Torchwood | |
---|---|
Big Finish Productions audio drama | |
Series | Torchwood |
Produced by | James Goss |
Executive producer(s) | |
Release date | 15 September 2015 – Present |
Torchwood is a series of audio dramas produced by Big Finish Productions based on the British television programme of the same name. Like its TV counterpart, the audio dramas follow the exploits of the operatives who work for the Torchwood Institute – a secret organisation that defends Earth against extraterrestrial threats.
Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult science fiction properties. They are best known for their Doctor Who line; other properties include the characters Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog from 2000 AD, Blake's 7, Dark Shadows, Dracula, Terrahawks, Sapphire & Steel, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes character, Stargate, The Avengers, The Prisoner, and Torchwood.
Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies, a spin-off from the 2005 revival of Doctor Who which aired four series between 2006 and 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 US financing in its fourth series when it became a co-production of BBC One and Starz. Torchwood is aimed at older teenagers and adults, in contrast to Doctor Who's target audience of both adults and children. The show explored a number of themes, including existentialism, homosexuality, bisexuality, and human corruptibility.
The Torchwood Institute, or simply Torchwood, is a fictional secret organisation from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its spin-off series Torchwood. It was established in 1879 by Queen Victoria after the events of "Tooth and Claw". Its prime directive is to defend Earth against supernatural and extraterrestrial threats. It is later revealed in "Army of Ghosts" that the Torchwood Institute has begun to use their findings to restore the British Empire to its former glory. To those ends, the organisation started to acquire and reverse engineer alien technology. Within Torchwood an unofficial slogan evolved: "If it's alien, it's ours". According to one base director, Yvonne Hartman, its nationalist attitude includes refusing to use metric units.
The series premiered on 15 September 2015. 24 individual plays and 8 specials have been released thus far, with 15 more announced. James Goss acts as producer, with Nicholas Briggs and Jason Haigh-Ellery serving as executive producers.
James Goss is an English writer and producer, known both for his work in cult TV spin-off media, including tie-in novels and audio stories for Doctor Who and Torchwood, and for his fictional works beyond ready made universes.
Nicholas Briggs is an English actor, writer, director, sound designer, composer and voice actor predominantly associated with the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and its various spin-offs, particularly as the voice of the Daleks and the Cybermen.
The original television programme Torchwood , an adult-oriented spin-off of the long-running British science fiction drama Doctor Who , ran for four series broadcast between 2006 and 2011 before entering an indefinite hiatus due to the other commitments of creator and executive producer Russell T Davies.
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC since 1963. The programme depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called "the Doctor", an extraterrestrial being, to all appearances human, from the planet Gallifrey. The Doctor explores the universe in a time-travelling space ship called the TARDIS. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, which was a common sight in Britain in 1963 when the series first aired. Accompanied by a number of companions, the Doctor combats a variety of foes while working to save civilisations and help people in need.
Stephen Russell Davies, better known as Russell T Davies, is a Welsh screenwriter and television producer whose works include Queer as Folk, Bob & Rose, The Second Coming, Casanova, the 2005 revival of the classic British science fiction series Doctor Who, and the trilogy Cucumber, Tofu, and Banana.
In January 2015, John Barrowman, who plays series lead Captain Jack Harkness, stated in an interview that there were plans for Torchwood to return as several BBC audio plays that could potentially lead into a fifth television series, with both Davies and co-executive producer Julie Gardner in discussion of the project. [1] Torchwood previously featured as several series tie-in radio plays that aired on BBC Radio 4 between 2008 and 2011.
John Scot Barrowman is a Scottish-American actor, singer, presenter, author, and comic book writer. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, he moved to the United States with his family in 1975. Encouraged by his high school teachers, Barrowman studied performing arts at the United States International University in San Diego before landing the role of Billy Crocker in Cole Porter's Anything Goes in London's West End.
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 2005 series 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 also reprised the role for guest appearances in Doctor Who in its 2007 series and 2008 series, as well as the two-part special The End of Time.
Julie Ann Gardner, MBE is a Welsh television producer. Her most prominent work has been serving as executive producer on the 2005 revival of Doctor Who and its spin-off shows Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. She worked on Doctor Who from 2003 to 2009 before moving to Los Angeles to work at BBC Worldwide.
