John Barrowman: 'Torchwood' and 'Doctor Who' updates

Torchwood

Torchwood star John Barrowman is not holding out much hope that the hit sci-fi series will return any time soon.
The Doctor Who spin-off, created by Swansea's Russell T Davies, ran to four series, the most recent in 2011.
Barrowman, who plays Captain Jack Harkness, said: "It's in limbo, in a sense.
"Something could be done in five years, something could be done in 10 years. But if I'd sat around and waited for the last two years I would have been bankrupt and unemployed, so I've moved on."
Barrowman can currently be seen in Sky One's comic book adventure Arrow.
Source: This is South Wales


Doctor Who
Unless his Twitter account has been hacked, John Barrowman tweeted the following message earlier this evening:

I will not be involved in the 50th Anniversary Episode of Dr WHO. JB

Source: Twitter

John Barrowman: Arrow air date (UK), Torchwood book influence, TV appearances

• New Superhero Action - Arrow Comes to Sky1 HD

Like The Dark Knight and Smallville? Then we've got the show for you - we've made a deal with Warner Bros International Television Distribution for the exclusive UK television rights to the highly anticipated upcoming U.S. drama series Arrow.
Arrow, coming to Sky 1 HD in Autumn 2012, reinvents the DC Comics super hero Green Arrow for a modern-day audience.

After suffering unimaginable ordeals while marooned for five years on a remote island, billionaire Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell, The Vampire Diaries) returns home with a mysterious agenda and lethal set of new skills. Determined to right the wrongs his father committed while amassing the Queen family fortune, Oliver has sworn to bring justice upon the rich and powerful who have corrupted his city.

Arrow also stars Colin Donnell (Pan Am) as Oliver’s best friend, Tommy Merlyn; Katie Cassidy (Gossip Girl) as the love of Oliver’s life, Dinah “Laurel” Lance; David Ramsey (Dexter) as John Diggle; Willa Holland (The O.C., Gossip Girl) as Oliver’s sister, Thea; with Susanna Thompson (Cold Case) as Oliver’s mother, Moira Queen; and Paul Blackthorne (24, The River) as Detective Quentin Lance.

Sarah Wright commented: “I’m delighted that we have secured the rights to one of the most talked about shows from the LA screenings this year. Arrow will boost Sky's already enviable US programming slate, and combined with our award-winning original programming, will deliver on our promise to bring the best content exclusively to our customers.”

The series is executive produced by Greg Berlanti (Green Lantern, Brothers & Sisters), Marc Guggenheim (Green Lantern) and Andrew Kreisberg (Fringe). David Nutter (Smallville) directed and executive produced the pilot.

Source: Sky
Announced by @Team_Barrowman (Twitter) 

• John Barrowman's Torchwood book influence

John Barrowman hopes his new book will inspire the next series of 'Torchwood'The 45-year-old actor - who co-authored 'Torchwood: Exodus Code' with his sister Carole and plays Captain Jack in the series - is hopeful the BBC might take notice of the tome based on the show and use it in the next run of the 'Doctor Who' spin-off programme.

He said: ''I had the idea, but Carole is also a huge sci-fi fan, she loves 'Torchwood'. We went to BBC books and BBC worldwide and I said I'd love to do it. 

''Nobody knows Jack better than myself and the team that helped to create him''. 

''Together we've also written one of the comic scripts for 'Torchwood'. That could be the next series or it could be a movie. That's me talking - not anyone from the BBC - but that would be my dream''. 

John is now starring in new US series 'Arrow' based on DC's 'Green Arrow' comics, which he promises will soon be screened in the UK. 

In the programme John plays cryptic character 'The Well Dressed Man', and he admits he loves playing a bad guy. 

He said: ''I'm not allowed to tell you any more about him except that he's well dressed. He's a pivotal bad guy character that's going to be typical in the show.'' 

''I got to play a baddie on 'Desperate Housewives', so this is kind of another step into it. It's really nice to play a baddie.''

