Torchwood Returning As Audio Drama With John Barrowman

Cult favorite Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood is returning for a  series of six audioplays produced by Big Finish, as part of a licensing deal with BBC Worldwide. 

John Barrowman, now perhaps best known to American audiences as Malcolm Merlyn on Arrow, will once again reprise his role as Captain Jack Harkness to lead the Torchwood team. Barrowman announced the new Torchwood series on his own radio program.

Torchwood was created in 2006 by Russell T. Davies as a spinoff of the Doctor Who, which Davies ran during the first four series of its revitalization. The top secret organization called Torchwood saved Cardiff (and often the world) from alien menaces and terrifying forces, trying to keep the city safe from the inter-dimensional rift that ran through it. In charge of Torchwood was Captain Jack, a man who has been called: "A companion to the Doctor, a rogue Time Agent, an immortal, a dangerous con-man, and very good at parties." Captain Jack can't be exterminated or trusted, and there's just no stopping him.

The new series of audio dramas will each focus on different members of the Torchwood team, exploring the impact that a mysterious event has on them. The first episode will be titled The Conspiracy, and will focus Captain Jack. Written by David Llewellyn, The Conspiracy will be released in September 2015.

In a press release, Davies says, "Torchwood has been to the Moon, and America, and the Himalayas, but now I think it's finally coming home, to the brilliance of Big Finish."

Torchwood had two series on the BBC, followed by a BBC miniseries titled Torchwood: Children of Earth. The series then jumped to pond for 10-episode Torchwood: Miracle Day, which was co-produced by and aired on Starz. BBC radio also ran a series of Torchwood radio plays between 2008 and 2011.

"What's great about Torchwood is that it is as unstoppable as Captain Jack and just as persuasive," says producer James Goss. "Torchwood has been a ratings success on nearly every BBC channel, and it's one of the few UK series to translate to America. It's already been a series of iPlayer-topping audio plays, and we are thrilled to continue it. It's just so exciting to be starting off the range with a drama starring John Barrowman – he leapt at the chance to display a whole new side to Captain Jack."

Executive producer Jason Haigh-Ellery says, "It's fantastic that we will be bringing Captain Jack back to life (for perhaps the thousandth time!) with Big Finish. There are many new Torchwood tales to be told and I can't wait for Jack and his team to defend the Earth once again. I am very grateful for the continuing faith that both the BBC and Russell T Davies have shown in us and very excited to enter into a new world for Big Finish."

Executive producer Nicholas Briggs says, "Torchwood is something we've wanted to do for ages. It has great characters and there are many stories to be told. Our mission is to bring a whole new series of dramatic adventures to life. We're starting off with these more intimate, focused releases and will then move on to bigger casts and even wider scope. We're very much looking forward to working with all the cast and it's been such a pleasure liaising with Russell T Davies about this. He couldn't have been more supportive and helpful. OurTorchwood producer, James Goss, has really hit the ground running and his tangible enthusiasm is already proving rather an inspiration to us."

Additional cast members and details for the Torchwood audio drama series are still to come. 

Torchwood: The Conspiracy will be released in September 2015. The remaining five series installments will begin debuting monthly in January 2016. All six can be pre-ordered now, either individually or through a subscription.