Teague | James Moran | 23 January 2008 | 2.2 | 3.78 |
16 | 3 | "To the Last Man" | Andy Goddard | Helen Raynor | 30 January 2008 | 2.3 | 3.51 |
17 | 4 | "Meat" | Colin Teague | Catherine Tregenna | 6 February 2008 | 2.4 | 3.28 |
18 | 5 | "Adam" | Andy Goddard | Catherine Tregenna | 13 February 2008 | 2.5 | 3.79 |
19 | 6 | "Reset" | Ashley Way | J. C. Wilsher | 20 February 2008 | 2.6 | 3.22 [c] |
20 | 7 | "Dead Man Walking" | Andy Goddard | Matt Jones | 27 February 2008 | 2.7 | 3.31 [d] |
21 | 8 | "A Day in the Death" | Andy Goddard | Joseph Lidster | 5 March 2008 | 2.8 | 3.08 [e] |
22 | 9 | "Something Borrowed" | Ashley Way | Phil Ford | 12 March 2008 | 2.9 | 2.76 [f] |
23 | 10 | "From Out of the Rain" | Jonathan Fox Bassett | Peter J. Hammond | 19 March 2008 | 2.10 | 2.90 [g] |
24 | 11 | "Adrift" | Mark Everest | Chris Chibnall | 21 March 2008 | 2.11 | 2.52 [h] |
25 | 12 | "Fragments" | Jonathan Fox Bassett | Chris Chibnall | 28 March 2008 | 2.12 | 2.98 [i] |
26 | 13 | "Exit Wounds" | Ashley Way | Chris Chibnall | 4 April 2008 | 2.13 | 3.13 |
Series 3 centres around the 456, a mysterious alien race who make contact to Earth via the world's children, and presents how the world's governments react to solve the problem. It also focuses on Jack and Ianto's relationship, as well as that of Gwen and Rhys..
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | UK viewers (millions) [33] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
27 | 1 | "Day One" | Euros Lyn | Russell T Davies | 6 July 2009 | 3.1 | 6.47 |
28 | 2 | "Day Two" | Euros Lyn | John Fay | 7 July 2009 | 3.2 | 6.14 |
29 | 3 | "Day Three" | Euros Lyn | Russell T Davies & James Moran | 8 July 2009 | 3.3 | 6.40 |
30 | 4 | "Day Four" | Euros Lyn | John Fay | 9 July 2009 | 3.4 | 6.76 |
31 | 5 | "Day Five" | Euros Lyn | Russell T Davies | 10 July 2009 | 3.5 | 6.58 |
Series 4 centres on an event called Miracle Day, when everyone in the world stops dying and subsequently becomes immortal. It also focuses on Jack's past and his immortality, as well as Gwen and Rhys's relationship. It also introduces new characters such as Rex Matheson, Esther Drummond, and Oswald Danes.
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original U.S. release date | Original UK release date | Prod. code | UK viewers (millions) [34] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
32 | 1 | "The New World" | Bharat Nalluri | Russell T Davies | 8 July 2011 | 14 July 2011 | 401 | 6.59 |
33 | 2 | "Rendition" | Billy Gierhart | Doris Egan | 15 July 2011 | 21 July 2011 | 402 | 5.75 |
34 | 3 | "Dead of Night" | Billy Gierhart | Jane Espenson | 22 July 2011 | 28 July 2011 | 403 | 5.49 |
35 | 4 | "Escape to L.A." | Billy Gierhart | Jim Gray & John Shiban | 29 July 2011 | 4 August 2011 | 404 | 5.19 |
36 | 5 | "The Categories of Life" | Guy Ferland | Jane Espenson | 5 August 2011 | 11 August 2011 | 405 | 5.17 |
37 | 6 | "The Middle Men" | Guy Ferland | John Shiban | 12 August 2011 | 18 August 2011 | 406 | 4.60 |
38 | 7 | "Immortal Sins" | Gwyneth Horder-Payton | Jane Espenson | 19 August 2011 | 25 August 2011 | 407 | 4.48 |
39 | 8 | "End of the Road" | Gwyneth Horder-Payton | Jane Espenson & Ryan Scott | 26 August 2011 | 1 September 2011 | 408 | 4.64 |
40 | 9 | "The Gathering" | Guy Ferland | John Fay | 2 September 2011 | 8 September 2011 | 409 | 4.63 |
41 | 10 | "The Blood Line" | Billy Gierhart | Russell T Davies & Jane Espenson | 9 September 2011 | 15 September 2011 | 410 | 5.13 |
Series | Episode number | Average | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | |||
1 | 2.52 | 2.50 | 1.77 | 1.39 | 1.26 | 1.22 | 1.31 | 1.12 | 1.08 | 1.03 | 0.83 | 1.23 | 1.23 | 1.42 | |
2 | 4.22 | 3.78 | 3.51 | 3.28 | 3.79 | 3.22 | 3.31 | 3.08 | 2.76 | 2.90 | 2.52 | 2.98 | 3.13 | 3.27 | |
3 | 6.47 | 6.14 | 6.40 | 6.76 | 6.58 | – | 6.47 | ||||||||
4 | 6.59 | 5.75 | 5.49 | 5.19 | 5.17 | 4.60 | 4.48 | 4.64 | 4.63 | 5.13 | – | 5.17 |
Captain Jack Harkness is a fictional character played by John Barrowman in Doctor Who and its spin-off series, Torchwood. The character first appears in the 2005 Doctor Who episode "The Empty Child" and subsequently features in the remaining episodes of the first series (2005) as a companion to the series' protagonist, the Doctor. Subsequent to this, Jack became the central character in the adult-themed Torchwood, which aired from 2006 to 2011. Barrowman reprised the role for appearances in Doctor Who in its third, fourth, and twelfth series, as well as specials "The End of Time", and "Revolution of the Daleks".