Source: STV Entertainment

• Torchwood: Exodus Code coverage

The writing partnership of John and Carole Barrowman have been out and about this week promoting their new, Torchwood-based novel Exodus Code.

Speaking on ITV1's This Morning on Monday, John said:

I had the idea, and also Carole's a huge sci-fi fan, she loves Torchwood. We went to BBC Books and BBC Worldwide and spoke with Russell (T Davies) and sent him the draft, and I said I'd love to do it. And to be honest with you, nobody knows Jack better than myself and Russell and the rest of the team who helped create us.

A little time has passed, but we do reference the last series, Miracle Day. This is what's going on afterwards. We've written Exodus Code specifically to either be lifted from the book - if it were, that could be the next series, it could be a movie - that's me talking, not anyone from the BBC, but that would be my dream.

On missing Torchwood in general, he said:

Of course I do, Jack changed my life, the fans have changed my life, and this book is dedicated to all the fans, and I've always said, if I'm asked to play Jack again of course I would - I would do it at the drop of a hat, it's an amazing character to play!

This Morning is available to watch in the UK until next Monday on the ITV Player (38:05).

Later, he and his sister featured on BBC Radio 2's Steve Wright in the Afternoon, where he spoke a little more on his motives behind the collaboration:

It's been over a year now since Miracle Day. Again, we haven't been told "no" it's not going to happen ever again, but we haven't been told "yes", and consequently that's why I spoke to Carole and we spoke to the BBC. I wanted to keep Jack alive, and that's why we wrote the book.

Carole spoke about feedback from the show's creator, Russell T Davies:

What was really nice was we had to go through all sorts of levels of approval as you can imagine with the BBC and so on, and Russell had to read it, and one of the nice things was when I got an email off my editor saying that Russell really liked the balance between the personal and the big save the world under the world sci-fi thing, he really liked the way we had captured that balance. That meant more to me than the fact that John liked it!

The interview segment can be listened to via the Steve Wright in the Afternoon site.
 
The couple appeared on ITV1's Loose Women on Thursday, where John explained the writing process between the two:

The collaboration works in the way that we sit down together and we work through the outline, we work through character-building, we work through the imagination of the whole story; we record it all, Carole spends a lot of time with me, but she does the hard work, I do not write it - she goes away, she does all the writing, she's got the gift of putting the word into form on the page, and I will not take credit for because I cannot do it.

Carole talked about writing for a character that was essentially her brother:

The one thing we did do in this book we really brought back the Jack with the sense of humour and the sexy Jack who's got the swagger and he's a little roguish. For me, the hardest part about writing that was when we were writing some of the sexy scenes and it would be like eurgh!

Loose Women is available to watch in the UK until next Thursday via the ITV Player (16:00).

Red Carpet News TV caught up with the couple for the book launch at London's Forbidden Planet on the 19th September, and asked John about the potential for more Torchwood on the screen: 

John and Carole Barrowman at Forbidden Planet London, Red Carpet News, via YouTube
 
Read more at Doctor Who News    

New Details for Torchwood Novel: Exodus Code

The new Torchwood novel, co-written by Captain Jack himself - John Barrowman - and his sister Carole E. Barrowman, is set for release later this year and a synopsis to the book has been released:

It starts with a series of unexplained events. Earth tremors across the globe. People being driven insane by their heightened and scrambled senses. And the world is starting to notice – the number one Twitter trend is #TheLoco. Governments and scientists are bewildered and silent. The world needs Torchwood, but there’s not much of Torchwood left. Captain Jack has tracked the problem to its source: a village in Peru, where he’s uncovered evidence of alien involvement. Back in Cardiff, Gwen Cooper has discovered something lurking inside the Torchwood software – something alien and somehow connected to Jack. If the world is to be restored, she has to warn him – but she’s quickly becoming a victim of the madness, too!

