Christmas came early for Torchwood fans this weekend when it was announced that they’ll finally be getting the fifth series they’ve been waiting for.

Well, sort of. Although Jack and Gwen will be reuniting for new adventures, they won’t be making an actual televisual comeback just yet, as their return will be helmed by the audio awesomeness that is Big Finish Productions. Still, it’s the first time we’ll have canonically seen – erm, heard – them since Miracle Day, so it will still be pretty damn exciting to find out what they’ve been up to since their Stateside shenanigans.

And that’s not all! Producer James Goss has teased that – as well as a brand spanking new team - Aliens Among Us will include “an appearance by someone who just has to be, has to be dead”, which begs the question… who?! The show certainly boasts a back catalogue of deceased characters, so the possibilities are seemingly endless, but who would you like to see – again, make that hear – come back from the dead? Let us know in the comments!

It has been confirmed that Torchwood will be returning for a fifth series in the form of a Big Finish audio range overseen by its original creator, Russell T Davies.

Aliens Along Us will pick up where Series 4 – Miracle Day – left off back in 2011, with John Barrowman, Eve Myles and Kai Owen reprising their respective roles as Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper and Rhys Williams. Tom Price will also be back as PC Andy, alongside an ensemble of new characters including Mr. Colchester, Tyler, Ng and Orr, as played by Paul Clayton, Jonny Green, Alexandria Riley and Sam Béart.

Series 5 – launching this August - will be released in three boxsets and will see Jack and Gwen restarting Torchwood in Cardiff. But with something terrible happening to the city, do they need a new approach? And can they save Cardiff from an invasion that’s already lost?

James Goss, producer, said: “This is an ambitious series for Big Finish, which Russell has been wonderfully involved in. There are familiar old faces, of course, but there will also be a few surprises, including an appearance by someone who just has to be, has to be dead…”

Above – Torchwood is back with Captain Jack and Gwen alongside faces both old and new…

Are you looking forward to Series 5 of Torchwood?

• Hell yes! It's finally happening. We've waited long enough!
• Meh. It'll be nice to find out what Jack and Gwen have been up to, but having it as an audio drama just won't be the same.

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Are you excited for Series 5 of Torchwood? Share your reactions in the comments section…

While we all celebrate the arrival of Class today, let’s not forget that this date - 22nd October – also marks the anniversary of another Doctor Who spin off.

It was on this day back in 2006 that everything changed when Jack Harkness returned to our screens as the star of his very own series, Torchwood. The show broke ratings records with its premiere on BBC Three, so much so that it was upgraded to BBC Two, and then BBC One, and went on to run for four successful series (or three successful series and Miracle Day, depending on your personal views…).

Whether or not you loved or loathed its last televised adventure, it’s still safe to say that Torchwood took us an epic journey to become a fully-fledged franchise in its own right. It still lives on in the form of audiobook and comic adventures, however we’ll just have to wait and see to find out if the gang (or what remains of it) will ever make it back to the screen, where they belong. It’s been one hell of a decade, though, with Torchwood giving us some of the bravest and more powerful storytelling that the sci-fi world has ever known.

To commemorate the landmark, share with us your cherished Torchwood memories below, and let us know if you’ll be watching any episodes to honour the occasion. Fans can rest assured that John Barrowman is working his little socks off to get Torchwood back on the air, so hopefully it’s only just a matter of time. After all, there’s life in the immortal dog yet!

John Barrowman has suggested that he is currently in talks to step back into the shoes of Captain Jack Harkness in a new TV series of Torchwood.

The Doctor Who spin off – which has been “in limbo” since its fourth series, Miracle Day, was aired to mixed reviews back in 2011 – currently survives in the form of its ongoing comic and audio adventures, which its leading star urges are “like a Kickstarter” to ensuring its televisual comeback. “If you buy the comics, you will be showing your support,” he said at San Diego Comic Con this weekend.

Never one to shy away from a cryptic tease or two (this is Barrowman we’re talking about, after all!), the actor also revealed that he had “a phone conversation on Monday” to discuss bringing it back to the small screen, something which his co-star Eve Myles has also continously expressed an interest in. Back in 2013, the Gwen Cooper actress affirmed that she keeps her “fingers crossed” for a fifth series. Do you agree? Cast your votes…

Do you think it's time that Torchwood returned to our screens?

• Hell to the YES! Do you even have to ask?! Jack and Gwen deserve another series!
• Honestly? No. That ship has sailed now. Besides, the format is much better suited to comics and audio plays.

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2015 is when everything changes – and Big Finish is ready! Click here for more…

And just like that, the end of 2015 is nigh.

It only feels like yesterday that we were welcoming in the new year, with Peter Capaldi’s second string of adventures as the Twelfth Doctor ahead of us, but time really does fly when you’re having fun because the TARDIS has just closed its doors on yet another epic series which can only be described as one of the biggest and most ambitious to date.