In May 2015, Big Finish announced plans to produce audiobooks based on Torchwood as part of a licensing agreement between themselves and BBC Worldwide, allowing them to use characters and concepts from the revived series of Doctor Who (2005–present) and its spin-offs in future audio productions. [2] The company was formerly only permitted to use elements from the programme's classic series (1963–89) and self-titled TV film (1996). The new Torchwood plays received the blessing of Davies, [2] who had been working with Gardner and former Big Finish producer Gary Russell to bring the programme to the company since 2013. [3]
BBC Worldwide Ltd. was the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the BBC, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in 1995. The company monetises BBC brands, selling BBC and other British programming for broadcast abroad with the aim of supplementing the income received by the BBC through the licence fee.
Doctor Who, also referred to as Doctor Who: The Movie to distinguish it from the television series of the same name, is a 1996 television film continuing the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was developed as a co-production between BBC Worldwide, Universal Studios, 20th Century Fox, and the American network Fox. It premiered on 12 May 1996 on CITV in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 15 days before its first showing in the United Kingdom on BBC One and two days before being broadcast in the United States on Fox. It was also shown in some countries for a limited time in cinemas.
Gary Russell is a British freelance writer, producer and former child actor. As a writer, he is best known for his work in connection with the television series Doctor Who and its spin-offs in other media. As an actor, he is best known for playing Dick Kirrin in the British 1978 television series The Famous Five.
Each play from the series' main range usually centres on one or more members of the organisation or their associates. The first twelve (originally announced as its first and second series) were released as monthly instalments between September 2015–August 2016, with an additional twelve released between March–August 2017 and March–August 2018. A further twelve more plays will be released monthly between March 2019–February 2020. [4]
In addition to the main range, specials featuring ensemble casts are released infrequently. The first, The Torchwood Archive, was released in October 2016 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Torchwood's TV debut, with the boxsets Outbreak and Torchwood One: Before the Fall following in November 2016 and January 2017, respectively. A three-part series titled Aliens Among Us – co-created and overseen by Davies as a continuation of the TV programme – was released between August 2017–February 2018. The boxsets Believe and Torchwood One: Machines were respectively released in April and July 2018, while a second three-part series titled God Among Us is confirmed for release between October 2018–June 2019. [5]
Torchwood follows the exploits of the agents who work for the fictional institute of the same name: a clandestine British organisation that defends Earth against supernatural and extraterrestrial threats, and salvages alien technology that comes to the planet. Like the television series, the audio dramas primarily focus on a team of alien hunters based at the organisation's Cardiff division, Torchwood Three, while occasionally fixating on their associates and agents from other branches of the institute.
The story arc central to the series' main "monthly" releases revolves around a group of aliens called The Committee, who appear to have been secretly manipulating humanity since the turn of the twentieth century. Despite their existence being perceived as a conspiracy, Torchwood have made efforts in foiling the Committee's schemes, but appears the group have larger plans in force.
Time period-wise, each play is set at a different point in Torchwood's history, ranging from its founding in the Victorian Era to the present day and future. Certain plays also take place during events from the TV series.
Starring
| Recurring
Notable guests
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The series is produced by James Goss, with Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs serving as executive producers. A number of writers contribute to the series regularly, whilst Scott Handcock and Blair Mowat respectively direct and compose the score on a regular basis, with other directors and composers contributing infrequently. Scripts were initially edited by Steve Tribe, with duties later shared with David Llewellyn. From 2019, scripts are edited by Llewellyn with Scott Handcock. All cover art is designed by Lee Binding.
Plays have been recorded in studios across the UK and the U.S., including Rancho Mirage Music, Bang Post Production, The Moat Studios, The Roundhouse Studios and Ladbroke Audio. Typically, one play is recorded in 1–2 days and released within six months, with post production taking place in the time in between. They debut through Big Finish's website for digital download and physical purchase, before being commercially available three months later, as usual with other Big Finish releases.