John has confirmed that the novel is set after the events of Miracle Day and described the new adventure as "F*****g Awesome'" - (Must be pretty good then Eh?)

Torchwood: Exodus Code is published on the 1st of August 2012, priced £16.99. You can pre-order from Amazon here

Source: LifeDoctor Who and ComBom

Also reported by ScienceFiction.comScienceFiction.com 

New Torchwood exclusive audio adventure

An exciting and exclusive new audio adventure, based on the hit TV series Torchwood and set after the conclusion of Miracle Day. Red Skies, featuring Captain Jack as played on screen by John Barrowman, is written by Joseph Lidster and read by John Telfer. It is one of four audio original titles to be published by AudioGO in Spring 2012.

Jack Harness is in need of a holiday. He wants to get away from Torchwood, away from the human race – and where better to get completely away from it all than Cotter Paluni’s World, a planet surrounded by deadly scarlet lightning and cut off from the entire universe?

But there are some shocks in store for Jack: the ‘Devil’s World’ might be completely isolated and inaccessible, but its inhabitants worship Torchwood. And before he can find out why, or how this is even possible, he finds himself arrested for murder.

It looks as if someone on the planet knows who Jack is – and they’re out to get him...

Format: Download and 1 CD

Duration: 1 hour approx.

£10.20

It couldn't be easier to order an audiobook. Just go to the AudioGO website www.audiogo.co.uk to see our wide selection of sc-fi titles. If you'd like to see more, simply select a genre and browse the thousands of titles on-site, available to order at the click of a mouse - or by calling us on 0800 136919.

Source: Film-News

'Torchwood' series on DVD and 'Torchwood: Miracle Day' character photos & bios

TV Shows On DVD reveals that Torchwood - The Complete Original UK Series arrives on DVD and Blu in time for Miracle Day

Many fans of the BBC series are counting the upcoming Starz production of Torchwood: Miracle Day this summer as the "fourth series" (or season) of the popular show which was spun off from Doctor Who. There were two traditional-length series/seasons at 13 episodes each, followed by the five-episode "third series" titled Torchwood: Children of Earth. After that adventure, Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) left Earth for a bit...which is why we saw him in an alien bar in a brief cameo for David Tennant's final episode of Doctor Who ("The End of Time, Part 2"). Jack is reuniting this summer with Gwen (Eve Myles) and others in the new 10-episode production, which also stars Mekhi Phifer (ER's "Dr. Gregory Pratt") as "Rex Matheson", a CIA agent who gets caught up in events beyond his previous experience.

To celebrate the new adventures, which premiere on the Starz cable channel this July 8th, the BBC has announced today that Torchwood - The Complete Original UK Series will be available on DVD and high-def Blu-ray Disc this July 19th.

Taken from: TV Shows on DVD


Meanwhile, Starz have released character photos and bios for "Torchwood: Miracle Day"
See the full list at Examiner

New Torchwood season gets a title, teaser poster

Accroding to Russell T. Davies the upcoming season of Torchwood will be titled Torchwood: The New World. The 10 episode season starring John Barrowman, is set to air in 2011 on Starz in the US. A synopsis of the new season is below:

The new story will follow a CIA agent (Rex) and analyst (Ester) who tackle an
alien-related global issue. Torchwood, having been destroyed and
disbanded, is "like a legend now...it's like something that's ceased to exist
and is now spoken of only in whispers." Soon, Rex and Ester are
on the run and are seeking out the help of Captain Jack and Gwen. [The Live Feed]

'Torchwood' headed to the USA after all

Starz has just acquired rights to develop Torchwood and will share production costs for the rights. John Barrowman will be back as Captain Jack. The 10 episode season will air on BBC 1 and Starz in the summer of 2011 with most of the season taking place in North America. Fox had been trying to get the American version off the ground, but development fell through in April. Creator Russell T. Davies says that the Starz version isn't a "new version" or a "reboot", and he also says that " I absolutely guarantee that you can leap in as a new viewer and be able to find everything. "

John Barrowman talks 'Torchwood'; no American version without Barrowman, Captain Jack

A little more of John's interview with Access Hollywood has been unveiled and he talked about Torchwood potentially airing on U.S. networks. A write up of the interview is posted below, and you can go to Access Hollywood to watch the full thing.

