RIP The 10th Doctor. A loss to BBC Cymru, Wales & maybe to Tennant.

Seen the new BBC Cymru/Wales Xmas logo ID?

The Doctor returns to the Tardis, to find it almost completely covered in snow. He looks around and spots reindeer. He raises an eyebrow & looks knowingly to camera.

In the next shot, the reindeer are harnessed to the Tardis, and David's leading them into the heavens as the Tardis is freed. David, the reindeer & the free Tardis then ride round & circle the BBC Cymru/Wales logo, as the next program is introduced whilst Xmas music plays. It's very impressive.

Still very sad to be losing the Tenth Doctor. I love David, and think he'll not be beaten> I'd not like to be in Matt's shoes, though I have seen him wearing Converse in-role, and at least that's sexy. David should have stuck it out for a couple more seasons, after all - Doctor Who & BBC Cymru/Wales have made him, and shaped his career forever.

RIP David Tennant's 10th Doctor. The End of time - part 1 - Christmas Eve, 6pm on BBC Cymru/Wales, BBC 1 and in hi def on BBC HD. Watch... and cry.

xxx

Doctor Who: The end of time. Christmas eve, 6pm, BBC1W & BBC HD.

The TARDIS will be completely destroyed during this Christmas's Doctor Who two-part special. 

David Tennant's Doctor dies in mortal combat with The Master, played by the marvelous John Simm, now with blond hair. A new TARDIS regenerates, looks the same outside, but is new - and massive on the inside. It takes up all of the set previously occupied the Torchwood Hub in Upper Boat.

But where does it get its regeneration energy from? Could it be provided by Captain Jack, originally made immortal by vortex plasma from the TARDIS? 

Does Jack sacrifice himself to save the Universe? 

John Barrowman has said Jack's back in the new Torchwood Series 4, said to be filming from January, but could this be a bluff? Has Russell T. Davies decided to finish Jack off, to make way for a brand new Torchwood cast

Jack's death, though unpalatable, makes sense - after all, he was made immortal when Rose Tyler brought him back to life after he was exterminated by a Dalek. She used energy from the Tardis's time vortex to resurrect him. This would be the perfect form of energy to restore a 'dying' Tardis... but would it cost Jack his immortality - and his life?

Watch... see... weep!

Series 4! Torchwood!

BBC Cymru / Wales has given the go ahead for a new, full-series of Torchwood, to be filmed during 2010, though no schedule as yet exists.

The series will consist of 13 episodes, and will be broadcast on BBC1 & BBC HD and will star John Barrowman, who has also confirmed he's looking forward to reprising his role as immortal, bi-sexual time traveler, Captain Jack Harkness.

Details are very sketchy at this stage, but it's suspected there'll be a new base for Torchwood, possibly not in Cardiff, though filming will actually take place in the city. Eve Myles is said to be 'ready to return' as Gwen Cooper, though other casting & availabilities of actors is said to be at a very early stage.

Russell T. Davies had earlier said that Series 4 was 'pretty well written and ready to go', and that he was waiting for the green light from Cardiff before production planning was started.

More details later!

AWOL!

But no fear... more updates to follow soon!

Torchwood - Children of Earth... it's all over!

So here's a bit of a look-back & review...

Episode 1...

 

Absolutely f*****g EXCELLENT... AWESOME BEYOND BELIEF!!! 

We do know how to make great TV here in Wales!!! Torchwood - 

the BEST EVER EPISODE BY FAR... I just can't wait until tomorrow

for Episode 2!!!

Already totally excited about Torchwood tonight, but worried 

sick about Jack, who I don't want to end up as some living

head on a machine or worse. Seems a bit grim.

I'm assured that Captain Jack does not end up as a living head

in a bowl of chemicals - and that he does appear in the rest 

of the series. UPDATE: Chris Chibnall & the BBC 'delighted' with

Monday's viewing figures - 5.9 million, excluding repeats this week

on BBC2 & 3. Awesome news, addding significantly to the argument

for more TW beyond the current mini-series!

