127-595: Upper Boat ( Welsh : Glan-bad ) is a village on the southernmost outskirts of the town of Pontypridd , within the electoral ward of Hawthorn, Rhondda Cynon Taf , Wales, and comprises part of the Treforest Industrial Estate . Historically part of Glamorgan , it fell within the parish of Eglwysilan . The location which is now referred to as Upper Boat was once a ferry point over the River Taff . There were three major ferrying points over
254-573: A time-traveling "Time Agent" and con man from the distant future who has lived on Earth as an immortal since the 19th century. Gwen Cooper ( Eve Myles ), the female lead, joins the team in the first episode; she is originally an audience surrogate , but later grows into a more morally complicated character. The original cast is filled out by Torchwood medical officer Owen Harper ( Burn Gorman ), computer specialist Toshiko Sato ( Naoko Mori ), and general factotum -cum-administrator Ianto Jones ( Gareth David-Lloyd ). Toshiko and Owen are killed off in
381-441: A Welsh Language Scheme, which indicates its commitment to the equality of treatment principle. This is sent out in draft form for public consultation for a three-month period, whereupon comments on it may be incorporated into a final version. It requires the final approval of the now defunct Welsh Language Board ( Bwrdd yr Iaith Gymraeg ). Thereafter, the public body is charged with implementing and fulfilling its obligations under
508-594: A Welsh-language edge inscription was used on pound coins dated 1985, 1990 and 1995, which circulated in all parts of the UK prior to their 2017 withdrawal. The wording is Pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad (Welsh for 'True am I to my country'), and derives from the national anthem of Wales, " Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau ". UK banknotes are in English only. Some shops employ bilingual signage. Welsh sometimes appears on product packaging or instructions. The UK government has ratified
635-663: A census glossary of terms to support the release of results from the census, including their definition of "main language" as referring to "first or preferred language" (though that wording was not in the census questionnaire itself). The wards in England with the most people giving Welsh as their main language were the Liverpool wards of Central and Greenbank ; and Oswestry South in Shropshire . The wards of Oswestry South (1.15%), Oswestry East (0.86%) and St Oswald (0.71%) had
762-411: A five-episode mini-series that aired over five consecutive days at 9 pm on BBC One from 6 July 2009, and 9 pm on BBC America HD and BBC America from 20 July 2009. Davies and Gardner stayed on as executive producers and Peter Bennett produced the series. Davies expressed concern that the third series was aired in a summer evening graveyard slot . Lead actor John Barrowman felt that
889-506: A higher budget, and it was transferred to the network's flagship channel, BBC One , as a five-episode serial titled Torchwood: Children of Earth . Although Children of Earth was broadcast over a period of five consecutive summer weeknights, the series received high ratings in the United Kingdom and overseas. A fourth series, co-produced by BBC Wales , BBC Worldwide and US premium entertainment network Starz aired in 2011 under
1016-670: A highly intelligent child murderer, and Lauren Ambrose plays Jilly Kitzinger , a ruthless PR woman who takes on Danes as a client. Tur's character is killed off in the fifth episode, whilst Pullman and Havins last until episode ten. Recurring characters include CIA directors Brian Friedkin ( Wayne Knight ) and Allen Shapiro ( John de Lancie ), San Pedro camp manager Colin Maloney ( Marc Vann ), Esther's sister Sarah Drummond ( Candace Brown ), and CIA watch analysts Charlotte Willis ( Marina Benedict ) and Noah Vickers ( Paul James ). Nana Visitor plays Olivia Colasanto , who directs
1143-476: A kid?'" He felt the fourth series of Torchwood to be "about us and our decisions and our lives, and how we live with each other and how we die with each other". The depiction of human nature in the fourth series led to a sequence which many felt to be evocative of the Holocaust . Jane Espenson noted that as a series Torchwood "is willing to go to horrible places". She stated that in storylining Miracle Day ,
1270-707: A mini-episode featuring the Weeping Angels entitled "A Ghost Story for Christmas". Subsequent Monster Files webcasts released since 2010 have been hosted by Doctor Who co-star Alex Kingston as her character, River Song . As with most other online video content from the BBC, Captain Jack's Monster Files are not viewable outside the UK and to date (2011) have never been included on a DVD or Blu-ray release of either Doctor Who or Torchwood . The Torchwood Archives by Gary Russell collects much of this online literature for
