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Torchwood
Big Finish Productions audio drama
Series	Torchwood
Produced by	James Goss
Executive producer(s)	Jason Haigh-Ellery Nicholas Briggs
Release date	15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) – Present

Torchwood is a series of audio dramas produced by Big Finish Productions based on the British television programme of the same name. Like its TV counterpart, the dramas follow the exploits of the operatives who work for the Torchwood Institute – a secret organisation that defends Earth against extraterrestrial threats.

The series premiered on 15 September 2015. 24 individual plays and 9 specials have been released with 14 more announced. James Goss acts as producer, with Nicholas Briggs and Jason Haigh-Ellery serving as executive producers.

Background

The original television programme Torchwood (2006–11), an adult-oriented spin-off of the long-running British science fiction drama Doctor Who, ran for four series before entering an indefinite hiatus due to executive producer and creator Russell T Davies's other commitments.

In January 2015, John Barrowman, who plays series lead Captain Jack Harkness, stated that there were plans for Torchwood to return as several BBC audio plays that could potentially lead into a fifth television series, with both Davies and co-executive producer Julie Gardner in discussion of the project.^[1]Torchwood previously aired on BBC Radio 4 between 2008 and 2011 in the form of radio plays.

In May 2015, Big Finish announced plans to produce audio plays based on Torchwood as part of a licensing agreement between themselves and BBC Worldwide, allowing them to use characters and concepts from the revived series of Doctor Who (2005–present) and its spin-offs in future audio productions^[2] after previously only being permitted elements from the show's classic run (1963–89) and 1996 TV film. The project received the blessing of Davies,^[2] who had been working with Gardner and former Big Finish producer Gary Russell to bring Torchwood to the company since 2013.^[3]

Each play from the series' main range usually centres on one or more members of the organisation and their associates. The first and second series were released back-to-back between September 2015–August 2016 as monthly instalments. Third and fourth series followed between March–August 2017 and March–August 2018, respectively, while a fifth series is set for release between March 2019–February 2020.^[4]

In addition to the main range, specials featuring ensemble casts are released infrequently. The first, The Torchwood Archive, was released in October 2016 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Torchwood's TV debut, with the boxsets Outbreak and Torchwood One: Before the Fall following in November 2016 and January 2017, respectively. A three-part series titled Aliens Among Us – marketed as the fifth series of the TV programme – was released between August 2017–February 2018, followed by the boxsets Believe and Torchwood One: Machines in April and July of 2018. A second three-part series titled God Among Us (marketed as the sixth series of Torchwood) is confirmed for release between October 2018–June 2019.^[5]

Premise

Torchwood follows the exploits of the agents who work for the fictional institute of the same name: a clandestine British organisation that defends Earth against supernatural and extraterrestrial threats and salvages alien technology that comes to the planet. Like the television series, the audio dramas primarily focus on a team of alien hunters based at the organisation's Cardiff division, Torchwood Three, while occasionally fixating on their associates and agents from other branches of the institute.

A story arc central to the series' main releases revolves around a group of aliens called The Committee, who appear to have been secretly manipulating humanity since the turn of the twentieth century. Despite their existence being perceived as a conspiracy, Torchwood have made efforts in foiling the Committee's schemes, but it appears they have larger plans in force.

Time period-wise, each play is set at a different point in Torchwood's history, ranging from its founding in the Victorian Era to the early 21st century and beyond. Certain plays also take place during events from the TV series.

Cast

Production

The series is produced by James Goss, with Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs serving as executive producers. A number of writers contribute to the series regularly, whilst Scott Handcock and Blair Mowat respectively direct and compose the score on a regular basis, other directors and composers contribute infrequently. Scripts were initially edited by Steve Tribe, with duties later shared with David Llewellyn. From 2019, scripts will be edited by Llewellyn with Scott Handcock. All cover art is designed by Lee Binding.

Plays have been recorded in studios across the UK and the United States, including Rancho Mirage Music, Bang Post Production, The Moat Studios, The Roundhouse Studios and Ladbroke Audio. One play is typically recorded in 1–2 days and released within six months, with post production taking place in the time in between. They debut through Big Finish's website for digital download and physical purchase, before becoming commercially available three months later, as usual with other Big Finish releases.

Releases

Main Range

Series 1 (2015–16)

Series 2 (2016)

Series 3 (2017)

Series 4 (2018)

Series 5

Specials (2016–)

Torchwood One (2017–)

Aliens Among Us (2017–18)

Marketed and released as the fifth series of Torchwood.^[8]

God Among Us (2018)

Marketed and released as the sixth series of Torchwood.^[9]

References