Ready for Day 2...

NEWS: I asked Chris Chibnall (TW writer) if he was happy with last 

night's viewing figures: "It's a *great* number, (5.9m) esp in summer & "genre". Other new BBC1 dramas getting c. 4-5m. I bet the team are

ecstatic!" Will there be any more Torchwood? "I'd *guess*: too early

to say. Takes 'em a long time to decide, once whole week's figures are in. Need lots of patience..."

Day 2...

I was told by a Torchwood insider that tonight's show 

would be 'even better' than Monday's masterpiece. I didn't believe 

him - as Monday was indescribably awesome. 

Tonight - F****NG EXCELLENT!! What a show - unbelievable... 

I don't have the language to convey my thoughts adequately!! 

Amazing!

Torchwood **UPDATE** Last night's explosive episode was 

watched by 5.6 million people, making it the most watched

program on Tuesday evening - an amazing success for the 

TW team. Tonight's show promises to be even more exciting

still, with high-octane action and the arrival of 'them'! 

Can't wait - it's gonna be AWESOME!... 

Bloody fantastic... the dog's b*****ks! Phew!

Going into exile mode... hot choc made & ready to drink... 

lights low... HDTV on... Surround sound switched on & bass 

boosted... phones off... door locked! Must be time for 

TORCHWOOD! Watch out for a THRILLING show - and a 

SPECTACULAR, high-thrills, cliff-hanging ending!! Enjoy! 

(TW-CF OUT!!)

Day 3...

Yet another AWESOME episode of Torchwood tonight - not 

as explosive as Monday & Tuesday's offering, but terrifyingly

cold, tense and shockingly unexpected! Turns out that Jack 

may be the key to all of this - and those creatured look pretty

bloody hideous too. Hate the projectile

vomit!!

**UPDATE: 5.9m watched TW this shlow!!** Penultimate

TW tonite: can't wait - it's gonna be AWESOME!!

QUOTE from a TW writer / producer: "I think tonight's is

my favorite episode of Torchwood Children of Earth - 

one scene in particular I've watched over & over again!" 

Well, what more can I add to that!!! So much looking

forward to the show - but feeling a bit ropey with a fever...

Day 4...

Terrible, terrible show. Ianto is dead - the future of the 

world is totally bleak & I'm crying like a baboon after 

Torchwood tonight. So deep, dark & depressing. Totally 

chilling and very frightening. The air of menace was palpable - 

and I can't see a way out. The look on Jack's face when 

Ianto died just set me off. 10/10 for the show - the best

I've ever seen, but so, so bleak.. ... Tissues!

Now I've stopped howling... TW tonight was, without bias,

the BEST TV show I've ever, ever seen. The depth, the 

quality of writing & production really was at the pinnacle 

of excellence, & far ahead of what many of us expected

from our favorite TV show. The mood was black - and bleak,

hopeless perhaps, and evil without precedent, and I was left

genuinely gutted and shocked by the outcome. Great, but sad

TV from Wales.

Spoke to TW: My usual sources are totally tight lipped - 

not even air is escaping. Can't believe CF Bay is destroyed

& Ianto dead: convinced there'll be a major turnaround 

somehow. The Doctor comes back? The Rift has some

'hiccup' & the past is restored? Jack pulls a flanker? 

Another species of aliens help? We'll find out tonight - 

but what suspense!

Torchwood's over. Awesome TV and an absolutely

fantastic show, but very, very depressing - what Jack

did to his grandson & daughter beggars belief, and the

cold finality of the last scenes were not what I wanted

- or expected. I don't expect to see it back - that was

too final, and it looks as though ratings of 6M plus 

stand for nothing.

Still cooling down & crawling out of my depressive 

pit after the end of Day 5. A total masterpiece, 

genuine 9.5/10 quality TV, with fantastic action, 

story and overall plot. Menace was massive and 

tension & stress was present thru'out. Only the 

lack of cheer lost it a 10: I was left genuinely 

numb as the credits rolled. As for the future - 

I'm not sure if RTD will do it again. Time will tell!

