Julie Gardner has confirmed that a third series of Torchwood has been commissioned and that it will be unlike anything we have seen before!

Not only will the series air on BBC One, Torchwood will have a brand new format. The series will consist of just one continuous story, delivered over 5 consecutive nights.

That's not the only thing that will be new about the series - Torchwood will have a brand new producer, Peter Bennett, who has previously worked on Torchwood and on Doctor Who as well as 'The Mummy', 'A View to a Kill' and 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'. Euros Lyn will also join the team as Director. Euros has directed several Doctor Who episodes including the 'Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead' two-part story from the current series.

And just to add to the excitement, the show will boast some new arrivals in the cast as well...

Julie Gardner says that she and Russell T Davies "are thrilled to be bringing Torchwood back for a third series. The new series promises to be a gripping and surprising TV event and we're certain the audience will love the team's exciting, roller-coaster adventures."

Production on the new series will start in August.

www.bbc.co.uk/torchwood

Torchwood star and West End performer John Barrowman has welcomed a new friend into his life.

The actor and singer has re-homed a Jack Russell Terrier from Cardiff Dogs Home.

John Barrrowman fell in love with the 12 week old pup who staff had named ‘Captain Jack’ whilst opening a new kennel block at Cardiff Dogs Home The Jack Russell Terrier had been found abandoned recently in a Cardiff flat and was being cared for by staff at the Dogs Home.

Accompanied by Captain Jack John Barrowman officially opened the four new kennels at the Dogs Home which have been built to house larger dogs and mothers with pups.

Councillor Judith Woodman, Cardiff Council Deputy Leader said:

“Cardiff Council is very grateful for the support of John Barrowman who has visited the Dogs Home to officially open a new kennel block. The new kennels have been converted from an old derelict building and were made possible by donations from two kind benefactors who bequeathed money to the Dogs Home last year.”

“Around 1300 abandoned and stray dogs pass through Cardiff Dogs Home each year. The new kennels will be used to house bigger dogs and for nursing mothers with pups. The donations have also helped to pay for the refurbishment of a vet’s room so that spaying and castration can now be carried out on site.”

John Barrowman said: “I was pleased to be invited to Cardiff Dogs Home to support all the good work that it does for abandoned and stray dogs throughout the city. As a dog owner and Patron of the Dogs Trust myself
I know how important it is to pass on the message of responsible dog ownership to all dog owners.”

During my visit to the Dogs’ Home I fell in love with a 12 week old Jack Russell Terrier who was recently abandoned in an empty flat in Cardiff. I have now adopted the little fella ‘Captain Jack’ as part of our
family.”

We have created a unique online mystery which gives you the opportunity to become a freelance operative for Torchwood. Each week Ianto will give you a mission to complete. You'll be able to poke around in the Torchwood case files, see exclusive Torchwood content, and find out if you really are good enough to join Jack and the team.

The missions feature brand new Torchwood video and were created especially for the web by series scriptwriter Phil Ford.

The first mission is already underway. If you think you've got what it takes, watch Ianto's first briefing and apply now.

Torchwood's back for a second series with a Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and so is the exclusive behind-the-scenes companion show TORCHWOOD DECLASSIFIED. Now broadcast immediately after the pre-watershed version on BBC Two, Torchwood Declassified gives you unlimited backstage access and uncovers the secrets of how the production team make this series just as spectacular as its' parent show, Doctor Who.


The opening episode (broadcast Wednesday 23rd Jan, 7.50pm, BBC Two) is bigger, bolder and literally packs more punches than ever before. Featuring a blow by blow account from John Barrowman on the Western style fight between Captain's Jack and John, Declassified's cameras go backstage to talk to stunt co-ordinator Tom Lucy and reveal just what it takes to pull off some fast-paced punching between the two 'Time Agents'. Also, creator Russell T Davies, producer Richard Stokes and writer Chris Chibnall celebrate the arrival of rogue Time Agent Captain John Hart, and science fiction legend James Marsters discusses how he felt making his debut in Torchwood.

Plus, Torchwood Declassified reaches brand new heights following Curtis Rivers, the stunt double who dangled high in the sky to create the death defying fall of Captain Jack.



And for the second thrilling instalment (broadcast Thursday 24th Jan, 7.50pm, BBC Two) TORCHWOOD DECLASSIFIED is in the thick of the action once more for the filming of the latest explosive episode, Sleeper. On location in the centre of Cardiff, director Colin Teague and producer Richard Stokes explain the complications of filming the series biggest visual effect so far. Plus, they reveal how this was made even more difficult in the wake of the Glasgow terror attacks just 24 hours prior to the shoot.

From script to screen, this episode is one of Torchwood's most ambitious and adventurous to date. Writer James Moran explains the vision he had for this episode and how he came to write such a bold story for his first ever Torchwood script.

And talking to Eve Myles and Nikki Amuka-Bird, Torchwood Declassified takes a look at their characters 'Gwen' and 'Beth' and analyses the relationship between the two, re-enforcing yet again that the former Cardiff cop really is the heart of the Torchwood team, and an asset to the series as a whole.

BBC Audiobooks has commissioned two exclusive Sarah Jane Adventures stories for release in November.

The Glittering Storm and The Thirteenth Stone will be read by Elisabeth Sladen. This is the first time that BBC Audiobooks have commissioned new content for exclusive release on audio.

The Glittering Storm

When patients at a London clinic begin to act strangely, Sarah Jane's suspicions are aroused. Luke falls prey to the clinic's sinister agenda, Maria and Clyde are pursued through London by a golden battle machine, and Sarah discovers a plot to harvest all the gold from Earth - at a terrible cost to the planet!

Written by Steve Cole, author of many Doctor Who novels. "My first memories of Doctor Who are of poor Sarah stuck in a ventilator shaft back in 1975," said Steven, "so I jumped at the chance to write a story for Lis Sladen. She is a fantastic actor with a wonderful voice, and Sarah Jane is a marvellous character.

"With The Glittering Storm I aimed to provide a story with creepy scares - as well as humour and thrills - in the vein of the new TV series. The idea is that we on Earth are not the only people who prize gold highly... Others in space have a fascination for the stuff too, and are rather more menacing in the way that they use it..."

The Thirteenth Stone

The Thirteenth Stone is written Justin Richards, editor of the Doctor Who novels range.

Whilst helping out on a school trip, Sarah Jane discovers the truth behind the legend of an ancient stone circle. Something is trying to escape from one of the stones – and it's chosen Luke as the way out! Can Sarah, Clyde and Maria save him?

"I had enormous fun writing The Thirteenth Stone," he said. "It's always slightly daunting writing a story that is going to be read aloud - you really have to be at your best. But knowing that Elisabeth Sladen – Sarah Jane Smith herself – was going to be reading it was a tremendous boost to the confidence as well as a huge privilege. I can't wait to hear the finished result!"

The two stories will be available on CD and for download from the 5th November at £5.99 each.