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Featuring | Release Date | Prod. code |
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1 | "The Conspiracy" | Scott Handcock | David Llewellyn | Jack Harkness | 15 September 2015 | BFPTWCD01 |
2 | "Fall to Earth" | Scott Handcock | James Goss | Ianto Jones | 19 October 2015 | BFPTWCD02 |
3 | "Forgotten Lives" | Scott Handcock | Emma Reeves | Gwen Cooper, Rhys Williams | 5 November 2015 | BFPTWCD03 |
4 | "One Rule" | Barnaby Edwards | Joseph Lidster | Yvonne Hartman | 7 December 2015 | BFPTWCD04 |
5 | "Uncanny Valley" | Neil Gardner | David Llewellyn | Jack Harkness | 18 January 2016 | BFPTWCD05 |
6 | "More Than This" | Scott Handcock | Guy Adams | Gwen Cooper | 10 February 2016 | BFPTWCD06 |
7 | "The Victorian Age" | Scott Handcock | AK Benedict | Jack Harkness | 10 March 2016 | BFPTWCD07 |
8 | "Zone 10" | Scott Handcock | David Llewellyn | Toshiko Sato | 5 April 2016 | BFPTWCD08 |
9 | "Ghost Mission" | Scott Handcock | James Goss | Andy Davidson, Norton Folgate | 3 May 2016 | BFPTWCD09 |
10 | "Moving Target" | Scott Handcock | Guy Adams | Suzie Costello | 6 June 2016 | BFPTWCD10 |
11 | "Broken" | Scott Handcock | Joseph Lidster | Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones | 4 July 2016 | BFPTWCD11 |
12 | "Made You Look" | Scott Handcock | Guy Adams | Gwen Cooper | 2 August 2016 | BFPTWCD12 |
13 | "Visiting Hours" | Scott Handcock | David Llewellyn | Rhys Williams | 14 March 2017 | BFPTWCD13 |
14 | "The Dollhouse" | Lisa Bowerman | Juno Dawson | Marlow Sweet, Charley Du Bujeau, Gabi Martinez | 18 April 2017 | BFPTWCD14 |
15 | "Corpse Day" | Scott Handcock | James Goss | Owen Harper, Andy Davidson | 9 May 2017 | BFPTWCD15 |
16 | "torchwood_cascade_CDRip.tor" | Scott Handcock | Scott Handcock | Toshiko Sato | 7 June 2017 | BFPTWCD16 |
17 | "The Office of Never Was" | Scott Handcock | James Goss | Ianto Jones | 6 July 2017 | BFPTWCD17 |
18 | "The Dying Room" | Scott Handcock | Lizzie Hopley | M LeDuc, Herr Grau | 8 August 2017 | BFPTWCD18 |
19 | "The Death of Captain Jack" | Scott Handcock | David Llewellyn | Jack Harkness, John Hart | 29 March 2018 | BFPTWCD19 |
20 | "The Last Beacon" | Scott Handcock | Gareth David-Lloyd | Owen Harper, Ianto Jones | 24 April 2018 | BFPTWCD20 |
21 | "We Always Get Out Alive" | Scott Handcock | Guy Adams | Gwen Cooper, Rhys Williams | 22 May 2018 | BFPTWCD21 |
22 | "Goodbye Piccadilly" | Scott Handcock | James Goss | Andy Davidson, Norton Folgate | 27 June 2018 | BFPTWCD22 |
23 | "Instant Karma" | Lisa Bowerman | David Llewellyn, James Goss, Jonathan Morris | Toshiko Sato | 17 July 2018 | BFPTWCD23 |
24 | "Deadbeat Escape" | Scott Handcock | James Goss | Billis Manger | 9 August 2018 | BFPTWCD24 |
25 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | March 2019 | BFPTWCD25 |
26 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | April 2019 | BFPTWCD26 |
27 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | May 2019 | BFPTWCD27 |
28 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | June 2019 | BFPTWCD28 |
29 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | July 2019 | BFPTWCD29 |
30 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | August 2019 | BFPTWCD30 |
31 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | September 2019 | BFPTWCD31 |
32 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | October 2019 | BFPTWCD32 |
33 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | November 2019 | BFPTWCD33 |
34 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | December 2019 | BFPTWCD34 |
35 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | January 2020 | BFPTWCD35 |
36 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | February 2020 | BFPTWCD36 |
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Release Date | Prod. code |
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– | "The Torchwood Archive" | Scott Handcock | James Goss | 21 October 2016 | BFPTWARCHIVECD |
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Release Date | Prod. code |