Am I right? Am I just too depressive & too emo?? 

Is Torchwood genuinely dead in the water - or will it

be back?

Well, time will tell... I'll post if I hear anything!

Ashes to Ashes: UPDATE!

Spoke to Kudos Productions this afternoon. I can officially confirm that Gene Hunt, Alex Drake & all of the Ashes to Ashes crew will be back in a BRAND NEW SERIES to be aired some time in late 2010 / early 2011 on BBC Wales, BBC 1 and BBC HD. The series will be in two parts, each comprising 8 episodes.

The new show will focus around Gene Hunt, who in 1982 falls under suspicion of shooting Alex Drake, who is now critically ill & near to death. Alex is the only one who can clear Alex's name, as corrupt coppers are keen to see Hunt go down and have well & truly framed him - 'Stitched me up like a kipper' as we will hear Hunt say!

Hunt goes on the run - but somehow manages to visit Alex, who's wired up in hospital and in a deep, unsurvivable coma. He tries to get thru to her - but he can't - she's too far gone!
 

Meanwhile, in 2010, Alex is spending time with her daughter and getting used to her 'real; life, but things aren't right. She sees Gene where ever she goes, and she knows he's in big trouble. somehow, she has to get back to 1982 to save him. After all, if she could have done... she would have done!

Alex becomes unsure of what reality is - is she really from 1982, or 2010, and who, or what is Gene Hunt? And how can she get back to 1982 without risking everything she has in 2010?

Well, I don't know... and we'll have to wait for the new series to find out. The show may be called 'Hunt!' or 'Hunt on the run!', but this has far from been decided.

Watch this space - you'll hear it first here!

Ashes to Ashes... Letter to Kudos Production Team

To Kudos & BBC Cymru (named contacts):

I never initially liked 'Ashes to Ashes' - I think I'd been spoiled by the totally excellent 'Life on Mars' and the amazing John Simm. It took me a while to get used to Alex Drake - and I hated her tongue-in-cheek approach to 'life' in the 80's which we saw thru much of Series 1.

However, just like with LOM, I got totally adicted by the show - as indeed has everyone I know. I've never heard so much discussion & comment on a drama production before, much of it almost at a 'spiritual' level. Fantastic show, fantastic production, great characterization and a totally innovative idea.

Thanks for LOM & A2A... genuinely great TV which gave so many of us so much pleasure!

The ending of LOM I never fully understood, but A2A was different. We now have a paradox: Alex Drake permanently existing in either 'life' or 'coma' modes, with two real 'realities' existing independently.

It's totally clear to me that there's so much scope for another show. Hunt's such a popular character - and the only TV character who can get away with anything, due to the unique nature of his role. He's now a fugitive in 1982 - his only hope of being cleared is Alex Drake, who lies in a coma, and yet if she recovers, she leaves 2009, perhaps for good.

A great show 'Hunt on the run' or similar... great 80's action, lots of very funny non-PC stuff (love it!) - and our favorite characters back in action.

So, to cut to the chase, do you / BBC Cymru have any plans for a new show? If not, are discussions planned, and when would any commissioning decisions be made? Let's have more. There's scope. There's more mileage. There's so much more to discover & see!

Please advise & put me out of my misery - preferably with a 'YES' or at least, a 'MAYBE'!

Best wishes,

Chris T

Ashes to Ashes concludes! Bring on Gene Hunt!

Wow! What a show!!

Ashes to Ashes, Series 2 concluded tonight in the UK. As I 'predicted' and revealed earlier, there WAS a massive twist tin the plot, but my 'snout' had not given me the exact story-line, surprise surprise!

After 8 superb episodes in which Alex Drake really established herself as a credible character in this off-the-wall 1980's police drama, we finally reach a conclusion, of sorts. I'll not go into the detail in case you haven't yet watched it, but Alex has her wish - and returns to 2009 as a result of being shot in 1982.

