There is no other evidence on the web of Series 2 being the last. the section about Series 2 being the last and the series axed was posted to the Wikipedia page for Torchwood a couple of days ago by a poster on Wiki called Azarimanka, who has posted nothing else on Wiki.

He seems to be ubiquitous elsewhere though, having his own Youtube page, and many contributions to Cricket sites.

So make of this what you will.

I'm so glad someone else did that as I thought I was going mad. I hadn't seen anywhere about the change of day and downloaded adrift on iplayer and then realised the following week that things weren't adding up. Personally I think changing it to a Friday was stupid but it's only for a couple of episodes and I wouldn't be surprised if it changes back next season. A reason also they might have changed it from Wednesday was because of programmes like Rock Rivals and the Apprentice on at the same time. In fact the BBC would have been stupid to put the Apprentice and Tourchwood out at the same time. Not sure what anyone else thinks?

Anyone know the ratings the family version and HD broadcasts get? So we can get a better picture of the actual ratings.

Yep, the only other thing on BBC2 that gets more ratings than Torchwood is Top Gear! It may not get BBC1 ratings in the 5m, but that's because its not on BBC1!

Every series (well almost) have ratings that fall as the series progresses, but if its still over 2 million that's still good ratings.

Hmm ... I seem to remember the Torchwood apologists on Outpost Gallifrey saying that the ratings would be 4 million + when the show moved to BBC 2.

So whilst the wiki article might not be gospel I would say there might be some element of truth in it.

What the f*** is a "Torchwood Apologist"?

Torchwood's total ratings BBC2 + BBC3 are higher than they were for Series 1. That's fact. So claiming that it's been cancelled due to falling ratings is fiction.

The only reason Series 3 hasn't been announced yet is because doing so would involve revealing the changes that are taking place next year, before this series ends.

Someone who claimed Series 1 was brilliant when even Chris Chibnall now admits it was largely bobbins.


The aforementioned apologists claimed Torchwood would pull in 4 million + viewers on first showing not in total.


I reckon it's 50:50 whether or not it will get renewed.

It's obvious Torchwood has peaked ratings wise & with RTD leaving for pastures new that gives the Beeb the ideal opportunity to can his vanity project.

The show would probably have been better off staying on BBC 3 where it could have been talked up as an unqualified ratings winner.

I don't think anyone on here is saying it absolutely will not get axed, just that the Wiki page is untrue, which it is!

As for TW being a vanity project, I love the way that people think companies like the BBC are so desperate that they bow to everyone's whim, not sacking Martha properly (in case they hurt her feelings ) and only keeping TW on in case RTD had a strop and didn't make DW anymore. I think you'll find it's probably a bit more cut throat than that. There are plenty of other people who would have done DW.

I, personally, don't think that TW will get axed, you can see the ratings drop is in direct correllation with the series splitting and going to BBC 3 and then moving to Friday (which, I agree with a previous poster, is probably because of Apprentice - maybe not rock rivals though )
Last edited by backofsofatvfan : 31-03-2008 at 11:43

It's an unsubstantiated rumour which doesn't necessarily make it untrue.


Torchwood most definitely is a vanity project.

RTD wanted to make a sci-fi themed show called Excalibur & he was able to leverage his Doctor Who connections to make that a reality.

No Doctor Who no Torchwood.

You could say that about anything.

In fact look what it says now:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torchwood

I said the Wiki site is untrue, which it is. It is not fact and not even rumour, it states that in March 2008 Torchwood was axed, well this is the last day of March 2008 and guess what - no axing, making it an untrue statement.

So, what your saying is that every show created by someone is a vanity project? Calling it a vanity project and saying that RTD ued his DW connections to create implies some kind of child-like strop that RTD had in order to get the BBC to pick up his project. He had an idea for a show, BBC 3 liked it and used it. They would not then continue it on in case they annoyed RTD which is what you implied by saying that now he's leaving DW the BBC can axe TW without upsetting him!
If Wiki is to be believed it was the BBC 3 controller who asked RTD to create a spin off with adult themes and RTS merged hos excalibur idea with the new idea and TW was born.
Also, a slightly OT question, it RTD leaving DW and TW or just DW?

To be fair () it would only be every TV series created by someone who's previously created a successful TV series that would be a vanity project under that definition.

Not obvious at all.




Or leave it on BBC2 where others can happily talk it down as a ratings failure.

It's doing well on BBC2, however the rather odd decision to first-run it mid series on BBC3 will have reduced the BBC2 ratings (and increased the BBC3 ones of course), and the child-friendly version will also have had some impact (of course, if it wasn't particularly popular, why do a child-friendly edit?).

Huh? Sorry, late one last night. Are you saying that because of the success of DW the BBC let him have TW as a spin off?
If that's right (and I apologise now if it's not ) I can see why they might be more willing to allow him to take TW (however, the controller would still have to have some faith in it;s potential success) but the way it gets implied on here is that they were just scared of p***** RTD off. I do not see that as being the case, if it was
a) it would have stayed on BBC 3
b) DW would have the budget of all other BBC programming in order to create the spec FX that RTD said "I want, I want, I want" while stamping his feet

EDIT: When I say the budget of all other TV programming I mean collectively. (sorry, realised my humour could be misinterrpreted (sp?) as stupidity )

If being the Number One show on BBC2 for four out of the five pre-BBC3 showings (the fifth being #2 on the night England were playing on BBC1 at the same time), plus having all bar one of the post-BBC3 showings episodes in the Top Five for the week (the other being #6) is a failure, what would success be?

It's not April 1st yet. Although that's probably telling in itself.


Nice use of reductio ad absurdum there.

Uh no. I was making fun of the idea that the only reason TW got made was because it was given to RTD as a Vanity Project as a result of DW's success.

Fixed that for you.

Ok, so right idea, wrong context?? Sorry.

Ok, so what is the reason that it is a vanity project if it is not that it was his idea?

Ok, if in the next 11 hours and 20 mins we get an announcement that TW has, in fact, been axed I stand corrected on mocking Wiki.

I'm not sure it was a mistake

Vanity projects are endeavours that would not get made without the express involvement of the producer.

Nobody was beating down RTD's door to make Excalibur if that (un)reliable source wikipedia is to be believed.

Suddenly he has a huge hit on his hands & his pet project gets greenlit.

I mean come on.

Gay boys running around Cardiff chasing aliens.

Torchwood is a show designed by RTD for his mates.

& if that isn't a display of vanity I don't know what is.

Thanks for ensuring that I never have to pay attention to anything you say again.

I think you nullified a lot of your argument when you used the term "gay boys"

(But I will say that we don't know that excalibur ever got turned down or whatever, I can see your point but as I said before, all too often it's made out to be that RTD had a strop and said he'd leave DW unless TW was made, that's what annoys me)

Very difficult for some to either stomach or recognise maybe?