...In January, there was talk of an American version of “Torchwood” being developed by series creator Davies and his creative team for the FOX network, for which Barrowman seemed more than willing to participate.

“If it was going to happen, there would be hopefully Russell writing it. There would be no change to Captain Jack. He would still be the same sexually charged character that he is, and it would pick up from where it left off,” he hoped.

“I know that there’s discussions happening right now with some American networks. That’s all I know. Julie Gardner and Russell T. Davies (the executive producers), have said there will be no ‘Torchwood’ without John Barrowman, without Captain Jack. So I’ll be there and I’m just waiting to hear like everybody else,” he added.

Though once talk began of bringing the show to the U.S., there were immediate concerns from fans that Captain Jack’s openly free spirited nature would be toned down for the wider network audience.

“Captain Jack is not gay, he’s omni-sexual and he will sleep with anything with a zip code. If any network were to do that, it would be silly because the reason Jack works is because he connects with so many and very different people out there. But you know if Russell’s writing it, he won’t do that,” Barrowman assured “Torchwood” fans. [Jim Kiernan]

John Barrowman on The One Show; makes 'Desperate Housewives' news

John appeared on The One Show today and talked about Torchwood and Desperate Housewives. A segment from the show is below:



John also revealed there he will appear in at least one more episode of Desperate Housewives:

Speaking on BBC's "The One Show," Barrowman revealed that his character will be introduced an episode earlier than originally planned and confirmed that his character is nothing short of evil.

"I leave in about a week and a half to do 'Desperate Housewives,'" he said. "I just found out today that I was supposed to be doing 5 episodes, it has increased now to 6. So I'm really, really chuffed about that. They've decided to put my character in sooner than we thought. He's a villain, he's a bad guy and he's going to affect all the women in Wisteria Lane."

...According to executive producer Bob Daily, Barrowman will be playing the much alluded to, Patrick. When he arrives in town, Patrick will be getting very involved in the lives of all the central figures on the series and will serve as an insight into Angie's mysterious back-story. [InsideBlip]

'Torchwood' and John Barrowman headed to the USA?

Fox has its own version of Torchwood in development. Series creator Russell T. Davies is working on the script and BBC veterans Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter will be executive producers. If Fox does pickup Torchwood for a pilot John Barrowman will likely play Capt. Jack Harkness. "As for the new show’s plot, the U.S. version will contain a global story line compared to the more localized sensibility of the first two BBC seasons."



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John Barrowman on 'Around the World in 80 Days' + 'Torchwood' news

You can watch the first part of John Barrowman's Around the World in 80 Days episode below. The episode aired on Tuesday, November 10 in the UK and you can check out parts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.



Around the World in 80 Days...six pairs of celebrities...re-enact the famous voyage of Phileas Fogg. The new six-part series which started on BBC1 on Tuesday 13th October and follows the celebrities who take part in an ambitious a six-leg relay race to circumnavigate the globe. These big-hearted celebs have signed up for this challenging adventure to raise funds for the Children in Need Appeal. [Easier Travel]

John is scheduled to appear on GMTV on November 24 to promote his new DVD An Evening with John Barrowman. The episode is set to air on ITV 1 from 6am to 9:25pm.

