Radio Times

On Monday 6 July series three of alien-busting Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood comes to BBC1 and BBC HD. A five episode "miniseries" being shown across the week, Monday to Friday, Children of Earth is what creator Russell T Davies calls a "first contact story" - a story that begins with children across the globe coming to a complete halt to chant in unison, "We are coming. We are coming."

Sounds like a job for Torchwood. But with two members of the team - Owen and Tosh - killed off in the previous series, that leaves their leader Captain Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones (now in a settled relationship with Jack) and Gwen Cooper to tackle the threat. Gwen's husband Rhys has been given a bigger role too, becoming an unofficial fourth member of the team.

Along with the four main characters, the series features huge explosions and Torchwood's largest set yet - the mysterious Floor 13 - as well as its most impressive alien: part marionette, part prosthetic and part CGI special effects. And Peter Capaldi heads the guest cast as a potentially corrupt government bigwig called Frobisher.

But why the change of format? "If this went out every week, I'd be worried about the size of the cast," says Davies. "With so many characters to keep tabs on, you could get lost. But when it's daily, you do follow it. I just thought the scale of it would play nicely." Executive producer Julie Gardner goes further, describing the five-parter as "event television".

But not everyone's convinced. "I'm going to get a little political and I'll probably get into trouble for it," says John Barrowman, who plays Captain Jack, "but… we were the most successful show on BBC3, ever [averaging 1.3 million a week; the opener drawing 2.4 million]. We moved to BBC2 because the ratings were so good; the ratings were great again [averaging 3.1 million] and we were beating shows that had been on BBC2 for a long time. The decision was made to go to BBC1 - and then we were cut. From 13 episodes down to five."

"The five episodes are incredible but personally, I felt like we were being punished. Other shows move from BBC3 and 2 to 1, and they don't get cut. So why are we?"

Has John got a point? Or do you think the new format sounds good? Either way, how much are you looking forward to the new series of Torchwood? Post a comment below and let us know.

And don't forget to check out our photo gallery providing a sneak preview of Children of Earth.

Personally I think the BBC should can all it's soaps (BOOOOring!) and concentrate on sci-fi (of which Dr Who & Torchwood are THE BEST). We need to let our hope and imaginations soar, and with sci-fi there is no limit, in times of recession not fumble along following everyday folk in their mundane little existences. More & longer episodes please!

What happened?!!!!!!! Maybe the mini series should have been titled " The Murder Of Torchwood ". Maybe ok for people who haven't seen a Torchwood episode before, but hey what was the concept behind this five part drivel and who's daft idea was it to kill off Ianto? Seriously p****d off with something with about as much exicitement as a load of old dogs b******s and grossly lacking in action and aliens - how does a hulk of green goo and slime encased in a bullet proof tank exit without leaving a trace of slime behind. Guys it was s**t, an insult to Torchwood fans, an insult to the cast,back to the old format please, thirteen episodes and less of the soap box.

I chose to record all five episodes and watch them back to back as I felt like it. I agree somewhat with David and Jackylope. I thought the story got off to a brilliantly spooky opening (all the kids in the world going gaga together) and so on. But by the last two episodes the plot is stretched threadbare and screen-time is packed with so much padding, I could fast-forward over tens of minutes without missing anything - we're just waiting for the McGuffin that helps us humans send the alien packing, and when it does arrive, it's like, 'Gosh that was hard.'

Plus - I agree - we really don't need all the 'private background' stuff that makes this look more soap, than sci-fi.

As for the alien constantly hitting the glass cage walls with green goo - I thought he was mopping up something - what was that all about?

Must mention the cast - I thought they were generally very good with Peter Capaldi excellent. He especially gave the yarn grit and gravitas when it might have flagged even more than it finally did.

I hadn't been too sure about the '5 episode' format prior to broadcast but it was brilliant! Russell T Davies's script was gripping, with many challenging and thought-provoking elements to it and, as always John Barrowman as Captain Jack was great as were the rest of the cast.

I just hope this is not the end of Torchwood and Captain Jack!? I, for one, have not yet had enough of them! More please!

Great to havee Torchwood back, I would be even happier if I thought this mini-series was a serious attempt to challenge boundaries rather than a limited cost cutter. It was good tv, while it lasted, so give us more, & soon please.

I have particularly enjoyed watching this mini series of Torchwood, but am not very happy with what the ending could imply; it looks like the BBC are hinting that they may side track the main character of the programme - Captain Jack Harkness.

They have portrayed Jack in a viscious and callous manner who is willing to sacrifice his own grandson for the sake of all the other children, and then to hint that he may well be travelling to clear his conscience for these actions when a possible new series returns - if it does - is maybe going a stage too far.

Captain Jack is the main character, and the actor John Barrowman is playing the part perfectly, and if they were to replace either the character or the actor it would be verging on suicidal for the popularity of this wonderful programme.