1397-536: A modern urban centre, contrasting with past stereotypical portrayals of Wales. "There's not a male voice choir ... or a miner in sight." said BBC Wales Controller Menna Richards . Conservative MP Michael Gove described the debut of Torchwood as the moment confirming "Wales' move from overlooked celtic cousin to underwired erotic coquette". Filming has also taken place outside of Cardiff, including in Merthyr Tydfil . The team's headquarters during
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#17327804399011524-584: A musical motif, or "sting", from the original theme is still audible in numerous scenes). Although each episode of Miracle Day has a published individual title, Torchwood: Miracle Day is the only on-screen title used. The series is set in Cardiff , Wales , and follows a rogue covert agency called Torchwood which investigates extraterrestrial incidents on Earth and scavenges alien technology for its own use. This Torchwood, led by Captain Jack Harkness ,
1651-474: A new form of Torchwood." At the time, he stated he would prefer for series four to be another mini-series, though he had no qualms about doing another thirteen-episode run. A November 2009 article posted on Eve Myles's website stated that shooting for the fourth series was to begin in January 2011. Subsequently, Davies looked to US networks to finance future series of the programme. He was turned down by one of
1778-476: A science-fiction/crime drama in the style of American dramas, in particular those created by Joss Whedon like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel . This idea, originally titled Excalibur , was abandoned until 2005, when BBC Three Controller Stuart Murphy invited Davies to develop an after- watershed science fiction series for the channel. During the production of the 2005 series of Doctor Who ,
1905-479: A single discourse (known in linguistics as code-switching ). Welsh speakers are largely concentrated in the north and west of Wales, principally Gwynedd , Conwy County Borough , Denbighshire , Anglesey , Carmarthenshire , north Pembrokeshire , Ceredigion , parts of Glamorgan , and north-west and extreme south-west Powys . However, first-language and other fluent speakers can be found throughout Wales. Welsh-speaking communities persisted well into
2032-554: Is Captain Jack Harkness ( John Barrowman ), an immortal con-man from the distant future; Jack originally appeared in the 2005 series of Doctor Who . The initial main cast of the series consisted of Gareth David-Lloyd , Burn Gorman , Naoko Mori , and Eve Myles . Their characters are specialists for the Torchwood team, often tracking down aliens and defending the planet from alien and human threats. In its first two series,
2159-1041: Is a Celtic language of the Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people . Welsh is spoken natively in Wales , by some in England , and in Y Wladfa (the Welsh colony in Chubut Province , Argentina ). It is spoken by smaller numbers of people in Canada and the United States descended from Welsh immigrants, within their households (especially in Nova Scotia ). Historically, it has also been known in English as "British", "Cambrian", "Cambric" and "Cymric". The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 gave
2286-409: Is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies . A spin-off of the 2005 revival of Doctor Who , it aired from 2006 to 2011. The show shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from BBC Three to BBC Two to BBC One, and acquiring American financing in its fourth series when it became a co-production of BBC One and Starz. Torchwood
2413-573: Is a small, independent organisation, but began as the Cardiff branch of the larger Torchwood Institute , then-defunct, which began in the Victorian era . (Its origins were outlined in the Doctor Who episode " Tooth and Claw ", and Harkness's long connection to it is covered in flashback scenes in a Torchwood series 2 episode.) As the opening monologue explains, the organisation is separate from
2540-477: Is aimed at adults and older teenagers, in contrast to Doctor Who ' s target audience of both adults and children. As well as science fiction, the show explores a number of themes, including existentialism , LGBTQ+ sexuality, and human corruptibility. Torchwood follows the exploits of a small team of alien-hunters who make up the Cardiff -based, fictional Torchwood Institute , which deals mainly with incidents involving extraterrestrials. Its central character