As she recovers, she is delighted and clearly emotional to be reunited with her daughter and the team of surgeons who saved her. But something feels wrong, and she's edgy. Shockingly, the hospital monitor crackles & jumps into action, and on the screen is...
 

GENE HUNT!

Gene is still back in 1982, but is a real person. He is by Alex's bedside in the HDU. Alex is... in a coma. The Police think Gene shot her > and they're after him. He's on the run. Gene begs her to wake up. She can't > she's in a deep coma. Gene shakes her. He's visibly on every TV, every monitor, every PC in Alex's world. Alex leaves the 2009 hospital in a shocked panic. She doesn't know what's real... 2009, or 1982.

There's clearly MUCH scope for a new series, which will explore Hunt on the Run. We'll discover more about Gene, and who.. or what he really is!

I'll be speaking to Kudos tomorrow. I'll keep you posted >> but what a series finale!!

Destiny?

QUOTE: An American Parascientist: "[most] humans are transparent, predictable, formulaic, ephemeral, full of self-interest & shallow beyond belief. To the point of being intensely tiresome, individual human actions are easy to forecast, and breaking of expected behavioral patterns occur rarely..."

 

"I once thought I was so totally wrong when I believed, as a youngster that life was a pre-programmed event, following pre-ordained routes & with fully-pre-defined outcomes. The more I experience, the more often I witness different humans following identical patterns, the more certain I am, sadly, that I was right.

What if free-will did not exist, and that individual humans on what we believe to be Earth were merely automatons, blindly following pre-programmed instructions, leading to the same outcomes, whatever they did, or whatever 'free' decisions they thought they were making?

What if they were pre-programmed units, existing in some kind of organic - or electronic matrix? They'd never know.. they'd just carry on living what they thought were their own lives as the cogs turned & they reached their pre-planned conclusions.

What if humans were alone - entirely - and everything they experience, their lives, their families, friends & actions were actually fabrications - only happening as part of a matrix or feigned reality?

Answer: They'd never know. And they never will; unless they're pre- programmed to discover, at some future point, for some unknown reason?

And who, or what would be mastering the puppetry, were this to be the case?"


               End of quoted article... Interesting viewpoint, or insanity?

Torchwood - Children of The Earth... Series 3... NEWS UPDATE!

Torchwood returns this summer, most likely in late June or early July. It will be filmed in HD, and shown on BBC 1 and BBC HD. The show will later be available on Blu-Ray & DVD, along with Series 1 & 2, which will be re-released.

 

 

Had a very detailed chat with BBC Commissioning guys in Cardiff and London tonight - great thing to do when stuck on the M4 in murderous traffic on the way home after work.

A couple of mysteries solved... Firstly, the reduction of episodes from 13 down to 5 was actually at Torchwood's request. Partly, there was need for a holiday, (coinciding with Doctor Who's 2009 downtime - both shows share a large number of production staff) - but mostly, as it was felt that a big-bang, all action, hard-hitting single story would have maximum impact, and would turbo charge the Torchwood brand big time. Producers & the Team really wanted a fast, pacey, detailed story in which lots could happen & characters could develop, rather than a longer series of largely unconnected shows.

I'm told Torchwood, Series 3, 'Children of the Earth' really does hit the high notes. A terrifying plot in which the Earth really is in imminent, mortal threat from an unknown attacker. The show will be seen every night at 9pm over one week, with some of the most shocking, nail-biting cliff hangers ever shown on TV in Wales & the UK. The show will be 'compelling beyond belief' - and we'll see the characters in a different light as the story progresses.

Screening has been delayed, originally it was due to air early spring. However, the production team were not happy with the original cut, and it's gone back to The Mill for a re-working, plus some recent re-shoots in Penarth, attended by yours' truly.

It's due to be finished soon, and will be on out screens 'within three weeks' of finalization. I'll keep uoi posted!