There are also some reports that the fourth season of Torchwood might start development as early as January of next year:

“The recession has hit British television, but fingers crossed, it will be a go. We expect things to start to move in January. We’ve got great ideas for the show. I think there’s a further lease on life for many years to come, but certainly for a [fourth season],” [ Russell T.] Davies says. John Barrowman is finishing his run in “La Cage Aux Folles” in London, so there’s plenty of time to trade his feather boa for Captain Jack’s trench coat. [TV Guide Magazine]

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SFX Award nominations

You can vote in 20 categories for the 2010 SFX Awards. Each category has a list of nominees, but you can also choose Other and enter what you want for anything released between September 24, 2008 and December 5, 2009. The winners will be announced on Saturday, February 6.

Doctor Who is nominated in the following categories: Best TV Show, David Tennant for Best Actor and Sexiest Male, Best TV Episode, Best Actress, Best Special Effect, Best Gadget or Future Technology

Torchwood: Children of Earth is nominated in the following categories: Best TV Show, Best TV Episode, Best Actress, Peter Capaldi for Best Actor, John Barrowman for Sexiest Male, Sexiest Female, Best Monster or Villain, Best Death Scene, Best Plot Twist, Best Fight Scene,

Lost starring Henry Ian Cusick is nominated for Best TV Episode, Sexiest Female, Best Monster or Villain, Best Death Scene, Best Fight Scene, and Best Line.

Primeval starring Douglas Henshall is nominated for Best Plot Twist and Best Special Effect.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, starring Robbie Coltrane is nominated for Best Film.

Be sure to go here to cast your vote.

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David Tennant's Comic-Con roundup

David Tennant was at Comic-Con in San Diego to promote Doctor Who. He did tons and tons of interviews, so I will post as many as I possibly can.

First, there's the video of David and John Barrowman introducing Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead and Torchwood: Children of Earth to the panel. I believe this was either on Friday or Saturday. John got a kiss from David. Lucky:



Next is David and Russell T Davies's appearance on San Diego television station CW6 on Sunday morning:



You can also watch video of the Doctor Who panel at Comic-Con. I've uploaded the first part for you and you can watch all 4 parts of the panel here.



Okay, this is the final David Tennant video from Comic-Con (well, at least for this post anyway). He talked to MTV News about those Hobbit rumors:

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

If you would like to check out photos of David at Comic-Con you can go to David-Tennant.com's gallery.


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John Barrowman answers some questions

There's a John Barrowman Q&A over at Pop Candy to check out. John answered some reader questions which you can read here.

Torchwood: Children of Earth kicks off its five-night run tonight. And I know people use over-the-top phrases like this all the time, but I swear it's true: This miniseries is the TV event of the summer.

There's an alien invasion, possessed children, a lot of sprinting and shooting and even a little nudity (yay). To further enhance our viewing experience, BBC America launches its brand new HD channel today. Is there anything better than Captain Jack in high definition?

I wrote a preview of Children of Earth for today's paper; check out what creator Russell T. Davies and John Barrowman told me about the show.

You also sent me several questions for Barrowman, and he was kind enough to answer them. Check them out below, and I can't wait to discuss the show tomorrow: [Pop Candy]

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David Tennant and John Barrowman will be at Comic-Con

BBC America sent out this press release earlier today. It's pretty long, but if you'll be attending Comic-Con this year, then check it out:

- BBC hosts Doctor Who talent for their first ever appearance at Comic-Con -

New York, NY – June 17, 2009 – In support of BBC AMERICA’s U.S. premiere of four Doctor Who Specials, the Doctor himself, David Tennant, will appear alongside writer/executive producer Russell T Davies at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego. They will take part in a Doctor Who panel along with executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn, Sunday July 26, 10:00-11:00am PT.

David will travel to Comic-Con, fresh from the Doctor Who set, having shot his final scenes as the tenth Time Lord. He and fellow panelists will discuss the latest incarnation of television’s longest running science fiction series and take questions from the floor. There will also be exclusive sneak peeks from the upcoming specials.

Fans can visit the BBC AMERICA booth (#3629) to capture their own photograph alongside part of the Doctor Who set – as well as purchase exclusive merchandise including David Tennant figures.

