Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner have revealed lots of exciting tidbits about Series 4 of Torchwood during a Starz panel at the Television Critics Association press tour!

As we previously reported, the new 10-part series will be titled The New World. Kai Owen will be back as Gwen’s husband, Rhys, and we’ll also meet their baby, however Russell has squashed the speculation surrounding Captain John’s return, at the same time reassuring his fans that he’s ”always off stage waiting to make an appearance”.

Meanwhile, we have confirmed details of two new and yet-to-be-cast characters who will be joining the team, in the form of CIA agent Rex Matheson and CIA watch analyst Esther Katusi. Biographies for them were leaked last month, but Russell has explained that their introduction will benefit viewers who are watching for the first time as they’ll be able to watch them become “embroiled” in the organisation:

“The fact it’s new to a lot of people is something being used. Rex has no idea what Torchwood is. It’s like a legend now, spoken of only in whispers, and the two of them investigate. They find themselves on the run from that point on. The two teams coming together is a big part of the story. Are they friends or enemies?”

In addition, Julie Gardner has promised that they “have a really big story to tell”, teasing a “fast-paced” self-contained adventure which will make the spin off feel ”new again”. It’ll air on BBC One (UK) and Starz (US) in the second half of 2011.

What do you make of the developments? Have they made you more/less excited?

The new series of Torchwood begins filming in the UK and the US at the start of 2011.