So, what next? Well, before we look to the future, it’s time to get nostalgic as we take a trip into the recent past.

2015 has been another fantastic year for Doctor Who and its fans and, although the series didn’t actually return to our screens until September, there was still plenty to keep our Whovian minds occupied in the meantime. Don’t believe us? Check out the first installment of our Year in Review, highlighting the biggest and most memorable news stories from January through to June, and see for yourself! There was definitely plenty to talk about.

January (WhovianNet news posts: 13)

Fresh from their New Year festivities, it was business as usual for the Doctor Who cast and crew in January as production officially commenced in Cardiff on Peter Capaldi’s second string of adventures as the Twelfth Doctor. Starting as they meant to go on, the first Series 9 episodes to be filmed were billed as “one of the scariest adventures yet” – Toby Whithouse’s Under the Lake and Before the Flood – as Doctor Who continued its reign of world domination with the announcement that Series 8 had secured record-breaking international ratings throughout 2014.

Meanwhile, Tenth Doctor star David Tennant was awarded a Special Recognition gong at the NTAs for his contributions to the stage and screen, and Torchwood fans were given a late Christmas present when it was announced that the BBC were planning a new range of audio adventures featuring Jack and Gwen, nearly 4 years since their last televisual outing in Miracle Day. But more on that later…

February (WhovianNet news posts: 16)

Romance was in the air in February with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, and Doctor Who fans young and old had already fallen in love with the long awaited LEGO set, which was finally unveiled at the start of the month. Unfortunately we’d have to wait until Christmas to get our hands on it, but there was still plenty to keep our minds occupied the meantime with Doctor Who’s various social media accounts teasing us with sporadic behind the scenes previews as the new series continued to take shape.

Acclaimed Blink director Hettie MacDonald returned to helm filming of this year’s two-part premiere in Tenerife where she was welcomed on set by another familiar face, Michelle Gomez, who was to make her already anticipated return as Missy following her surprise introduction as the first female incarnation of the Master in Series 8. There were certainly good times ahead!

March (WhovianNet news posts: 13)

March was a special month for Doctor Who fans as it marked the 10th anniversary of the revived series. As WhovianNet visitors chose Series 4 as their favourite NuWho series to date (with, it has to be said, a landslide majority of the vote!), the show’s incumbent stars, Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman, attended the read-through for Episode 5 which was to guest star Game of Thrones alumni Maisie Williams as the titular ‘Girl Who Died’. Let the speculation begin!

Meanwhile, Big Finish’s license to produce Doctor Who audios was extended to 2020 as they announced Paul McGann’s latest return in Doom Coalition, a 16-part adventure which vowed to push the Eighth Doctor to his limits. Blimey.

April (WhovianNet news posts: 40)

WhovianNet kick started the month with our April Fool’s prank as we “exclusively” revealed that outgoing One Direction star Zayn Malik had been cast as the new Doctor Who companion. Gotcha! Elsewhere, the long-standing rumours of a Doctor Who movie were reignited when showrunner Steven Moffat affirmed that he was “reasonably confident” that the Time Lord will make it to the big screen one day, complemented by leaked emails between Sony and the BBC which exposed plans to bring the Time Lord to the big screen “within 8 years”.

As Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston shed further light on his infamous departure after just one series at the helm of the TARDIS, Doctor Who added yet another trophy to its now over-flowing cabinet when it was awarded a prestigious BAFTA for the Best Special, Visual & Graphic Effects. Meanwhile, BBC Worldwide signed a new partnership deal with FX to secure the Time Lord’s imminent arrival to over a million homes across India. Doctor Who was well and truly taking over the globe!

May (WhovianNet news posts: 39)

In the month that Fifth Doctor Peter Davison pondered a sequel to his acclaimed ‘Five-ish Doctors’ 50th anniversary spoof, it was also announced that the dreaded Zygons would be making a comeback in Series 9 alongside Ingrid Oliver as fan favourite Osgood. Most peculiar, since she died at the hands of Missy in the last series. Elsewhere, BBC Worldwide officially launched their new online web series, The Fan Show, fronted by YouTuber Christel Dee, and there was yet more Stateside success for former companion Karen Gillan who landed her latest movie role in The Big Short alongside Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell. She’ll always be Amy Pond to us!

Meanwhile, the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular hit the road, selling out arenas across the country, as the celebrations continued across the pond when BAFTA commemorated 10 years of revived Doctor Who at a special event in New York, where showrunner Steven Moffat announced that he’d be returning to helm Series 10 in 2016. You all had something to say about that, to put it lightly.