Rumors on the Internet are that the Torchwood Hub (home of TorchwoodCF) will be destroyed completely during Part 1 of this 5 part story. This is true. However, I'm told that 'normality will be revealed' and 'all will make sense' by the conclusion to the story. I understand from that that the Hub will be somehow restored.

Captain Jack, Gwen Cooper & Ianto will star in the story, but I got a tight lipped silence when I asked about Owen Harper. Owen 'died' in Series 2, but was brought back to a 'living death' by some kind of alien energy force from a mysterious glove. He then 'died' again by being vaporized within a nuclear reactor. I was given a pretty broad hint that he would reappear, but perhaps not in all of the 5 parts to the story.

Finally, and most importantly, there are STACKS of rumors & stories suggesting that the BBC plans to kill off Torchwood after Series 3. I'm assured by my BBC 'sources' that this is totally untrue. Series 1 & 2 were highly succesful, and a fantastic amount of money has been ploughed into making Series 3 'absolutely stunning', and a 'flagship show' for BBC 1.

DVD sales in Wales, the UK and globally are said to be awesome, and far stronger than expected. In fact, Series 1 was releases on Blu-Ray in response to massive international demand.

Though series 4 has not yet been commissioned, this is not unusual. BBC rarely re-commissions new series / stories until past series have aired, and viewer response has been measured. I was left in no doubt that Series 3 would be an absolute stunner, and there was a 'full expectation' that this would lead to future shows!

Just to conclude, all of the information above comes directly from BBC Wales Drama in Cardiff, and BBC Commissioning in London & Cardiff, and none of it is blind speculation. TorchwoodCF will keep you updated on any further news.. as I hear it!

 

John Barrowman will reprise his role as the pan-sexual Captain Jack Harkness, and Eve Myles re-appears as spirited valleys ex-cop, Gwen Cooper. As ever, Ianto remains Jack's eye candy & true love interest.
 

Take care,
Chris @ Torchwood CF

Doctor Who? SHOCK NEWS and **UPDATE**

As David Tennant completes filming in Cardiff for the next 'special' sometime later this year, it's becoming clear that his demise, at the end of the evil Master, reprised by the excellent John Simm ('Sam Tyler' from 'Life on Mars') will be a spectacular televisual feast, with lots of shocks & surprizes!

Firstly - the last time we saw the Master, it was in fact his dead body being burned to a crisp after he was defeated whilst tortured by his madness and 'the drums'. We didn't see a subtle cygnet ring slip from his burning fingers... we are to learn that this contains his crystalized consciousness!

We then hear that the TimeLords aren't actually extinct.. a large'ish niumber have survived, but they're all BIG, BAD EVIL, and controlled by the Master's hypnotic life-force!

But the biggest surprize will be that as David Tennant's character dies, regeneration brings us Matt Smith, a relatively unknown British actor, barely out of diapers. Smith is seen as 'the perfect replacement' to Tennant, though many fans & the UK's vocal press doubt he will have the graivitas and maturity to carry off the role with the depth and energy required.

What are your views??

CONFIDENTIAL UPDATE!


Matt Smith shocks BBC Wales in Cardiff and decides Doctor Who is not for him.

Stating fears for his personal privacy and his reluctance to become a globally-recognised celebrity, Smith is said to be returning to the theater, and low-budget TV shows, for Channel 4 & Five.

BBC Wales had released a publicity shot of an unknown actor from Somerwest County, expected to take over as the 11th Timelord when the ever-popular David Tennant regenerates in the New Year, 2010.


However, this image was removed by the BBC for legal reasons, thought by some to be that Matt hasn't fully decided!

(C) AFP News Agency

Swine Flu - The dangers?

Write a New Note

Swine Flu - The dangers?

Today at 2:42am | Edit Note | Delete

The recombinant H1N1 virus.

Could this change humanity?

Scientists in New Georgia have expressed their serious concerns about the so-called 'Swine Flu' virus, scientifically known as H1N1.

