John Barrowman and Julie Gardner made MBEs

Saturday, 14 June 2014 - Reported by Marcus
John Barrowman, who played Captain Jack and Julie Gardner, Doctor Who's former Executive Producer, have both been made a MBE in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Julie Gardner was a key member of the team responsible for bringing back Doctor Who in 2005 and relaunching the series for a whole new generation. She was brought into the project in 2003 to work with Russell T Davies on developing the show. Together they were responsible for turning Doctor Who into one of the biggest BBC's most succesful shows, responsible for 60 episodes. She was involved in casting two Doctors, Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant, and creating two spin-offs, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. She now works in California as Senior vice president Scripted Projects for BBC Worldwide America.

Gardner, who was born in Neath, near Swansea, has been awarded the honour for "services to the Economic Development of the Television Industry in Wales." She said: she was honored to accept the award.
I have filmed all over the world. But the talent, stamina and sheer fun of the writers, cast and crews I’ve worked with in Wales is beyond compare. I am lucky; I get to keep this award. But I am accepting it for all those brilliant people who have made my job such an absolute joy, and for my dad who will be the talk of Glynneath. My proudest achievement has been to successfully bring Doctor Who to Wales. From there, through Torchwood, Casualty and Da Vinci's Demon's, Wales' position in the global television industry goes from strength to strength. I am hugely proud to have been a part of that journey and will work hard so that this is just the beginning.


John Barrowman joined Doctor Who in 2005, playing Captain Jack Harkness in eleven episodes of the series. His success was such that he was given his own spin off series Torchwood, which ran from 2006-2011. The honour was given for his services to entertainment as well as his contribution to charity.

Barrowman, who is currently in Australia , promoting his drama series Arrow, said receiving the award was the proudest day in his life. The actor posted a video expressing his reaction to the news.



The honour makes both a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The award is given by Queen Elizabeth on the advice of the British Government.




FILTER: - Awards/Nominations - Julie Gardner - John Barrowman

Torchwood: The New World

Saturday, 7 August 2010 - Reported by Josiah Rowe
TorchwoodNews sources at the Television Critics Association (TCA) Press Tour are reporting that the forthcoming fourth series of Torchwood will carry the title Torchwood: The New World. A post from The Hollywood Reporter gives details of the series' new characters and quotes from Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner:
The new story will follow a CIA agent (Rex) and analyst (Ester) who tackle an alien-related global issue. Torchwood, having been destroyed and disbanded, is "like a legend now ... it's like something that's ceased to exist and is now spoken of only in whispers." Soon, Rex and Ester are on the run and are seeking out the help of Captain Jack and Gwen.

"The two teams coming together is a big part of the story -- are they friends or enemies? There's a lot of sparks and excitement."

"We definitely have a really big story to tell," added executive producer Julie Gardner. "It's absolutely rebooted to welcome in a new audience." ....

The ten episodes will be very fast paced, telling a self-contained story with the miniseries "Children of Earth" being used as a template.

Being on Starz, the show could potentially take advantage of looser standards for nudity and violence.

"I've always had loose standards and practices," Davies said. "If the story demands intimacy or savagery, we will go there absolutely ... [but] there's nothing better than a great big global thriller that stops for a sex scene -- it's probably hard to make that happen in a thriller."
The report also contains images of teaser posters which were seen at TCA; the images appear to be previously existing photos of John Barrowman and Eve Myles, with the legend "Torchwood: The New World, Coming Summer 2011."

USA Today also has details on the series' tone, and more quotes from Davies:
The team has left Wales for America, as creator Russell T. Davies has left Britain for Los Angeles. The case will tie the two remaining Torchwood members (Jack and Eve Myles's Gwen) to the CIA, and will expand into a world-wide threat. And yet, says Davies, it "will be faithful" to the BBC original.

Davies says this story, which "had been ticking away in my mind for a long while," had not been planned as a Torchwood story at all. "And suddenly I thought, there's a popular show, there's a great story, let's put them together...It felt like it definitely could move forward and become new again."

Though it will be newer and bigger, the tone won't change, says Davies. Barrowman's Jack will still be TV's only bi-sexual hero, character will still be stressed, and humor will still play a large part in the show's make-up.

"I sit there in the editing room saying 'Don't cut that joke! Cut the plot, cut the murder, cut the story, but don't cut the joke.'...It will always be a cheeky show."




FILTER: - Torchwood - Russell T Davies - Miracle Day (Series 4) - Julie Gardner

The Regeneration of Doctor Who

Monday, 11 January 2010 - Reported by Marcus
BAFTABAFTA have uploaded The Regeneration of Doctor Who onto their YouTube site.

The event, which took place at BAFTA last month, features Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner talking about their 6 year working relationship as executive producers on Doctor Who and the terrifying responsibility of bringing the show back to a new generation of viewers with Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant in the lead role.

Amongst a range of illuminating insights, the pair discussed their attempt to reinvigorate of the Saturday night prime time slot, the emergence of BBC Wales as a major player on the production landscape and explored why the character of the Doctor is such an extraordinary figure for writers to work with.




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Production - Julie Gardner

Regeneration Day

Friday, 1 January 2010 - Reported by Marcus
Today sees the Tenth Doctor regenerate into the Eleventh, only the tenth time in Doctor Who's forty-seven year history that the Doctor has regenerated.

