Series 3 (Torchwood)

Synopsis
Captain Jack (John Barrowman), Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) and Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd) who are still coming to terms with the death of two of their closest friends. Despite their pain, they have a job to do.

This time they are faced with their fiercest threat to date - one which throws the future of Torchwood and the entire human race spiralling into danger. They battle against the odds but do they stand a chance of saving mankind?

Overview
The series, subtitled Children of Earth (although whether this is the actual on-screen title has yet to be seen) will consist of one continuous story, delivered over 5 consecutive nights. The series will have a new producer: Peter Bennett. Veteran Doctor Who Director Euros Lyn will direct the entire series. The first, fourth, and fifth episodes will be written by Russell T Davies, who is also writing the overall story arc. The third episode will be written by James Moran and the second episode by newcomer John Fay. Production on this series will start in August 2008 for expected broadcast in Spring 2009, when it will air on BBC 1 in a post-watershed slot. As of early May 2009, the BBC, as per its custom, had not yet announced a firm airdate and is not expected to until a couple of weeks before broadcast, the UK cable network Watch has indicated the episodes may air the week of 15 to 19 June 2009. This is consistent with the announcement that the first episode of the series will be shown by the British Film Institute on 12 June.

The only confirmed main cast members for Series 3 John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Gareth David-Lloyd, Tom Price, and Kai Owen.

At the San Diego Comic Con in July 2008, Julie Gardner confirmed that the characters of Toshiko Sato and Owen Harper really are deceased and will not appear in the 2009 series. Lucy Cohu will play Alice, Captain Jack's daughter.

The name of the five part series was revealed in Torchwood Magazine as Children of Earth, because the story concerns all the children of Earth. The episodes will have individual titles, called:


 * Day One
 * Day Two
 * Day Three
 * Day Four
 * Day Five

The plot involves aliens called the 456 and a deal the government made in the 1960s which has come back to haunt them, as well as the efforts of a cynical government agent named Johnson to expose Torchwood.

At Vortex (a Doctor Who themed day of events in Belfast, Northern Ireland)in May 2009, guest attendee, Gareth David-Lloyd, said that Children of Earth would air during the second week in June. Ultimately, the BBC announced an early July airdate for the miniseries.

Returning cast

 * Captain Jack Harkness -John Barrowman
 * Gwen Cooper - Eve Myles
 * Ianto Jones - Gareth David-Lloyd
 * Andy Davidson - Tom Price
 * Rhys Williams - Kai Owen

New cast

 * Lois Habiba - Cush Jumbo
 * Dr. Rupesh Patanjali - Rik Makarem
 * Alice - Lucy Cohu
 * Bridget Spears - Susan Brown
 * Johnson - Liz May Bryce
 * Mr. Frobisher - Peter Capaldi
 * Clem - Paul Copely

Rumours - Based on trailer and announcements etc

 * Captain John Hart to return.
 * Weevil to make an appearance.
 * Rhys will join Torchwood.
 * The Doctor will appear or will be mentioned.
 * Jack may have a wife.
 * Ianto's sister and boyfriend will appear.
 * The Alien appearing will be a new species.
 * UNIT could make an appearance with the character of Colonel Oduya appears to be an UNIT officer.
 * The Hub may be destroyed in the first episode, with somebody in it
 * Owen is the horribly burnt chained up man and the skeleton in the body bag seen in the trailer.
 * More of Jack Harkness's past life will be revealed

International broadcast
Early in 2009, several sources including Doctor Who Magazine reported that BBC One and BBC America were planning to coincide their broadcasts, allowing Children of Earth to be broadcast in the UK and US on the same days. This ultimately did not occur, with the UK now scheduled to see the miniseries the week of 4th July, followed by BBC America the week of 20th July 2009.

A Canadian broadcast on Space of Children of Earth is expected in July 2009, as well, but the exact airdates have yet to be announced as of mid-June.

DVD/Blu Ray release
Children of Earth is scheduled for release on both DVD and Blu-Ray in Region 1 (North America) on 28th July, only days after the BBC America broadcast.