'Torchwood' To Be Watered Down For Kids

By MICHAEL HINMAN Dec-3-2007
Source: BBC

Look out, kids! Here comes "Torchwood"!

BBC Two is planning to air an edited version of the "Doctor Who" spinoff's second season that will allow "younger" fans to be able to watch the show.

The specially-edited repeat will obviously be a bit shorter than the sex- and language-laden show, but it apparently will have a lot of that cut out so that the audiences typically associated with "Doctor Who" also can be associated with the new series. It will air a few days after the original episode.

"We were aware that an awful lot of our audience love Capt. Jack, but wouldn't be able to see it," said Russell T. Davies, showrunner for both "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood." "So the answer was, let's make a version for a younger audience."

The new season, which is expected to premiere in January (and a short time later on BBC America in the United States) will feature Freema Agyeman, who played Martha Jones in the third season of "Doctor Who."

"He's rung her up, he's called her in, he needs her help," show star John Barrowman said. "And who else can he trust? She's part of his old team."

It's unclear what exactly would be excised from the family-friendly versions of the show. While it's likely some of the sexual situations may be toned down, there is a good chance that the openness of sexual orientation (or really the seemingly lack thereof) will remain, since it was clear in the more family-friendly "Doctor Who" that Barrowman's character of Capt. Jack was bisexual.

There is no reports on whether BBC Two will try to do something similar with the first season, but an edited down version of the show could make it more available to American media audiences, such as SciFi Channel, which is airing the current "Doctor Who" incarnation.

Thanks to Raissa for the tip!

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About the Author: Michael Hinman is the founder and site coordinator for Airlock Alpha and the entire BlipNetwork. He owns Quantum Global Media Inc., the parent corporation of the BlipNetwork. He's a print journalist by day, and lives in Tampa, Fla.
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