I have loved the past week of Torchwood and would love it to be on every week - dump Eastenders and use the resources for Torchwood instead.

this 5 part series was amazing of course i'd love it to have been a 13 part series but hopefully we'll get that with series 4.It really has been an edge of your seat 5 parter the storylines were superb and the acting was fantastic i dont think ive cried so much from watching a programme it was an emotional rollercoster from start to finish, even as the credits rolled i was still blubbing away, so i hope the bbc don't keep us waiting to long for a series 4 as i will certainly be watching.

i wish they'd make it more personal.. instead of focusing just on the alien.

there's been very little jack/ianto action so far, apart from the couple talk, the ONE kiss, and the talk they had at the "new" torchwood hub.

jack/ianto forever <3

The BBC have really flopped,with this sad, pathetically scripted, excessively stretched 5 night series.

Coupled with a hilarious plot line delivered in a lilting Welsh accent - I am not anti Welsh, but come on!!.

I really enjoy Sci Fi and have done so for many years, but aliens that clearly are suffering from travel sickness - green vomiting on the glass screen coupled with a clear case of flatulence from the burping and groaning noises that are emmitted at regular intervals puts this series into the comedy hour category.

Surely this sad series should have been screened over the childrens viewing slot and not for serious adult viewing..

Lets have some real quality Sci Fi screened on BBC for the adult viewing audience.

Torchwood- Fantastic, enjoying every minute of it. Like it being on every night, good idea.

I think it has been ok. I'd be happier though if the BBC would be more honest and say that this series was a cost cutting exercise due mainly to the hiatus of its sister show Doctor Who. I don't think it was caused by the recession as the 5 episode format was announced beforehand. To say that they are taking the series forward by experimenting with a new format is frankly a load of old claptrap. If anything they've taken the show back to the format that was briefly used during Colin Baker's Doctor Who reign and is not too far removed from the multiple episode, cliff hanger devoted Troughton/Pertwee era. Watch Ambassadors of Death, or the War Games. I'm shocked Russell T and co thought they could get away with telling us the old format wouldn't work anymore and then release a series that had much more in common with the classic serial format, but then have the temerity to claim they were breaking new ground.

I've never managed to follow weekly episodes, as it's usually on at the weekend at pub time. Or if it's a week day I just forget it's on. I've enjoyed this Torchwood series so far, and would like more 5 episodes in 5 days drama. Good work!

love the story over a week - I couldn't bear to wait for a week for the next episode. However, I do still feel cheated over the missing episodes. I have enjoyed this storyline so much - I would have loved another mini series as well. If a mini series approach was the answer we could still have had two, or even three of these split over the year in 13 episodes.

well I'm glad the lighter evenings haven't been that great this week or I might've been out watering my tomatoes - while TW was VCR'd !

Happy to have a TV 'blockbuster' lobbed at me across one whole week… it's been concentrated fun so far…

I suspect the cut back is due to lack of money, the same reason that Dr. Who has been cut back. Once we are out of the recession we might be back to 13 episode series.

I get the distinct impression (perhaps it's just a hope) that this 5-episode run is partly intended to bridge the gap between series, establishing some significant alterations to the 'Torchwood world' so that the next 13 episode series can continue from a stronger position. Let's face it, there were some major problems with the first two series, not least of which was the strange disconnect from any official organisation - government, MI6, etc. (TW only ever seemed to operate with the knowledge of the local South Wales police!) And there was this constant ambiguity about whether the public knows of Torchwood's existence or not. One minute, a huge marauding alien is crushing Cardiff city centre, the next minute, it's business as usual. Plausibility issues like this (along with the whole idea of a bunch of twenty-something pizza-chomping error-prone punks being in charge of something of the magnitude of alien contact) have really held back the seriousness of this show. These have to be addressed if TW is to retain any sense of serious drama, otherwise it might as well be a campy kitschy Rocky Horror show type series.

I don't particularly like Torchwood. It tries too hard to be 'grown up'. The method used is to introduce Barrowman's homosexuality to the world (again). His antics with other men has nothing to do with anything. I am not interested in his private life, no matter how public he tries to make it. I hope this garbage is canned permanently. Then, maybe they will concentrate on writing real adult storylines.

I disagree with the comments about being cheated. So far a compelling story has being set up and by friday I reckon we will all want the next series as soon as. Then back to 13 episodes.

do you think that this is a sideways promotion as the Beeb wants to ditch torchwood as being too expensive?

I agree with John Barrowman - I feel cheated with one story over 5 nights. I've really enjoyed the previous two series and don't agree with the new format on one story at all.

Delighted that Torchwood is on BBC1 but 5 episodes instead of 13? It's not good enough. Ok it is ScFi but so is Dr Who and that gets 13 episodes. Personally I think Torchwood is almost as good as Dr Who and should have more air-time. Capn Jack should have been the new Dr Who, until such time as he becomes the face of BO.

I hope it will be repeated because I can't watch every night in one week. I am really looking forward to it. I love John Barrowman in this role.

I like the trailer to the new series, I don't mind it being just five episodes but I do feel cheated on the missing episodes.

Why not just stick to a tried and trusted format, one episode per week. The story line can still span 5 episodes and then other stories used to complete the 13 episode series.

Do the BBC think we all have become incapable of following an extended story line of a number of weeks, use to work just fine for the original Doctor Who (yes I'm that old).

Or is it just getting too much to make these thing nowadays.

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