2667-551: Is available throughout Europe on satellite and online throughout the UK. Since the digital switchover was completed in South Wales on 31 March 2010, S4C Digidol became the main broadcasting channel and fully in Welsh. The main evening television news provided by the BBC in Welsh is available for download. There is also a Welsh-language radio station, BBC Radio Cymru , which was launched in 1977. Torchwood Torchwood
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#17327804399012794-688: Is considered to have lasted from then until the 14th century, when the Modern Welsh period began, which in turn is divided into Early and Late Modern Welsh. The word Welsh is a descendant, via Old English wealh, wielisc , of the Proto-Germanic word * Walhaz , which was derived from the name of the Celtic people known to the Romans as Volcae and which came to refer to speakers of Celtic languages, and then indiscriminately to
2921-401: Is destroyed in the premiere and the remainder of the Torchwood team have relocated to London . Kai Owen is promoted to a regular cast member, while a new cast of political figures are introduced alongside family members of main characters Jack and Ianto. Nicholas Farrell plays Prime Minister Brian Green whose intent is to give in rather than fight the 4–5–6, leaving Torchwood to stand against
3048-437: Is only accessible to users within the UK . Torchwood 's many tie-in websites amount to an alternate reality game ; the show's online presence was an example of electronic literature . On the first website (for series 1), the alternate reality game was mostly composed of weekly updates to the site in the form of fictional intercepted blogs, newspaper cutouts and confidential letters and IM conversations between members of
3175-512: Is only five episodes long, and was broadcast over consecutive nights as a single story, Children of Earth (2009). The series focuses on the consequences of appeasement policy; having been given 12 children as a tribute in 1965, aliens called the 4-5-6 arrive in the present demanding a greater share of the Earth's child population. For the first time in the series, the majority of the action takes place outside Wales; Torchwood's base of operations
3302-505: Is shown after the watershed – that is, after 9 pm – it has more mature content than Doctor Who . Davies told SFX : We can be a bit more visceral, more violent, and more sexual, if we want to. Though bear in mind that it's very teenage to indulge yourself in blood and gore, and Torchwood is going to be smarter than that. But it's the essential difference between BBC One at 7 pm, and BBC Three at, say, 9 pm. That says it all – instinctively, every viewer can see
3429-511: Is the label attached to the Welsh of the 12th to 14th centuries, of which much more remains than for any earlier period. This is the language of nearly all surviving early manuscripts of the Mabinogion , although the tales themselves are certainly much older. It is also the language of the existing Welsh law manuscripts. Middle Welsh is reasonably intelligible to a modern-day Welsh speaker. The Bible translations into Welsh helped maintain
3556-732: The Cynfeirdd or "Early Poets" – is generally considered to date to the Primitive Welsh period. However, much of this poetry was supposedly composed in the Hen Ogledd , raising further questions about the dating of the material and language in which it was originally composed. This discretion stems from the fact that Cumbric was widely believed to have been the language used in Hen Ogledd. An 8th-century inscription in Tywyn shows
3683-500: The 2016 Australian census , 1,688 people noted that they spoke Welsh. In the 2011 Canadian census , 3,885 people reported Welsh as their first language . According to the 2021 Canadian census , 1,130 people noted that Welsh was their mother tongue. The 2018 New Zealand census noted that 1,083 people in New Zealand spoke Welsh. The American Community Survey 2009–2013 noted that 2,235 people aged five years and over in
3810-466: The 2021 census , 7,349 people in England recorded Welsh to be their "main language". In the 2011 census, 1,189 people aged three and over in Scotland noted that Welsh was a language (other than English) that they used at home. It is believed that there are as many as 5,000 speakers of Patagonian Welsh . In response to the question 'Does the person speak a language other than English at home?' in
