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Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Initially developed as a stand-alone show, it was reworked into a spin-off of the long-running television production Doctor Who. Originally targeted towards adult audiences, compared to the family-centric nature of its parent series, the first series of Torchwood was broadcast after-watershed. It premiered on BBC Three on 22 October 2006 and aired 13 episodes before concluding on 1 January 2007. A second series was commissioned thereafter with the programme moving to BBC Two. 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. BBC Two broadcast the second series, also consisting of 13 episodes, between 16 January and 4 April 2008, although BBC Three aired seven first-run episodes from 13 February to 21 March.

In its final two series, Torchwood utilized serial storytelling rather than the monster of the week format that was present in the first two. The programme moved networks once more when a five-episode mini-series subtitled Children of Earth was broadcast on BBC One from 6 to 10 July in 2009. The fourth and final series became an American co-production with the U.S. premium cable network Starz. Subtitled Mircale 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.

Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who which was used as a title ruse during early production of the latter's 2005 revival process. The term was later seeded in that programmes second series. The show centers around the titular organisation called Torchwood. The institute employs several elite teams of black operatives that investigate extraterrestrial incidents on Earth. Torchwood specifically centers around one of these groups, Cardiff's Torchwood Three which is lead 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 Rex Matheson and Esther Drummond, an agent and analyst in the Central Intelligence Agency, as well as death row inmate Oswald Danes. Across all four series, Torchwood had a small number of fictional crossovers with Doctor Who, making up two of the television series in the Whoniverse.

In 2012 the show was placed on an indefinite hiatus although Harkness continued to appear in Doctor Who with an appearances in both a 2020 and 2021 episode. The first two series of Torchwood were lead by Chris Chibnall as head writer while Davies returned as showrunner for the final two. Over its run, the show explored a number of themes; prominent among these were existentialism, homosexual and bisexual relationships, and explorations of human corruptibility. The programme also has a large amount of tie-in media leading to an expanded universe. It was also broadcast in several other countries gaining a cult following as well as strong viewing figures and international critical acclaim. During the course of the programme, 41 episodes of Torchwood aired over four series, between 22 October 2006 and 9 September 2011.

Series overview

Episodes

Series 1 (2006–07)

Series 1 focuses on Gwen Cooper, her introduction to Torchwood, and meeting Jack Harkness; as well as introducing the characters of Owen Harper, Ianto Jones, Susie Costello, and Toshiko Sato (who was previously introduced in the first series of the newly revived Doctor Who). 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.

Series 2 (2008)

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.

Series 3: Children of Earth (2009)

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 Gwen and Rhys.

Series 4: Miracle Day (2011)

Series 4 centres on an event called Miracle Day, where everyone in the world stops dying and subsequently becomes immortal. It also focuses on Jack's past, his immortality, as well as Gwen and Rhys's relationship. It also introduces new characters such as Rex Matheson, Esther Drummond, and Oswald Danes.

Ratings

Notes

1. ^ Episodes 6–12 were first broadcast on BBC Three one week before they were shown on BBC Two.
2. ^ The BBC One broadcast of this series began and concluded six days after the date listed.

See also

• List of Doctor Who episodes (2005–present)
• List of Torchwood comics
• List of Torchwood novels and audio books
• Torchwood (audio drama series)
• Torchwood Declassified

References

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18. Griffin, Louise (24 January 2024). "How to watch Doctor Who in order - including official TV spin-offs". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 23 December 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
19. Stoute, Scott (10 April 2012). "'Torchwood' Season 5 Won't Air For 'A While'". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
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28. Lowry, Brian (7 June 2010). "Starz Scores Coup By Nabbing 'Torchwood'". Variety]. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
29. Attributed to multiple sources:
    • McMillan, Graeme (12 July 2009). "Torchwood: Better Than Ever?". Retrieved 2 January 2025.
    • McNamara, Mary (8 July 2011). "Television review: 'Torchwood: Miracle Day'". Retrieved 2 January 2025.
    • "Torchwood (2006-2011)". IGN. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
    • Singer, Emma (26 April 2024). "10 Best Sci-Fi TV Shows That Needed Another Season". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
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31. ^ "Weekly top 10 programmes on TV sets (July 1998 – Sept 2018)". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
32. ^ "Weekly top 30 programmes on TV sets (July 1998 – Sept 2018)". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
33. "Weekly top 30 programmes on TV sets (July 1998 – Sept 2018)". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
34. "Weekly top 30 programmes on TV sets (July 1998 – Sept 2018)". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 2 January 2025.

External links

• Official Website at BBC
• Official Website at Starz

• Lists of British science fiction television series episodes
• Lists of Doctor Who universe television episodes
• Torchwood episodes
• Torchwood lists