Fans of BBC AMERICA’s highest rated show ever, Torchwood, which will have just completed the five-part special, Children of Earth, will get to chat with the stars and makers of the show first-hand. Just 48 hours after the last episode, the show makes a return visit to Comic-Con with a panel featuring star John Barrowman, writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn, Sunday July 26, 2:15-3:45pm PT.

As part of the same panel, Sunday July 26, 2:15-3:45pm PT, catch the talent from BBC AMERICA’s most buzzed about new sci fi drama, Being Human. Creator and writer, Toby Whithouse, plus lead actors Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner, talk about the inspiration for the show and what it’s like to play three twenty-somethings with secret double-lives – as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. All four panelists will be signing exclusively at the BBC AMERICA booth, Saturday July 25, 3:00-4:00pm PT.

Cult comedy favorite and BAFTA-nominated, The Mighty Boosh, comes to Comic-Con for the first time to celebrate the airing of all three seasons on Adult Swim, and the BBC’s DVD release, just two days before the convention begins. Inspired by the Perrier Comedy Award-winning live comedy show, creators-stars Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding, along with actors Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown, will be on stage to discuss the magical, bizarre and exciting world of The Boosh, Friday, July 24, 4:45-5:45pm. The hit UK comedy series follows crazy zookeepers Howard Moon and Vince Noir and was described by The San Jose Mercury News as “an acid-trip fantasy-comedy [that] is seriously deranged and seriously funny.”

Fans can also catch exclusive BBC AMERICA screenings during the convention with back to back episodes of Doctor Who and Torchwood. Key talent from both shows introduce the last episode of the five part series Torchwood: Children of Earth and a U.S. premiere viewing of Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead, the first of four specials starring David Tennant.

Underground Toys (#3949) will be selling their entire Doctor Who and Torchwood lines of toys and novelty items. In addition, this year they will once again introduce new limited edition Comic-Con action figures that have never been seen before.

BBC AMERICA Comic-Con Panel and Signing Schedule

Friday, July 24

4:45-5:45pm The Mighty Boosh: creators-stars Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding along with actors Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown will be on stage to discuss the magical, bizarre and exciting world of The Boosh, currently airing on Adult Swim and released on DVD by the BBC two days before the convention begins. The San Jose Mercury News describes the show as “an acid-trip fantasy-comedy [that] is seriously deranged and seriously funny.” Room 6A

3:30-4:30pm The Mighty Boosh signing in the Autograph Area.

Saturday, July 25

3:00-4:00pm Being Human: creator Toby Whithouse and actors Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner signing at the BBC AMERICA booth (#3629).

7:30-10:00pm Torchwood/Doctor Who: Key talent from both shows introduce the last episode of the five part series Torchwood: Children of Earth and an advance viewing of Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead, the first of four specials starring David Tennant. Room 6A

Sunday, July 26

10:00-11:00am Doctor Who: actor David Tennant, writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, director Euros Lyn and executive producer Julie Gardner discuss their creative process and experiences working on BBC AMERICA’s Doctor Who with exclusive clips and a Q&A session. Ballroom 20

2:15-3:45pm Being Human/Torchwood: Being Human creator Toby Whithouse and cast members Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner, are on stage to give an inside look at BBC AMERICA’s U.S. premiere sci-fi drama about the lives of three twenty-somethings and their secret double-lives – as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. Following that actor John Barrowman, creator/writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn talk about the making of the epic five-night television event Torchwood: Children of Earth as well as take questions from the fans. Room 6BCF

About BBC Worldwide, America:

BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of the UK public broadcaster, BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) and maintains offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, Miami, Rhode Island. The business brings together the seven core BBC Worldwide divisions: Channels, Content & Production, Sales & Distribution, Global Brands, Digital Media, Home Entertainment & Magazines. The highly acclaimed cable channel BBC America, now available in 64 million homes, and the smash hit Dancing with the Stars, produced by BBC Worldwide Productions are among the key brands in the region.

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