John Barrowman

He says that the whens and hows are still being talked about but they’re looking at another 13 episode run, not 5 which is extra great news.

As for appearing with the new Doctor Who, John says it hasn’t been discussed but followed with, “I’m prepared that it won’t happen.”

If you’re a John Barrowman fan, you’ll want to listen to the full interview which does play here in the US. Visit the Steve Wright in the Afternoon webpage for the streaming link. John comes on at the 2.23.35 mark but if you have time, listen to the whole thing. They play some great music and there’s nothing like a UK traffic report. (Can someone explain “the anticlockwise” to me? Is that the UK version of a traffic circle?)

During the interview, John talks about filming the special, he speaks fondly of his parents and his first “public” appearance when he was 4-years old performing on the counter of a record store.

When asked about where he gets his inspiration, he had this to say, “People should be inspired by what they do themselves.”

I like that. It doesn’t appear that the DVD is available yet in the US, but you can buy John’s brand new autobiography I am What I am.

Photo: Newscom

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Thanks to Small Screen Scoop and my Twitter buddy Jessica Rae for the tip.

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Q: How is Torchwood: Children of Earth different from the previous seasons?

Barrowman: This storyline is one of the darker Torchwood storylines. Every time you turn a corner you don’t know what’s going to happen. And when you watch episode one you’re going to want to see two, and when you’ve seen two you’ll want to see three. You’re just going to want more and more and more. The new threat faced by the team takes on a sinister theme, using the children of Earth as a conduit. And anything that involves children doing stuff they are not supposed to be doing is creepy!

Q: Jack, Gwen and Ianto have had to deal with so much these past two years. Where do they go from here?

Barrowman: The characters have evolved in ways because we’re learning new things about them. It makes it really interesting for us to play as actors and for the audience every episode will bring a new revelation. If you like relationships then you’re going to see the difference in Jack and Ianto’s relationship and Gwen and Rhys’ – but you’re also going to see the similarities.

Q: Any spoilers you’d like to clue us in on?

Barrowman: One of the team is hiding a secret that will be a revelation to a lot of people – not only to the viewers watching but to the team itself. It will be very uncomfortable for the characters. And people watching it will question why they did it. Will they be able to understand why they did it?

I let my parents watch episode one and two with me. I watched their reaction. Normally they would get up during a show and have a drink or go to the bathroom. But they didn’t move. My mom and dad – who are my biggest critics – were glued to the screen. We finished watching it and the following morning my dad turned to me and said “When are we watching three?” If they don’t like something I do then they will say it. They absolutely loved this.

Torchwood: Children of Earth premieres on Monday, July 20, 9:00 – 10:15 p.m. ET/PT. A new episode premieres each night from Monday, July 20 through Friday, July 24, 9:00 – 10:15 p.m. ET/PT. The previous night’s episode will encore at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Photo: Newscom

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— Torchwood is separate from the Government, outside the Police, beyond the United Nations. More secret than MI5 or MI6, not even the Government is supposed to know about them.

— The Torchwood hub is situated deep beneath the Cardiff Millennium Center.

— Torchwood was formed in 1879 by the Royal decree of Queen Victoria as a result of her experiences in Doctor Who: Series 2: Tooth & Claw.

— Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who. When the first season of the new Doctor Who (2005) was being made, television pirates were desperate to acquire the preview tapes. One of the people in the office had the idea of labeling the tapes with the anagram ‘Torchwood’ rather than Doctor Who, as a security measure to disguise the tapes when they were delivered from Cardiff to London. Writer Russell T Davies liked this idea so much that it later inspired him to use it as a title when creating this spin-off series.

— John Barrowman first appeared as Captain Jack Harness in Episode 9 (The Empty Child) of the first season of Doctor Who. He also appeared in The Doctor Dances, Boom Town, Bad Wolf and The Parting of the Ways in the same season, and again in episodes 11-13 of series 3 (Utopia, Sound of the Drums, & Last of the Time Lords). He was also in episodes 12 & 13 of series 4 (The Stolen Earth & Journey’s End).  (SEE NOTE AT END)

— The part of Gwen in Torchwood was written specially for Eve Myles. She first appeared as Gwyneth in Episode 3 (The Unquiet Dead) of the first season of Doctor Who.

— Gareth David-Lloyd’s character, Ianto Jones, began as the team’s assistant who always sports a fine tailored suit while ensuring the rest of the team has everything it needs. Ianto has now grown to be an integral part of the team, especially after the loss of Tosh (Naoko Mori) and Owen (Burn Gorman) in season two.