An early pig / human chimera, born as a result of earlier genetic experimentation in North Korea.

Doctor Milton Ashcombe-Brown, director of clinical research at the University of Somerwest has uncovered evidence suggesting worrying trends in the behavior of recombinant RNA in the latest variants of the virus, suggesting that new variants can retro-build themselves into the DNA structure of potential victims, effectively re-writing chromosomal & genetic re-programming.

This, if true, would be extremely concerning, potentially threatening the future of the human race as a distinct & identifable species. Early indications of recombinant RNA involvement in human genetic coding would be the presence of porcine indicators in amniocentesis during early embryonic, leading to the birth of human-pig offspring from apparently normal pregnancies.

Emeritus Professor Harald Stiggurthuvalddar-Thorsson, from Stithsbald University Research Center in Iceland admitted that this was a very worrying development, but urged the public not to panic. He suggested that such hybridization, leading to the production of human / pig 'chimeras' may not be a bad thing, and could lead to a great evolutionary step in life on Earth.

A CGI impression of what hybrid humans may look like.

Report compiled by Stanislaw Wrzerzezowski, UPP Press Agency (C)

Torchwood - Children of The Earth... Series 3... Our heroes' swansong?

 

Children of the Earth... Torchwood's next outing on BBC1 & BBC HD.

We're all excited and ready to watch... but will be the last time the crew hit our screens?

Torchwood does return fairly soon, but my friends over in Llandaf & Upper Boat seem genuinely not to know when it's going to be aired, certainly on BBC1 & BBC HD, and certainly at 9pm, but that's as far as I know.

Early spring was the first expected airing, but that certainly seems to have slipped, probably as a result of some internal wrangling about schedules, or perhaps nervousness of the network with a show originally made for digital TV going mainstream. One thing is sure > all five episodes are definitely in the can, and are literally ready to roll, and they'll all be shown continuously over 5 days. Not something I like, but there you have it.

 

Eve Myles & some of the filming crew near to Cardiff City's old ground in Leckwith, Cardiff.

What I have found out is that Torchwood 3 will not be what you expect to see. For a start, my friends tell me the famous Hub will be totally destroyed DURING episode 1.. whether it's rebuilt, I know not. Then, Jack, Gwen & Ianto are DISMISSED by Torchwood as the Organization is ripped apart by leaks & subterfuge from a spy or mole on the inside.

I hear that the crew are reduced to using stolen cash & credit cards to survive - abd they become wanted people as a massive threat against humanity & the planet looms on the horizon.

What's going on? I haven't got a clue, but I hope those juicy morsels get you interested. I can't wait, personally!

 

 

John Barrowman in the guise of Captain Jack during filming for Series 3. Curious onlookers take pictures!

What does worry me is that will be just the 5 episodes, that we're down to Jack, Gwen & Ianto, that scheduling definitely has been messed around, that the hub is destroyed - and Torchwood spends the whole of Series 3 falling apart.

I may be wrong, but the BBC is trying to cut corners & costs... and I feel this may well be the final time our team are given the opportunity to protect us from what ever is out there. I really hope I'm wrong! If anyone out there knows anything ... please reassure me!!

RTD???

Cheers,
Chris

 

Hmm... the future's bright for Torchwood?

I don't know. Let's hope my natural instincts are wrong. RTD! Speak to me!!

Doctor Who - Easter Special 2009

The fantastic Easter special of Doctor Who is just over - and what a feast of television it was! The only sad thing was seeing the gorgeously nice David Tennant reminded me his days as the Doctor are so very sadly limited. What a bloody pity!

The Doctor and a group of unwitting, accidental travellers were on the Number 200 bus, heading to Brixton. In reality, they were in Cardiff Bay heading for the Bute tunnels which constantly close due to maintenance requirements. But let's not dwell on detail! How I kicked myself for not seeing that being filmed. I use the Bute tunnels every day, and can remember an odd closure, but never guessed what was happening!

