Torchwood: Season 2

Russell T. Davies, executive producer of the legendary Doctor Who, explores a thrilling new dimension of sci-fi adventures in this widely heralded spin-off. Playing by their own rules is the credo of the Torchwood team, whose goal is to investigate extraterrestrial and supernatural events on Earth without the help of the British government or the United Nations. With fearsome new aliens, compelling new storylines, and amazing guest stars the second season takes the close-knit Torchwood team through daredevil action, temptation, and heartache. John Barrowman (Doctor Who) stars as the enigmatic Captain Jack Harkness. Eve Myles (Doctor Who), Burn Gorman (Bleak House) and Naoko Mori (Absolutely Fabulous) also star.

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang - Captain Jack returns, as the Torchwood team reunites to fight a rogue Time Agent. The mysterious Captain John Hart (James Marsters) is determined to wreak havoc, and needs to find something hidden on Earth. But with Gwen's life in danger, and cluster bombs scattered across the city, whose side is Jack on?

Sleeper - When a burglary turns into a slaughter, the Torchwood team suspects alien involvement. Who is Beth, and can she be as innocent as she seems? But when the investigation escalates into a city-wide assault, Jack realizes that the whole planet is in danger.

To The Last Man - Toshiko falls for a handsome soldier, trapped out of his time who unwittingly holds key to saving the world. With an old hospital haunted by ghosts from 1918, a crisis foreseen by Torchwood 90 years ago is about to reach its climax. Time zones are colliding and Torchwood must make life-and-death decisions in order to stop an explosive end for Cardiff?

Meat - 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?

Adam - An alien with the power to change memories infiltrates Torchwood. Can the team save themselves from Adam before it's too late? With Captain Jack caught up in memories of his lost family, and Gwen struggling to remember Rhys, it takes Jack's love of Ianto to reveal the truth. But there's always a price to pay.

Reset - Captain Jack calls in Martha Jones (Freema Aygeman) to investigate mysterious deaths. When the trail leads to a sinister medical testing center, Martha must go undercover. But has Torchwood underestimated how far the testing center will go to find medical breakthroughs? How safe are any of the Torchwood team? Alan Dale guest stars as Professor Aaron Copley, who runs a sinister medical research center.

Dead Man Walking - Deep in shock (after Owen's death), the Torchwood team has to face its darkest hour. In an effort to put things right, Captain Jack uses the resurrection glove, thereby unleashing a primal force that uses Torchwood as a conduit to wreak havoc across Earth, aided by the Weevils and their newly appointed King.

A Day In The Death - A victim of his newfound circumstances, Owen Harper believes he needs absolution. Will the lonely girl on the rooftop help him? And how far will Toshiko go to help him?

Something Borrowed - The night before her wedding, Gwen is juggling work with her hen night, when an alien shapeshifter leaves her carrying more than she bargained for. As everyone gathers for the ceremony, Jack must destroy her big day, unless one of the three mothers present finds a means to stop him.

From Out Of The Rain - When an old cinema re-opens, past horrors emerge to stalk the streets of Cardiff. And as bodies are found, somewhere between life and death, Torchwood must act fast. Who are the Night Travelers? And how can Torchwood capture these mysterious killers?

Adrift - When a local teenager disappears, Gwen is drawn into an investigation that reveals a darker side of Torchwood. Hundreds of people have disappeared without trace, but why is Captain Jack obstructing attempts to find them? The answer seems to lie in the rift. Literally. And as Gwen follows the trail, she makes a shocking discovery.

Fragments - A booby-trapped building explodes and knocks the team unconscious. As their lives flash before their eyes, we learn how each of them was recruited to Torchwood: Captain Jack's initiation into a shocked Victorian Torchwood in1899, Toshiko's daring mission to trade alien technology for her mother's life, how Ianto wooed Jack with coffee and a flair for alien-catching, and the medical revelation that changed how Owen saw the world.