TennantIt marks the last story for the Tenth Doctor as played by David Tennant, who leaves the series after four years in the role and with 47 episodes under his belt. Tennant departs at the peak of his popularity, and was recently voted the best Doctor ever by the readers of Doctor Who Magazine. His dedication to the role has been tremendous, and he has led the cast of a series that scores incredibly high in the audience appreciation figures. His popularity is such that the BBC made him the centrepiece of its Christmas schedule; he is the first Doctor ever to have featured in a BBC One ident.

Gardner_daviesToday also marks the end of the Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner era of the series. Gardner and Davies have been involved with the show since the return was first mooted in 2003. Together they have been responsible for the realisation of the revived series and have turned Doctor Who into one of the biggest BBC properties in the first decade of the 21st Century. They have been responsible for 60 episodes and have made Doctor Who must-see television which regularly charts in the top ten programmes of the week. They have cast two Doctors, Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant, and created two spin-offs, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, both of which have had tremendous success and are due to be commissioned for their fourth series.

All three leave a strong legacy for the new production team to build on in 2010 as the series returns with a new Doctor and a new Executive Producer in the Spring.




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Production - David Tennant - Julie Gardner

Commentary Details

Monday, 21 December 2009 - Reported by Marcus
The BBC has revealed that BBC Three repeats of The End of Time will have available an audio commentary from outgoing executive producers Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner.

The commentary for part one will be available on Freeview, Virgin and Sky on Sunday 27th December at 7pm, while the commentary for Part Two will only be on Virgin and Sky on Sunday 3rd January at 7pm. Neither commentary will be available on Freesat.

The commentaries are expected to be broadcast on BBC Radio 7 and thus will be available worldwide on the BBC i-player. Part One has been scheduled for 3am on 26th December, with Part Two airing at 2.30am on Sunday 3rd January.

In addition, the Christmas Eve, 9am, BBC Three repeat of Dreamland will also have a commentary, this time with writer Phil Ford and the director Gary Russell.




FILTER: - Specials - Russell T Davies - Online - Julie Gardner

Waters of Mars – Press Reviews

Monday, 16 November 2009 - Reported by Marcus
Reviews of the UK première of The Waters of Mars are now available online.

NB The reviews have been published after the showing of the episode in the UK. Please do not click on the links if you want the plot to remain unspoiled. Reviews are available from The Guardian, The Mirror, TV Overmind, Den of Geek, Digital Spy, Coventry Telegraph, Express and Star, Metro, Monsters and Critics, Unreality TV

The podcast to accompany the episode, featuring Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner and David Tennant, is now on the BBC iPlayer.




FILTER: - Specials - Russell T Davies - Series 4/30 Specials - Press - Julie Gardner

Postcards from America

Tuesday, 11 August 2009 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

Left to right: Davies, Tennant, Lyn, Gardner.
Image source:
As previously reported, David Tennant, Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner and Euros Lyn have sent two "audio postcards" from America to BBC Radio Wales. An extended version of the first postcard can be heard here, and the second postcard can be heard here. In the second postcard, David Tennant discusses driving in Los Angeles and his first Hollywood audition, Euros Lyn and Russell T Davies chat about Muscle Beach, and Julie Gardner explains the dangers of doggie bag culture.




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Production - David Tennant - Radio - Julie Gardner - Broadcasting

Gardner joins BBC Worldwide America

Tuesday, 3 March 2009 - Reported by Marcus
Outgoing Doctor Who executive producer, Julie Gardner, has joined BBC Worldwide's Los Angeles production studio as executive producer.

She is the first appointment announced by Jane Tranter, recently-appointed executive vice president, programming and production, BBC Worldwide America.

Gardner will be responsible for scripted projects, working with US and British writers including Russell T Davies to develop projects for the American market.

Speaking to the BBC Staff magazine Ariel, Tranter said "She brings an unprecedented insight into drama development and production and has a solid track record of forging strong relationships with the creative community. She will be an asset to our already talented team of scripted executives, and we all feel lucky to have her working with us."

Gardner and Tranter's working relationship began when Tranter assigned Gardner to head up the 2005 revival of Doctor Who. As former head of drama, BBC Wales, she was responsible for the production of a string of dramas including Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, Being Human, The Girl in the Cafe, Stuart: A Life Backward, Mistresses and Casanova, as well as overseeing two Doctor Who spin-offs, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

She is expected to join the LA studio full-time in June.




FILTER: - People - Julie Gardner

Torchwood comes to BBC1

Sunday, 15 June 2008 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper
According to the latest issue of Torchwood Magazine, Executive Producer Julie Gardner has confirmed rumours that the show will move to BBC1 with a much shorter run.

The magazine reports that the third series will consist of five episodes forming one continuous story with at least one penned by Russell T. Davies.

"It's the longest and most ambitious story we have ever made, so be prepared for some shocks and surprises!" Gardner told the magazine. She added: "Life at Torchwood is never quiet or easy and the whole of Captain Jack's world is about to be turned upside down!"

The new series will begin filming in August for transmission in early 2009.




FILTER: - Torchwood - Julie Gardner

The Producers

Wednesday, 19 December 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

The official Doctor Who website has posted an interview with the series' producers: Russell T. DaviesJulie Gardner and Phil Collinson. The Three Who Rule discuss "Voyage of the Damned", the return of Donna, filming in Rome, autographing babies and Steven Moffat's brain.

SFX also has the second half of their interview with Phil Collinson, in which he talks about bringing back the Sontarans and Catherine Tate.

Thanks to Ian Berriman of SFX.




FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Production - Julie Gardner