NOTE: Several people have left comments correcting the material above – the funny thing is — the original material came straight from BBC America, but it does appear that the commenters are correct, so I changed the above to reflect that info. Any corrections on the corrections?

Torchwood: Children of Earth premieres on Monday, July 20, 9:00 – 10:15 p.m. ET/PT. A new episode premieres each night from Monday, July 20 through Friday, July 24, 9:00 – 10:15 p.m. ET/PT. The previous night’s episode will encore at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Graphic: BBC America

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BBC America has announced their lineup for this year’s scifi / comic lollapalooza and it’s a biggie.

David Tennant, will appear alongside writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn for a Doctor Who panel on Sunday July 26, 10:00-11:00am PT. (Just before Supernatural!) They’ll be showing sneak peeks from Tennant’s upcoming specials and offering photo ops.

Then, John Barrowman, will take the stage with Davies and Julie Gardner to discuss the new Torchwood: Children of Earth special.  During the same panel, we’ll be introduced to the new BBC America series Being Human. On hand for that will be creator and writer, Toby Whithouse, plus stars Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner who will talk about 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.

There will also be special screenings of Doctor Who and Torchwood with introductions by the stars and you’ll get a chance to buy a new limited edition Comic-Con only action figure from Doctor Who.

Here are the details so you can start planning your (already jam packed) weekend!

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

Photo: BBC America

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Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 29 at 8:00 for the US premiere of Any Dream Will Do.

The spotlight is on the world of musical theatre as host Graham Norton (The Graham Norton Show) along with expert panelist John Barrowman (Torchwood) and legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber search for new talent to play Joseph in the West End revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. After rounds of auditions, twelve boys make the cut to prove they have the charisma and star quality to land the lead role of Joseph. Each week they are put to the test with ensemble numbers, solo performances, and exercises to test their skills. They’ll have to impress the judges to move along and get closer to becoming the next Joseph and Britain’s next theatre star.

** This is a triple bonus for me as I love John, Graham Norton and Joseph the musical! I’m in heaven.

Next up, at 10:00 is the US premiere of The Making of Me: John Barrowman.

Torchwood’s John Barrowman goes on a journey of self discovery to answer the question: why am I the way I am? In this one hour special, Barrowman sets out to unearth what the latest scientific research can tell him about the origins of his homosexuality. His search for evidence takes him back to his roots to meet family and old friends and for the first time, meet with scientists to find out how nature and nurture might have interacted to make him who he is.

Now that’s what I call one multi-faceted guy!

Photo: Newscom

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Torchwood: Children of Earth

In one epic story told over five nights the new series, airing later this year on BBC AMERICA and BBC One in the UK, re-joins Captain Jack (John Barrowman), Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) and Ianto Jones (Gareth David Lloyd) who are still coming to terms with the death of two of their closest friends. Despite their pain, they have a job to do. This time they are faced with their fiercest threat to date – one which throws the future of Torchwood and the entire human race spiralling into danger. They battle against the odds but do they stand a chance of saving mankind? Torchwood is executive produced by Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner. The producer is Peter Bennett (Doctor Who).

If you are going to the NY Comic Con this weekend, don’t miss Eve Myles and the Torchwood panel.

Find out more at the Official Torchwood site on BBCAmerica, the people who provided this clip.

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I’ll even forgive them the sexuality jokes because each joke was one more chance to hit the audience over the head with the idea that Captain Jack is fabulous and if they aren’t watching him on Doctor Who or Torchwood, they should be!

Obviously someone on the writing staff is a huge Harkness fan.  Maybe they can get John Barrowman as a guest star, you know, playing some Captain Jack-ish rouge agent who has the hots for Mike. Hmm. . . I feel a fan fic coming on. . .

“Tell me, KITT.  Is that your dipstick or are you just happy to see me?”

Pictured: Paul Campbell as Billy Morgan — NBC Photo: Paul Drinkwater

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This week on Torchwood, Rhys discovers the truth about Torchwood and becomes part of the team as they investigate a mysterious alien meat supply. With Rhys in increasing danger Gwen is under pressure like never before. Will Rhys go too far? Will Jack ask too much of him? And can Torchwood save the alien from being used as cheap meat?

Watch a clip from this episode and get an “Inside Look” at “To the Last Man” at BBCAmerica.

BBC America’s new Supernatural Saturday line-up kicks off with Doctor Who, season three, on Saturdays 7:00 p.m. ET   / 4:00 PT, followed by an encore episode of Torchwood at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT and the U.S. premiere episode at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.  It’s a really fun way to spend your Saturday night!

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Remember that this year, here in the US, Torchwood Season Two begins on January 26 on BBC America.

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