Exit Wounds - Captain John Hart returns to have his revenge on Torchwood in the concluding episode. Taking Captain Jack prisoner, he sends him back in time for a long overdue reunion. Without their leader, Torchwood are faced with a city flooded with Weevils, on the brink of destruction. But who is Captain John really working for?  Can anyone trust him? And how great a price must Torchwood pay to save the city?

Jack Harkness
The origins of Torchwood's team leader, Jack, are obscure and he likes it that way. However, he has vast practical experience of working with aliens and dealing with crisis situations. He has come through a lot of scrapes intact, and is unafraid of dangerous situations. In fact, he's usually ready with a flirtatious quip whatever the threat.

Gwen Cooper
A former police officer, Gwen brings procedural skills to the team and a sensitivity that helps them greatly in dealing with victims. She is grounded, straightforward and very determined, and in the murky world of Torchwood she often acts as the team's conscience. Her ability to co-ordinate activity has led to her being recognized as the team's deputy leader.

Dr. Owen Harper
Owen trained as a medical doctor, but since joining Torchwood has expanded his expertise massively. As well as attending to the team's emergency medical needs and working on the human victims of alien activity, he has gained much expertise in alien anatomy. He is very confident in his abilities - some would say over-confident - but his commitment to his duty has never been doubted.

Toshiko Sato
The team's technical expert is quiet but highly intelligent. One of the main purposes of Torchwood is to assess the potential application of alien technology for humanity's use, and this is Toshiko's job. She also has a keen understanding of practical physics, which makes her useful as a field agent. She is focused and intensely professional, though sensitive.

Ianto Jones
Ianto deals with all the team's administrative issues. His knowledge is eclectic, his attention to detail unrivalled and his ability to anticipate the team's needs before they have arisen is uncanny. He dislikes it when his remarkable efficiency is taken for granted, however, and when required, he is also more than capable of undertaking field work for the team.

Guest Starring - Freema Ageyman (Doctor Who), James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Smallville), Richard Briers (Monarch of the Glen, The Good Life), Alan Dale (Ugly Betty, The OC)
Creator, Lead Writer and Executive Producer - Russell T Davies(Doctor Who, Queer As Folk, The Second Coming, Casanova)
Lead Writer - Chris Chibnall (Life on Mars, Born and Bred)
Writers - Phil Ford, P. J. Hammond, Matt Jones, Joseph Lidster, James Moran, Helen Raynor, Cath Tregenna and J.C. Wilsher
Producer Richard Stokes (Magnificent 7, EastEnders, Holby City)
Executive Producer - Julie Gardner (Doctor Who, Life on Mars, Casanova)

John Barrowman
An entertainer with a capital E, John Barrowman sings, dances, acts, presents and judges - a unique talent first appearing as Captain Jack Harkness in the 2006 season of Doctor Who. Born in Glasgow, where he spent his early years, John moved to the United States, living in Illinois, and later studied Musical Theatre at the U.S. International University in San Diego, California. John went on to achieve acclaim in professional stage and screen roles both in musical and straight theatre productions on Broadway and in London's West End. John has recently featured on a variety of primetime television shows including How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do.

Eve Myles
Eve won the 2007 Welsh Bafta for Best Actress for her role as ‘Gwen' in Torchwood, season one. She has appeared in numerous other shows including Soundproof, Doctor Who and is particularly well known in Wales for her role as ‘Ceri' in Belonging. She is currently filming her ninth season of that show. Eve was also a winner of an Ian Charleson Award for her work in The Taming of the Shrew and Titus Andronicus for the Royal Shakespeare Company and most recently was at The National Theatre playing ‘Doll Tearsheet' in Henry IV: Part I and ‘Lady Mortimer' in Henry IV: Part II alongside Michael Gambon and directed by Nicholas Hytner.

