Torchwood creator Russell T Davies has the future of the hit Doctor Who spin-off all planned out, he has told the new issue of Torchwood Magazine.
“I could write you scene one of series four right now”, says Davies in a revealing interview with Torchwood Magazine. “I know exactly how to pick it up. I’ve got a shape in mind, and I’ve got stories. I know where you’d find Gwen and Rhys, and their baby, and Jack, and I know how you’d go forward with a new form of Torchwood.”
The news will come as a tonic to fans of the show, which enjoyed runaway success in the ratings when the latest series Children of Earth screened over five nights in July this year. The dramatic finale and the death of much-loved team member Ianto Jones had fans fearing the worst for the future of the show, but Davies’ positive comments will re-ignite hopes that Torchwood will once again return to television screens.
Davies is also confident of writing another compelling series of Torchwood, regardless of the format the BBC decides to choose for the show.
“If the BBC asked for another 13 one-part stories, that’s what we’d do”, Davies goes on to explain to Torchwood Magazine. “I’m ready for anything, but I think it works well as one continuous story. But if the BBC decide they want 13 one-offs, I’ll suddenly decide that’s the best format in the world!”
The prolific writer, widely credited with sparking the recent revival of parent show Doctor Who, goes on to talk candidly about the origins of Torchwood, and why he thinks the timing was all important for the success of the show.
“It’s been a very intelligent decision to make hay while the sun shines”, he says. “Look at the recession that’s sweeping in now. If I’d tried to get Torchwood off the ground now, they would say there’s no money for it. So while we had one very successful show, we made a strategic decision to push our advantage. Julie [Gardner, then Head of Drama at BBC Wales] passionately wanted a big, strong Welsh drama department but one show is not a drama department, You’ve got to have more, so we did it while those doors were open to us.”
After Davies’ incredible successes on British shores, where he has also penned the acclaimed drama serials Queer as Folk and The Second Coming, the writer is looking forward to his next challenge across the Atlantic.
Davies tells Torchwood Magazine he believes his trade is taken much more seriously in the USA than it is at home in the UK:
“The attitudes towards drama there are very different, and their outlook is more professional in terms of how they approach the job. I heard this brilliant quote from [acclaimed British screenwriter] Frank Cottrell Boyce recently, where he said that British writers are essentially amateur and they want to go home or go to the pub, but in America they can’t wait to go in to the office.”
Russell T Davies interview appears in Torchwood Magazine Issue #17.
On sale in the UK – 20, Aug 2009
On sale in the US – Sept 15, 2009
Thanks to Ricky Claydon from Torchwood Magazine.
7. September 2009 at 7:02 pm
I also think that Torchwood should come back, it is an amazing show, with amazing actors and actresses, it would be an awful shame to lose it.
Additionally, I too think Torchwood should be written as 13 one-off episodes and shown weekly, it then lasts a lot longer.
Furthermore, I think that Torchwood should return to what it was originally like, back in series one. Torchwood seemed much more darker, mysterious and a lot more adult than it has now become. There were some episodes and scenes that were unsuitable for younger viewers, for example ‘Day one’and ‘countrycide’.
I also think that Toshiko Sato, Dr. Owen Harper and Ianto Jones should be brought back into the show. Torchwood was never the same without those characters. Those five characters are what Torchwood is, they are the Torchwood team. Yes I realize that changes have to be made, but Captain Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper, Dr. Owen Harper, Toshiko Sato and Ianto Jones seemed to fit perfectly together.
I would finally like to say a special thank you and congratulations to Russell T Davies, John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Burn Gorman, Naoko Mori, Gareth David Lloyd and everyone who in some way was involved in creating such a fantastic show. You are all my inspiration.
8. September 2009 at 6:57 pm
I like Torchwood the original charectors of Yanto and eve and Toshico and Owen were the Ideal group But guys and Lasses its only a drama series its not real!.
correct me if I am wrong But I am Sure there is an actual fault line that lies Through Cardiff but it does not open as the series writer says it does Russel T Davies is a very talented drama writer and has brought recognition to Cardiff as a Place of excellence for Drama production.
However now that The CARDIFF TORCHWOOD HUB HAS BEEN DESTROYED the writer could not possibly rebuild the hub from the Ground as its supposedly destroyed …lol and never to be resurrected unless he relocated to another site I would love to see more Torchwood series done ! with Captain Jack Harkness-John Barrowman, Yanto Gareth David Lloyd, Tosh-Naoko Mori, Gwen-Eve Myles, and Owen-Burn Gorman, great team great viewing ratings and Great actors but those whom have been cut out Owen ,Tosh,Yanto, I dont think they can fetch back without a dramatic resurrection of Yanto et al.
3. September 2009 at 8:33 pm
I am from u.s.a. I just finished all 3 seasons of TORCHWOOD and I am in love with it all. No sifi has ever touched me the way children of the earth has. Please bring them all back to life with rose and the tardis.
2. September 2009 at 3:04 pm
i think they should go back to the way they were wiv a new teem: jacks daughter, gwen, rhys, andy and that women in the secret service who tried too kil jack but turned good
21. August 2009 at 5:13 am
i think RTD should write 13 one-off episodes because it lasts longer on the tv screens and you wont get bored of it, if they do another 5-part story i dont know wat they will write to be better than children of earth!
19. August 2009 at 3:41 am
i definetly think there should be another torchwood no one nows what has happened to jack or gwen. Nicolexx