Torchwood is a British-American science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. A spin-off of the 2005 revival of Doctor Who, it aired from 2006 to 2011. The show shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from BBC Three to BBC Two to BBC One, and acquiring American financing in its fourth series when it became a co-production of BBC One and Starz. Torchwood is aimed at adults and older teenagers, in contrast to Doctor Who's target audience of both adults and children. As well as science fiction, the show explores a number of themes, including existentialism, LGBTQ+ sexuality, and human corruptibility.
Gwen Elizabeth Cooper is a fictional character portrayed by Welsh actress Eve Myles in the BBC science-fiction television programme Torchwood, a spin-off of the long-running series Doctor Who. The lead female character, Gwen featured in every episode of the show's 2006–2011 run, as well as two 2008 crossover episodes of Doctor Who. Gwen appears in Expanded Universe material such as the Torchwood novels and audiobooks, comic books and radio plays.
Toshiko "Tosh" Sato is a fictional character from the television series Doctor Who and its spin-off Torchwood, played by Naoko Mori. After a one-off appearance in the Doctor Who episode "Aliens of London" (2005), Toshiko is re-introduced as a series regular in the Torchwood premiere episode "Everything Changes" (2006). The character appears in every episode of the show's first two series as well as Expanded Universe material including Torchwood novels, audiobooks and comic strips.
"Everything Changes" is the first episode of the British science fiction television programme Torchwood, which was first broadcast on the digital channel BBC Three on 22 October 2006. The story was written by show creator and executive producer Russell T Davies as an introduction to the show's mythos. The episode re-introduces Captain Jack Harkness, who had proved popular in the first series of the 2005 revival of Doctor Who, as the leader of Torchwood, a team of alien hunters.
Ianto Jones is a fictional character in the BBC television programme Torchwood, a spin-off from the long-running series Doctor Who, played by Welsh actor Gareth David-Lloyd. A regular within the show, Ianto appears in every episode of the programme's first three series excluding the finale of series 3, as well as two crossover episodes of Torchwood's parent show, Doctor Who. Additionally, Ianto appears in Expanded Universe material such as the Torchwood novels and audiobooks, comic books and radio plays. Within the narrative of the series, Ianto begins as general support officer for Torchwood Three, a team of alien hunters stationed in Cardiff, and develops into an active field agent. Initially the regular character with the least screen time, Ianto's role expanded in response to growing cult appeal.
"Captain Jack Harkness" is the twelfth episode of the first series of the British science fiction television series Torchwood, which was originally broadcast on the digital television channel BBC Three on 1 January 2007.
"Cyberwoman" is the fourth episode of the first series of the British science fiction television series Torchwood. Written by Chris Chibnall and directed by James Strong, the episode was first broadcast on the digital channel BBC Three on 5 November 2006, and later repeated on terrestrial channel BBC Two on 8 November.
"Lost Souls" is an original BBC Radio 4 audio play written by Joseph Lidster and is a spin-off from the British science fiction television series Torchwood, itself a spin-off from Doctor Who. It aired on 10 September 2008 in the Afternoon Play slot as part of Radio 4's Big Bang Day which celebrated the switching on of CERN's Large Hadron Collider that same day. Andrew Marr introduced the audio play live from CERN. An mp3 version of the audio play was freely available until 18 September, when the play was released on CD and as a purchasable download.
