BBC Worldwide press Release

BBC sends Torchwood to Network Ten

BBC Showcase, Wednesday 28th February 2007: BBC Worldwide Australasia has licensed dazzling adult drama Torchwood (13 x 50’) to Network Ten, it announced today.

The series follows the adventures of an international team of investigators, led by Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), the enigmatic American air force renegade who first appeared in Doctor Who in 2005.

Set in the UK in 2006, the team use scavenged alien technology to solve crime; both extra-terrestrial and human.

Torchwood is separate from the government; outside the police; beyond the United Nations. Everyone who works for Torchwood is young – under 35. Some say that’s because it’s a new science. Others say it’s because they die young…

Transmitting first on BBC THREE in the UK, the first episode of Torchwood was the most watched (non-sport) program ever to air on a UK digital channel.

TEN has also committed to a second series, which is currently in production.

“Torchwood is a thriller sci-fi cop show with a very human heart,” said Amber Knight, Senior Sales Manager for BBC Worldwide Australasia. “It’s sexy, clever, wild and perfect for TEN’s audience.”

“Torchwood brings a sexy new twist to the traditional cop show genre that we at TEN are thrilled to have as part of our 2007 slate,” added Beverly McGarvey, head of programming at Network Ten.

Following this new sale, 9 countries have now acquired the series including Spain, New Zealand and Sweden.

The series is written by Russell T Davies, the extraordinary talent behind Doctor Who, Casanova and Queer as Folk, who described it as a meeting of The X-Files and This Life. He named the series after the anagram that was used to protect the secrecy of early Doctor Who rushes and preview tapes.

Torchwood is a BBC production in association with CBC.

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martindunne at bigpond.com.au

Last updated 2007-03-02