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1 | "Stage 1 - Incubation: Know" | Scott Handcock | Guy Adams | 15 November 2016 | BFPTWOUTBCD |
2 | "Stage 2 - Prodromal: Love" | Scott Handcock | Emma Reeves | 15 November 2016 | BFPTWOUTBCD |
3 | "Stage 3 - Invasion: Kill" | Scott Handcock | AK Benedict | 15 November 2016 | BFPTWOUTBCD |
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Release Date | Prod. code | |||||||
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Before the Fall | ||||||||||||
1 | "New Girl" | Barnaby Edwards | Joseph Lidster | 19 January 2017 | BFPTWONE01CD | |||||||
2 | "Through the Ruins" | Barnaby Edwards | Jenny T Colgan | 19 January 2017 | BFPTWONE01CD | |||||||
3 | "Uprising" | Barnaby Edwards | Matt Fitton | 19 January 2017 | BFPTWONE01CD | |||||||
Machines | ||||||||||||
1 | "The Law Machines" | Barnaby Edwards | Matt Fitton | 18 July 2018 | BFPTWONE02CD | |||||||
2 | "Blind Summit" | Barnaby Edwards | Gareth David-Lloyd | 18 July 2018 | BFPTWONE02CD | |||||||
3 | "9 to 5" | Barnaby Edwards | Tim Foley | 18 July 2018 | BFPTWONE02CD |
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Release Date | Prod. code | |||||||
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Part 1 | ||||||||||||
1 | "Changes Everything" | Scott Handcock | James Goss | 10 August 2017 | BFPTWFIVE01CD | |||||||
2 | "Aliens & Sex & Chips & Gravy" | Scott Handcock | James Goss | 10 August 2017 | BFPTWFIVE01CD | |||||||
3 | "Orr" | Scott Handcock | Juno Dawson | 10 August 2017 | BFPTWFIVE01CD | |||||||
4 | "Superiority Complex" | Scott Handcock | AK Benedict | 10 August 2017 | BFPTWFIVE01CD | |||||||
Part 2 | ||||||||||||
5 | "Love Rat" | Scott Handcock | Christopher Cooper | 19 October 2017 | BFPTWFIVE02CD | |||||||
6 | "A Kill to a View" | Scott Handcock | Mac Rogers | 19 October 2017 | BFPTWFIVE02CD | |||||||
7 | "Zero Hour" | Scott Handcock | Janine H Jones | 19 October 2017 | BFPTWFIVE02CD | |||||||
8 | "The Empty Hand" | Scott Handcock | Tim Foley | 19 October 2017 | BFPTWFIVE02CD | |||||||
Part 3 | ||||||||||||
9 | "Poker Face" | Scott Handcock | Tim Foley | 6 February 2018 | BFPTWFIVE03CD | |||||||
10 | "Tagged" | Scott Handcock | Joseph Lidster | 6 February 2018 | BFPTWFIVE03CD | |||||||
11 | "Escape Room" | Scott Handcock | Helen Goldwyn | 6 February 2018 | BFPTWFIVE03CD | |||||||
12 | "Herald of the Dawn" | Scott Handcock | James Goss | 6 February 2018 | BFPTWFIVE03CD |
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Release Date | Prod. code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Episode One" | Scott Handcock | Guy Adams | 25 April 2018 | BFPTWBELIEVE |
2 | "Episode Two" | Scott Handcock | Guy Adams | 25 April 2018 | BFPTWBELIEVE |
3 | "Episode Three" | Scott Handcock | Guy Adams | 25 April 2018 | BFPTWBELIEVE |
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Release Date | Prod. code | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part 1 | ||||||||||||
1 | "Future Plan" | Scott Handcock | James Goss | October 2018 | BFPTWSIX01CD | |||||||
2 | "The Man Who Destroyed Torchwood" | Scott Handcock | Guy Adams | October 2018 | BFPTWSIX01CD | |||||||
3 | "See No Evil" | Scott Handcock | John Dorney | October 2018 | BFPTWSIX01CD | |||||||
4 | "Night Watch" | Scott Handcock | Tim Foley | October 2018 | BFPTWSIX01CD | |||||||
Part 2 | ||||||||||||
5 | TBA | Scott Handcock | TBA | February 2019 | BFPTWSIX02CD | |||||||
6 | TBA | Scott Handcock | TBA | February 2019 | BFPTWSIX02CD | |||||||
7 | TBA | Scott Handcock | TBA | February 2019 | BFPTWSIX02CD | |||||||
8 | TBA | Scott Handcock | TBA | February 2019 | BFPTWSIX02CD | |||||||
Part 3 | ||||||||||||
9 | TBA | Scott Handcock | TBA | June 2019 | BFPTWSIX03CD | |||||||
10 | TBA | Scott Handcock | TBA | June 2019 | BFPTWSIX03CD | |||||||
11 | TBA | Scott Handcock | TBA | June 2019 | BFPTWSIX03CD | |||||||
12 | TBA | Scott Handcock | TBA | June 2019 | BFPTWSIX03CD |
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