| Huge Changes Coming To 'Doctor Who,' 'Torchwood'? |
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By MICHAEL HINMAN
Source: Sci Fi Pulse
Mar-04-2008
This story contains possible MAJOR SPOILERS for upcoming seasons of "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood." This story also contains rumors that have not been independently corroborated by SyFy Portal, so treat them as you would any rumor.
Like "Torchwood" the way it is now? Like its original source show, "Doctor Who"? Well get ready for some changes.
Despite the fact that "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood" remain two of the most-watched scripted programs on British television, it appears that BBC is getting ready to make some wholesale changes to both shows, including the replacement of both stars.
According to "Dr. Phibes," a source for British genre site Sci-Fi Pulse, both David Tennant and John Barrowman are set to leave their respective programs, along with a number of other cast members.
Tennant, who is about to premiere in the show's fourth season on BBC later this spring, will apparently work through the 2009 specials leading up to the annual Christmas episode, where he will regenerate and be replaced by another actor.
According to Sci-Fi Pulse, filming for the "Doctor Who" specials in 2009 is already under way, with a wrap planned for as early as the end of this month. While Carlyle is not signed to play the role as the 11th Doctor, Dr. Phibes says that the BBC is in negotiations to sign the actor.
It won't just be "Doctor Who" getting a makeover, however. Remember that experiment BBC Two was doing where it was watering down episodes of "Torchwood" to make it more family friendly? If Dr. Phibes is correct, then it seems that they were warming up audiences to a new version of the show which will launch in the third season. So far, only five episodes have been commissioned out of the standard 13, and gone are actors Burn Gorman (Owen Harper), Naoko Mori (Toshiko Sato) and Capt. Jack Harkness' John Barrowman. In, however, is former "Doctor Who" companion Freema Agyeman, who will join the show full-time in Season 3. Eve Myles, who plays Gwen Cooper, is expected to return as well, and Barrowman is reported to be making guest appearances in the third season.
The show itself will lose some of its adult-themed content, and will be geared more toward "Doctor Who" style audiences. The goal is not to have two different series running at the same time, but instead to work as sort of a filler series for off periods of "Doctor Who," which only films a handful of episodes each year.
With the changes, "Torchwood" will move to a Saturday timeslot where "Doctor Who" currently airs.
If true, these would be some very significant changes to the Whoniverse by BBC, and a bit head-scratching as ratings for both shows in their current formats have been phenomenal.
Sci-Fi Pulse stands behind its source on this, saying he has been accurate in his reports in the past, but even that site warns this is nothing more than rumor, and should be treated as such.
"Torchwood" is currently airing on BBC Two and BBC America, while "Doctor Who" is preparing to premiere its fourth season in the spring.
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