June (WhovianNet news posts: 29)

Doctor Who’s involvement in the forthcoming LEGO Dimensions game was announced at the start of the month, as Big Finish confirmed that they’d also be expanding their own universe with new audio spin offs starring River Song, Winston Churchill and a host of other familiar friends and foes. Meanwhile, Eleventh Doctor star Matt Smith joined the cast of a new Netflix original, The Crown, as the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Royal festivities continued as the Queen’s Birthday Honours included an OBE for Steven Moffat who was awarded the prestigious accolade for his ongoing services to drama.

The Minions invaded the TARDIS (let’s face it, it was only a matter of time…), old school fans were reassured by the news that the BBC were “hoping” to release more Classic Series adventures, and BBC America finally got the ball rolling by airing the first official teaser for Series 9, albeit it a very short and uneventful one. The Doctor was on his way!

What were you highlights from January-June 2015? Let us know in your comments below and stay tuned for Part 2 of our Year in Review, coming very soon!

Big Finish’s upcoming Torchwood series has just welcomed back two more familiar faces from the show’s televisual past.

It was announced today (Tuesday) that Eve Myles and Kai Owen will both be reprising their respective roles as Gwen Cooper and Rhys Williams to star in a brand new audio adventure, Forgotten Lives, written by Emma Reeves and directed by Scott Handcock. The original story will be set in the present day – four years after the events of the spin off’s last series Miracle Day – when the couple are summoned to the mysterious Bryn Offa Nursing Home.

It’s released in November after the opening story, The Conspiracy with John Barrowman as Captain Jack, later this month. Three further stories will follow at monthly intervals until February 2016, including Fall to Earth which will mark the overdue return of Ianto Jones.

Browse the latest Doctor Who products on sale now in our merchandise section…

Big Finish has today (16th July) confirmed that Ianto Jones will be returning in one of their new Torchwood adventures.

In May it was announced that the popular spin off – which has been “in limbo” since its fourth series, Miracle Day, was met with mixed reviews in 2011 – would be back in the form of a new range of original audio dramas, launching with The Conspiracy in September 2015.

The second installment, Fall to Earth, will follow in October and will be led by Gareth David-Lloyd.

“Well, how could we not?” said producer James Goss. “Ianto is a brilliant character. If we kept people on tenterhooks any longer, we’d be fools. He’s in it… and as soon as possible!”

Ianto was introduced in Series 1 and became an instant fan favourite, so much so that his shock death in Series 3 inspired his devotees to erect a special commemorative memorial in Cardiff Bay, which is still standing today. Read WhovianNet’s interview with Gareth here.

2015 is when everything changes – and Big Finish is ready! Click here for more…

John Barrowman has revealed that he still remains hopeful that Captain Jack will return to Doctor Who one day.

The character was last seen in the series in The End of Time, Part Two and has been off our screens altogether since 2011 when Miracle Day, the fourth series of his popular spin off Torchwood, was aired to mixed reviews. Despite the hiatus, though, he is adamant that the BBC would be “very silly not to bring him back”. “I would be more than happy to go back if they asked me,” he told the Ipswich Star. “But I never have been, and I don’t know if I will be.”

He added: “The popularity of Jack hasn’t decreased. It keeps growing and one person who is keeping him alive is me, because I’m constantly promoting him. One day, he will return.”

The actor will star in a new Torchwood audio series which Big Finish will release this year.

Torchwood will be returning to the airwaves in the form of a brand new audio series, it has been announced.

Big Finish will be overseeing the new production which will consist of six original adventures exploring the impact that a mysterious event has on the team. As always, the festivities will be led by Captain Jack Harkness, as portrayed by John Barrowman who previously confirmed earlier this year that the audio plays were in development.

Part one, The Conspiracy, will be released in September.

“Torchwood has been to the Moon, and America, and the Himalayas,” Torchwood’s creator and former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies said. “Now, it’s finally coming home.”

Additional cast members are to be finalised. The remaining five instalments will be released monthly from January 2016. Are you glad that Torchwood is finally returning? Let us know!

Torchwood returns! Are you excited for the new audio series?

• Yes! it's been WAY too long. Jack's back, baby!
• No! Torchwood is dead and buried. Something new, please?!

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The TV series has been “in limbo” since its fourth series, Miracle Day, was aired in 2011.

John Barrowman has described working on Doctor Who as “the job of a lifetime”.

The actor, who says joining the show has been the highlight of his career, was introduced as Captain Jack Harkness in Series 1 and accompanied the Doctor on various adventures before heading off to helm his own series in Torchwood. He was last seen in the parent show in The End of Time while the spin off has been “in limbo” since its fourth series, Miracle Day, was met with mixed reviews in 2011. It was recently confirmed that new Torchwood radio plays are on the way.

“I was overwhelmed when I was offered the part,” he told the Nottingham Post. “I never thought I would get to join the TARDIS and be part of the Doctor Who family. It’s a dream.”

Next month John will embark on a UK tour with his eighth studio album, You Raise Me Up.