As if by magic, and the immense special effects trickery of BBC Cymru / Wales and The Mill, the bus is dragged thru a wormhole and ends up on a planet on the far side of the universe, otherwise known as Dubai. The planet is made totally of sand, an odd sort of sand, but sand non the less.

Strange fly-like creatures soon emerge from the sand, but they're not the baddies: these are a swarm of rayfish-like creatures which roam from planet to planet, stripping things bare and taking the minerals, etc with them. It turns out that when they've finished with a planet - they leave it as desert, create a wormhole & head off to wreak havoc elsewhere.

Michelle Ryan plays a fanatastic role as a jewel thief, caught accidentally on the bus. Would be nice to see her as a companion, but who knows! In the end, she escapes into space on the Number 200, turbo-charged with anti-gravity clamps. I think she'll be making a return. Hope so!

Lee Evans plays Malcolm, a mad scientist with UNIT who helps the doctor to save the day. Great to see  Lee in the show, shame his Welslh accent was so awful! It was good to to see him professing undying love for the doctor at the end of the action! Also good to see UNIT for the first time in Doctor Who or Torchwood since the original show went off air in the 1980s. They'll be back in Torchwood later this year too.

The ending was a bit bleak - with a gifted soothsayer warning the Doctor his days are numbered, and 'his song is nearly over' David looks worried. Indeed, David Tennant will appear in three more shows in 2009, ending with this year's Christmas special. Filming continues in Cardiff throughout July with David working on the rest of the specials.

The uninspiring and sexually-unattractive Matt Smith takes over as the 11th Time Lord in Series 5, which films this summer, and which airs in 13 parts in the UK during 2010. Can't wait. Meh.

Overall, a GREAT show today. More familiar faces & stars than you can shake a stick at, a fantastic musical score written as ever by Murray Gold and performed by the National Orchestra of Wales, loads of fun, a number of in-jokes, a few thrills and quite a clever plot, co-written by the lovely Russell T. Davies.

I really loved it - and it was AWESOME to watch the show in FULL 1080 HD! Wow.. what a difference full high definition made!!

The uncertainty is over! Torchwood will return with a mini-series, later this year.

In one epic story told over five nights the new series, to be broadcast for the first time on BBC One THIS SUMMER, promises to be Torchwood's greatest adrenalin-fuelled, high octane adventure yet.

Torchwood: Children of Earth re-joins 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?

Sure, it's only a 5-episode mini-series, and perhaps it'll be their last adventure, but it does provide some televisual excitement for the summer!!

If you're in the UK, check out Torchwood's website for exclusive clips & information!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchwood/

The Chris Torchwood Guide: Credit Crunch Cardiff - Three days not to make you broke!

Some tips if you fancy visiting Wales' Number 1 city!


Cardiff Bay is clearly a must, as it's the main location for Torchwood
and features frequently in many episodes of Doctor Who. Also, all Bay locations are within easy walking distance from each other.

The Bay is highly attractive, and is a great place just to wander, and take in the atmosphere. It has been describe as one of the UK's most iconic locations, and attracts hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of Welsh, UK and international visitors each year.

Within the Bay, there's Plas Roald Dahl, and of course the Millennium Water Tower (Torchwood Hub) plus the Millennium Center, used as the Cat Nurse Hospital in the New Earth episode of Doctor Who. This is well worth a visit, and a great place to have a coffee, or a meal.

Mermaid Quay is the heart of the Bay, with an incredible number of international restaurants, including The Bosphorus (Turkish) where Doc who took Margaret Slitheen for a 'final' meal. There are also trendy & more comfortable bars, great for a refresher, or a drink in the evening.

There's also the Welsh Assembly Senedd & Pier Head Building, all which you can visit, free of charge. On a nice day, you can walk round the Bay, past St. David's Hotel and via a boardwalk to a saltmarsh nature reserve, complete with birds & attractive views. This is approximately a 20 minute round-trip on foot from the Senedd.

