www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSB5re-ZWrc

(Ianto, Jack and Gwen strike a pose in a publicity shot for Torchwood: Children of the Earth, (c) BBC)

Meanwhile, sticking with a Torchwood theme, John Barrowman told the BBC site that he felt that the new Torchwood: Children of Earth  being only a five-part season instead of the usual thirteen was “like a punishment.” The man behind Captain Jack explained that the first season of Torchwood was the most successful audience puller on the digital channel BBC3, then moved successfully to terrestrial channel BBC2 where again it did very well prompting the promotion to BBC1, but with a shorter run. Other shows have made similar moves across the BBC network without having their seasons cut, causing Barrowman to say he felt like they were being punished in some way, before commenting “I’m going to get a little political and I’ll probably get into trouble for it” although he also said that the five-part show (which is covering one long story arc this time round) was “incredible”. Russell T Davies said that they had done two thirteen episode series and changing formats was something to try out and that he thought audiences would buy into it.

Personally I can see why the actors might have preferred to have a longer season as they had before but on the other hand they’re getting much more exposure doing one giant epic this way, so I think they’re doing pretty well from it.Torchwood starts on July 6th on BBC1 at 9pm and to warm you up there’s more from Radio 4 with Torchwood drama Asylum on the airwaves again, from 2.15 pm this afternoon.