3937-525: The Doctor Who franchise, including sex scenes and use of profanity in several episodes. BBC Three described Torchwood as the centrepiece of its autumn 2006 schedule, and the successful first series led to a second series on BBC Two and a third on BBC One in 2009. Although Torchwood was originally intended to be sci-fi aimed at adults, the character Captain Jack Harkness , who had previously been introduced in Doctor Who , proved popular with young audiences. Davies decided to create alternative edits of
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4064-538: The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in respect of Welsh. The language has greatly increased its prominence since the creation of the television channel S4C in November 1982, which until digital switchover in 2010 broadcast 70 per cent of Channel 4's programming along with a majority of Welsh language shows during peak viewing hours. The all-Welsh-language digital station S4C Digidol
4191-756: The Polish name for Italians) have a similar etymology. The Welsh term for the language, Cymraeg , descends from the Brythonic word combrogi , meaning 'compatriots' or 'fellow countrymen'. Welsh evolved from Common Brittonic , the Celtic language spoken by the ancient Celtic Britons . Classified as Insular Celtic , the British language probably arrived in Britain during the Bronze Age or Iron Age and
4318-640: The United States spoke Welsh at home. The highest number of those (255) lived in Florida . Sources: Calls for the Welsh language to be granted official status grew with the establishment of the nationalist political party Plaid Cymru in 1925, the establishment of the Welsh Language Society in 1962 and the rise of Welsh nationalism in the later 20th century. Of the six living Celtic languages (including two revived), Welsh has
4445-431: The second series finale , as is Ianto in the show's third series. Recurring characters are Rhys Williams ( Kai Owen ), Gwen's live-in boyfriend and later husband; and Andy Davidson ( Tom Price ), Gwen's former police partner. Kai Owen becomes a main cast member in the programme beginning with the third series; his character is initially unaware of Gwen's activities with Torchwood, but later becomes her close confidant and
4572-594: The "hugely important role", adding, "I look forward to working with the Welsh Government and organisations in Wales in developing the new system of standards. I will look to build on the good work that has been done by the Welsh Language Board and others to strengthen the Welsh language and ensure that it continues to thrive." First Minister Carwyn Jones said that Huws would act as a champion for
4699-596: The 1880s identified a small part of Shropshire as still then speaking Welsh, with the "Celtic Border" passing from Llanymynech through Oswestry to Chirk . The number of Welsh-speaking people in the rest of Britain has not yet been counted for statistical purposes. In 1993, the Welsh-language television channel S4C published the results of a survey into the numbers of people who spoke or understood Welsh, which estimated that there were around 133,000 Welsh-speaking people living in England, about 50,000 of them in
4826-536: The 1993 Act nor secondary legislation made under it covers the private sector, although some organisations, notably banks and some railway companies, provide some of their information in Welsh. On 7 December 2010, the Welsh Assembly unanimously approved a set of measures to develop the use of the Welsh language within Wales. On 9 February 2011 this measure, the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 ,
4953-486: The Assembly which confirms the official status of the Welsh language; which creates a strong advocate for Welsh speakers and will improve the quality and quantity of services available through the medium of Welsh. I believe that everyone who wants to access services in the Welsh language should be able to do so, and that is what this government has worked towards. This legislation is an important and historic step forward for
5080-550: The Greater London area. The Welsh Language Board , on the basis of an analysis of the Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Study, estimated there were 110,000 Welsh-speaking people in England, and another thousand in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In the 2011 census , 8,248 people in England gave Welsh in answer to the question "What is your main language?" The Office for National Statistics subsequently published
5207-452: The Taff and the canal, which brought employment to the area. In the 1841 census , Upper Boat had a population of around 150, and its industry was clearly connected to the waterways that border it; employing boatmen , lock keepers , and carpenters . Others found work at the collieries that opened in neighbouring villages, or at the local Melin-gorwg iron foundry . As no major coal mine