If you're feeling more adventurous, you can walk past the Norwegian Church Gallery & Cafe (worth a photo or two) and the Cardiff Bay Museum (looks like an alien space pod, and worth a 20 minute 'look' and it's free) and along the new route, thru Cardiff Docks to Cardiff Bay barrage. The Barrage featured in Torchwood, and is a spectacular structure of locks & machinery with fantastic views back to the Bay, and across the Bristol Channel. On a good day, you can see the Severn Bridge, and Weston-super-Mare.

You can walk across the Barrage to Penarth Marina, again, worth a pic or two, and then either get the Aquabus back to Mermaid Quay (£2) or onwards to the Millennium Stadium in the heart of Cardiff city.

This walk & Aquabus trip would probably take an hour, plus any 'lingering' time, and would be well worth it. If you had less time – you could take a return boat trip (£4.50) from Mermaid Quay to the Barrage, and either come straight back on the same Aquabus, or break your journey in Penarth and come back on the next bus.

Near to Cardiff Bay (5 mins walk) is the Red Dragon Center. It's all under cover, with inexpensive restaurants and bars, bowling, cinemas and.. the Doctor Who museum. This is not a big place, be warned, and it does cost a fiver to get in, but for Doctor Who groupies & officianados, like me, it's probably worth a visit, though half an hour and fifty photographs will probably see you out & ready for coffee!

Cardiff City is not walkable from the Bay. You'd need to take a bendybus or Aquabus to get you there easily. In the city, there are obviously lots of shops, and a couple of decent malls. More interestingly, there are loads of Victorian shopping arcades, mostly off the High Street & The Hayes. These are attractive, eccentric and just great places to soak up the atmosphere of Cardiff and its history. There's also Cardiff Market - typical & traditional, and near some very good pubs & eateries! Try a pie at the Cornish Pie Shop!!

There's Cardiff Castle, it costs to get in, but you can walk in the park around it free of charge. It's in the center of town, so easy to see. There's also the National Museum of Wales (free) set in a beautiful park, and surrounded by majestic buildings. I hate museums, but this one even gets me interested, and would be a great place to spend an hour or longer, and then to have a picnic in the park outside. Everybody does it!

Car parking is expensive in Cardiff city, so it's best to come in on foot, by train or by bus.

For a longer stay, or if you want to wander, there is...

1. Penarth – 4 miles. Cosy Victorian seaside town with small pier & sea front!

2. Barry & Barry Island – 6 miles. Seaside town with good sands but too many chavs. Some nice walks though, and it's very cheap & cheerful!

3. St. Fagan's museum of Welsh life & heritage (free) – 3 miles. Fantastic place to spend half a day. Massive site, buildings from all ages moved from their original locations and moved to St. Fagan's. There are also displays & reinactments and lots of Welsh is spoken. It's a must if you have the time!

4. Rhondda heritage park – 15 miles (£4) Built on the site of an old coal mine, your chance to explore life as it was in the Valleys. You get a guide too. Well worth a couple of hours too, if you have the time.

Further afield, Swansea & Gower (awesomely spectacular) – 50 miles are great locations for your next trip to South Wales!

Finally, accommodation in Cardiff center can be very expensive, but it's cheaper in the suburbs and in Penarth. I can't really recommend, cuz I've never used hotels and B&B here, but I am told that even expensive hotels offer bargain deals if you book in advance, or more easily, via places like expedia.com or lastminute.com.

I've heard that the Big Sleep is OK and reasonable, and I know more reasonable places are found in Roath & Canton, but I'd definitely want to see pictures & read reviews before I booked.

I think if you're prepared to look around on the internet, you'll pick a decent room up for perhaps £45, but that would involve availing of offers & deals. However, a day is too short, and if you have the cash to stay, it may be worth investing in a night or two's accommodation so as too make the most of our great City!

 

Roald Dahl Plass in Cardiff Bay. Spectacular by day and by night!