Asylum (audio story)

Asylum was an original BBC Radio 4 audio play aired on 1 July 2009. It was the first of three audio dramas to be played on the BBC Radio 4 slot afternoon play as a prelude to the show's third series.

Publisher summary
When PC Andy Davidson arrests a young girl for shoplifting, he thinks it's going to be a routine case. That is, until he sees that she is carrying a gun. The girl is soaking wet, covered in mud, and the weapon is like nothing he's ever seen before. He knows that this is a case for Torchwood... The team discovers that the girl is called Freda, but can find out nothing else. Yet when she speaks, it's a strange mix of English and Icelandic, but with a Cardiff accent. While Jack and Ianto check out the girl's weapon and her blood sample at the Hub, Gwen and PC Andy take Freda to a safe house. But when Jack calls with the results—and Freda goes on the run—PC Andy finds his world turning upside down.

Cast

 * Captain Jack Harkness - John Barrowman
 * Gwen Cooper - Eve Myles
 * Ianto Jones - Gareth David-Lloyd
 * PC Andy Davidson - Tom Price
 * Freda - Erin Richards
 * Security Guard - Matthew Gravelle
 * Cyclist- Sara McGaughey
 * Dog walker - Dick Bradnum
 * Girl - Isabel Lewis

Continuity

 * Solar flares are mentioned as in TV: The Parting of the Ways.
 * Gwen mentions to Andy an aircraft from 1953 once came through the Rift. (TV: Out of Time)
 * Andy finally learns the true nature of Torchwood. This appears to be somewhat consistent with Series 3.
 * The Girl asks if Gwen has kids, and then suggests she should one day. Gwen and Rhys conceive a child following the incident with the 456 ambassador. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Five)
 * The URC Freda uses is an all-purpose tool similar to the Doctor's sonic screwdriver.
 * Freda's was threatened by racism in 2069 concerning her half-alien status. Racist behaviour has been seen in TV: Remembrance of the Daleks.

Download and CD release
The story is also available as a download from the AudioGo website.

Lost Souls, Asylum, Golden Age and The Dead Line were released, individually and together as a four-disc collected box set, entitled The Radio Adventures.