Children of Earth is the banner title of the third and penultimate series of the British television science fiction programme Torchwood, which broadcast for five episodes on BBC One from 6 to 10 July 2009. The series had new producer Peter Bennett and was directed by Euros Lyn, who had considerable experience on the revived Doctor Who, Torchwood's parent show. The eponymous series is about an organization known as Torchwood which defends the Earth against alien threats. The plot of Children of Earth deals with aliens demanding 10% of the Earth's children, and a related earlier conspiracy 40 years ago; as such, Torchwood is pitted against the British government when the government attempts to conceal its past actions and accede to the present-day aliens' demands. The first, third, and fifth episodes of the serial were written by executive producer Russell T Davies, who also conceived its overall storyline. The third episode was co-written by James Moran whilst the second and fourth were penned by newcomer John Fay.
Andy Davidson is a fictional character in the BBC television programme Torchwood, portrayed by Tom Price, a spin-off from the long-running series Doctor Who. Andy, an officer with the South Wales Police, is a supporting character who first appears in Torchwood's premiere episode "Everything Changes" and recurs regularly from thereon. Though initially only credited as 'PC Andy', the character's surname 'Davidson' was given in novels and online media and eventually confirmed by dialogue in Children of Earth, "Day Three" (2009). Like Gwen's partner, Rhys, Andy is used by the production team as an everyman character who grounds the series in a recognisable real-world setting. The character had originally been slated to be killed off in the first series, though the production team had a change of heart, believing him to work well as a supporting character. Both cast and crew, as well as professional reviewers have spoken of the character's role in providing comic relief and an outsider's perspective on the Torchwood Institute.
Rhys Alun Williams, portrayed by Kai Owen, is a fictional character in the BBC television programme Torchwood, a spin-off from the long-running series Doctor Who. The character is introduced in the premiere episode as the co-habiting boyfriend of the principal character Gwen Cooper. Initially a recurring character, Rhys' role is increased after the second series; actor Kai Owen is given star billing from the show's third series — a five-part serial subtitled Torchwood: Children of Earth — onwards. The character has gone on to appear in expanded universe material such as the Torchwood novels and audiobooks, comic books and radio plays.
Torchwood: Miracle Day is the fourth and final series of the British science fiction television programme Torchwood, a spin-off from the long-running show Doctor Who. In contrast to the first three series, which were produced by the BBC, the fourth series was a British–American co-production involving the BBC's drama production house BBC Cymru Wales for BBC Worldwide and the US premium network Starz. It was broadcast in ten episodes beginning on 8 July 2011 (U.S.) and 14 July 2011 (UK).
Agent Rex Matheson, portrayed by Mekhi Phifer, is a fictional character in the BBC television programme Torchwood, a spin-off from the long-running series Doctor Who. Phifer was one of three American actors to join Torchwood in its fourth series, Torchwood: Miracle Day (2011), as part of a then-new co-production between Torchwood's British network, BBC One, and its American financiers on US premium television network Starz.
Esther Drummond, portrayed by Alexa Havins, is a fictional character in the BBC television programme Torchwood, a spin-off from the long-running series Doctor Who. Havins is one of several American actors to join Torchwood in its fourth series, Torchwood: Miracle Day, which was co-produced by Torchwood's original British network BBC One and the American television network Starz. The character appears in every episode of the fourth series in addition to a prequel novel, The Men Who Sold the World.
Captain John Hart, played by James Marsters, is a fictional character from the BBC science fiction television programme Torchwood. He is introduced in the episode "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang"—the first episode of Torchwood's second series. Whilst the character has not featured subsequently to the second series finale, he went on to appear in a Torchwood Magazine comic strip and Marsters has stated his interest in reprising the role on more than one occasion.
"The New World" is the first episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day, the fourth and final series of the British science fiction television series Torchwood. It was first broadcast in the United States on Starz on 8 July 2011, in Canada on Space on 9 July 2011, and in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 14 July 2011. It introduced Rex Matheson, Esther Drummond and Oswald Danes to the cast.
"Rendition" is the second episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day, the fourth series of the British science fiction television series Torchwood. It was originally broadcast in the United States on Starz on 15 July 2011, in Canada on Space on 16 July 2011, and in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 21 July 2011.
Oswald Danes is a fictional character in the BBC television programme Torchwood, a spin-off from the long-running series Doctor Who and is portrayed by American actor Bill Pullman. The character was promoted as one of five new main characters to join Torchwood in its fourth series, Torchwood: Miracle Day (2011), as part of a new co-production between Torchwood's British network, BBC One, and its American financiers on US premium television network Starz. Pullman appears in eight of the ten episodes, and is credited as a series regular. Whilst reaction to the serial and Pullman's character was mixed, Pullman's portrayal was praised by critics and in 2012 he received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor on Television.