Burn Gorman
Returning as Owen Harper in the second season of Torchwood, Burn adds another high profile credit to his already impressive resume. Born in Hollywood and brought up in London where he now lives and works, Burn is also a gifted musician who was BBC Radio 1 Human Beatbox Champion in 2003. Burn's many successes on stage and screen include playing Mr Guppy in the BBC's Bleak House and Gazza in Matthew Vaughn's film Layer Cake. More recently, he can be seen in Fred Claus alongside Vince Vaughn and Kevin Spacey and in the upcoming film The Oxford Murders by cult Spanish director Alex de la Iglesia.

Naoko Mori
Naoko Mori was born in Nagoya, Japan and grew up in the US and UK.  Her work in the theatre includes performances in The Caucasian Chalk Circle at Sadlers Wells, London, Snake in Fridge at the Royal Exchange, Manchester and Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. On screen she is best known as Saffy's best friend Sarah (aka Titicaca) in Absolutely Fabulous and has also played regular roles in Casualty and Psychos. She has made many guest appearances including MI-5, The Smoking Room, Little Miss Jocelyn and Doctor Who. On film she has appeared in Topsy Turvy, Spiceworld - The Movie and Hackers.

Gareth David-Lloyd
Gareth David-Lloyd trained at The National Youth Theatre. His TV roles include parts in Casualty, Absolute Power, Mine All Mine and a drama-documentary about Beethoven in which he played his nephew, Carl. Before he joined Torchwood his theatre credits included Three Women and a Piano Tuner at Chichester and Hampstead Theatre and Sebastian in Twelfth Night for English Touring Theatre.

“…it’s good, salacious, knockabout fun … bursting with snappy dialogue and tremendous monsters … how could anyone object to a series that begins with a blowfish driving a sports car?” - David Chater, The Times

“This show has been brilliant.” - Anila Baig, Sun

“It’s punchier, pacier, funnier, gayer and, thanks largely to an unbearably cool, ballsy, anything-goes performance from guest Buffy graduate James Marsters, immeasurably better.” - Phelim O’Neill, Guardian

“OK, so they may have played a blinder last week, but this show is still on probation. So how does this episode fare? Well, it’s another hit … It’s two out of two so far.” - Phelim O’Neill, Guardian

“It’s hard to make the character of a blowfish plausible, let alone villainous, but somehow Torchwood managed it … Fast, funny and daring, Torchwood is also significantly sharper than its primetime BBC One cousin, Doctor Who.” - Tim Teeman, The Times

“Torchwood lightens up but doesn’t dumb down as series two kicks off in style.” - London Evening Standard

“Torchwood is back for an exciting second series … Recommended.” - Mike Bradley, Observer

“Like the best episodes of Doctor Who, the stories touch on darker themes that murmur at the edges of our subconscious.” - David Chater, The Times

“Flashy Captain Jack is joined by a new face as the series kicks off in spectacular fashion. Buffy star James Marsters plays Captain John, Jack’s old flame. Cue plenty of fireworks.” - Sun

“…interplanetary sexed-up fun.” - Jon Wise, People

“…super-sexy sci-fi…” News of the World
“…funny, exciting and scary…” - David Chater, The Times

“…witty sci-fi…” - Matt Baylis, Daily Express

“…weird and wonderful … winning drama…” - Lucy Tobin, Daily Express

Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who. When the first series 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.

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 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 Cardiff Millennium Centre.

John Barrowman first appeared as Captain Jack Harness in Episode 9 (The Empty Child) of the 2005 series of Doctor Who. He also appeared in The Doctor Dances, Boom Town, Bad Wolf and The Parting of the Ways in the 2005 series, and again in the episodes Army of Ghosts and Doomsday in the 2006 series.

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 2005 series of Doctor Who.

Burn Gorman (Owen Harper) received critical acclaim for his hugely popular role of Guppy in the BBC's award-winning 2005 adaptation of Dickens' Bleak House.

Naoko Mori (Toshiko Sato) is best known for her role as Saffy's best friend Sarah (aka Titicaca), in the comedy series Absolutely Fabulous. She first appeared as Dr Sato in Episode 4 (Aliens of London) of the 2005 series of Doctor Who.