LOS ANGELES, June 7 /PRNewswire/ — Starz Entertainment has
acquired U.S. television rights to the next installment of the BBC’s
audience sensation Torchwood, developed and produced by BBC
Worldwide Productions. Starz will debut the 10-episode series
exclusively in the U.S., and BBC One will debut it in the U.K., both in
summer, 2011. This is a co-production between Starz, BBC Cymru Wales and
BBC Worldwide, and BBC Worldwide will distribute the show outside the
U.S. The deal was jointly announced today by Starz, LLC President and
CEO Chris Albrecht and BBC Worldwide
Productions EVP Jane Tranter.

The stars of the previous versions of Torchwood, notably John Barrowman (Capt. Jack
Harkness) and Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), will return for the new version.
Additional key cast, reflecting the more international scope of the
series, will be announced soon.

Torchwood is a drama that puts extraterrestrial
threats into a very real world, and asks how humanity deals with the
danger – while fighting mankind’s darkest instincts. The series’
previous three seasons aired on BBC America in the U.S. and garnered
record-breaking ratings for the network. Created by visionary
writer/producer Russell T Davies, Torchwood has to date been
located primarily in Cardiff, Wales.
The new series will allow Davies and his writing team to tell a more
explosive and global story, one that takes advantage of the unlimited
narrative opportunities of a premium television service like Starz.

Davies and BBC Worldwide Productions’ SVP Scripted Julie Gardner
return as executive producers, with Davies also serving as show-runner
for the new Torchwood.

“We’re committed to programming exceptional television that is
entertaining, imaginative and provides a premium TV experience, and by
any measure the new concept for Torchwood fits that mandate,”
Starz, LLC, President and CEO Chris Albrecht
said. “I’ve been part of successful partnerships with Jane Tranter and the BBC previously, and I’m
very much looking forward to working with them again.”

Torchwood has attracted remarkable attention and loyalty in
both the UK and U.S., and in this new partnership with Starz, the next
chapter will not only reward our current fans, but also introduce new
viewers to the most impressive installment yet,” said Jane Tranter, EVP, BBC Worldwide Productions. “Chris Albrecht and his team are committed to
delivering quality premium programming to their subscribers, also a core
attribute of the BBC, and we are excited to be working with them as the Torchwood adventure continues.”

“Russell, Jane and Julie came to us with a compelling vision for the
evolution of the Torchwood saga that really takes the story
into whole new areas,” added Carmi Zlotnik,
Managing Director of Starz Media ? the production and development
division of Starz. “The compelling story and characters this trio
created provide a strong template for driving this narrative in exciting
ways.”  

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama
Commissioning said: “We have a long history of working with many U.S.
networks, but it is incredibly exciting to be working with Starz for the
first time, as well as to be reunited with the best of British in
Russell, Jane and Julie. Torchwood will burst back onto the
screen with a shocking and moving story with global stakes and locations
that will make it feel bigger and bolder than ever”

Torchwood is the latest piece of notable programming from
Starz. It follows on the heels of the recently concluded first season of
the epic “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” this summer’s highly anticipated
event  series “The Pillars of the Earth,” based on author Ken Follett‘s international bestseller, and the
recently announced series “Camelot,” which Starz is co-producing with
GK-TV and will air early in 2011.

“Torchwood” originally debuted in the UK on BBC One in 2006. All five
episodes of Torchwood: Children of Earth” reached the Top 10 list in
TV Episodes across the entire iTunes TV Store, with episode 1 of the
series reaching the top spot the week of launch in August, 2009.