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5334-616: The Torchwood Three crew. Convergence: the International Journal of Research into New Media commented on Doctor Who and Torchwood 's foray into "convergence culture" as an achievement "on an unprecedented scale, with the BBC currently using the series to trial a plethora of new technologies, including: mini-episodes on mobile phones, podcast commentaries, interactive red-button adventures, video blogs, companion programming, and 'fake' metatextual websites." For
5461-436: The UK after his partner became ill. In the first series, the main writer alongside Russell T Davies was Chris Chibnall , creator of the BBC light drama show Born and Bred and future Doctor Who showrunner. Other writers include P.J. Hammond , Toby Whithouse , Doctor Who script editor Helen Raynor , Catherine Tregenna and Doctor Who cast member Noel Clarke . Of the first two series, Russell T Davies wrote only
5588-468: The United States' major television networks , Fox ; some had speculated the Fox project could have been a spin-off or a reboot . Later, Davies succeeded in striking a deal with US premium cable network Starz . The production of the fourth series was not officially announced until June 2010: a ten-episode mini-series co-produced between BBC Wales, Starz and BBC Worldwide , airing summer 2011. As with
5715-414: The United States, joined by two fugitive CIA agents who have been framed for treason, during Miracle Day. Unlike its parent programme, Torchwood centres on a team instead of a single character with companions. The show initially depicts a small team of alien-hunters known as Torchwood Three, based in Cardiff. The team is made up of five operatives led by Captain Jack Harkness ( John Barrowman ), formerly
5842-565: The Vampire Slayer writer Jane Espenson ; The X-Files , Star Trek: Enterprise and Supernatural writer John Shiban ; and House writer Doris Egan . Additionally, both Davies and John Fay returned to write episodes. In continuing the series Davies chose to keep Torchwood more focused on the human condition than its science fiction backdrop. He drew inspiration from Buffy the Vampire Slayer , noting that "the best metaphors in Buffy came down to, 'What's it like to be in high school, as
5969-496: The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011, all new signs have Welsh displayed first. There have been incidents of one of the languages being vandalised, which may be considered a hate crime . Since 2000, the teaching of Welsh has been compulsory in all schools in Wales up to age 16; this has had an effect in stabilising and reversing the decline in the language. Text on UK coins tends to be in English and Latin. However,
6096-704: The Welsh Language Scheme. The list of other public bodies which have to prepare Schemes could be added to by initially the Secretary of State for Wales, from 1993 to 1997, by way of statutory instrument . Subsequent to the forming of the National Assembly for Wales in 1997, the Government Minister responsible for the Welsh language can and has passed statutory instruments naming public bodies who have to prepare Schemes. Neither
6223-603: The Welsh language official status in Wales. Welsh and English are de jure official languages of the Welsh Parliament, the Senedd , with Welsh being the only de jure official language in any part of the United Kingdom, with English being merely de facto official. According to the 2021 census , the Welsh-speaking population of Wales aged three or older was 538,300 (17.8%) and nearly three quarters of
6350-526: The Welsh language, though some had concerns over her appointment: Plaid Cymru spokeswoman Bethan Jenkins said, "I have concerns about the transition from Meri Huws's role from the Welsh Language Board to the language commissioner, and I will be asking the Welsh government how this will be successfully managed. We must be sure that there is no conflict of interest, and that the Welsh Language Commissioner can demonstrate how she will offer
6477-487: The Welsh of the 16th century, but they are similar enough for a fluent Welsh speaker to have little trouble understanding it. During the Modern Welsh period, there has been a decline in the popularity of the Welsh language: the number of Welsh speakers declined to the point at which there was concern that the language would become extinct. During industrialisation in the late 19th century, immigrants from England led to
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#17327804399016604-630: The Welsh-speaking heartlands, with the number dropping to under 50 per cent in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire for the first time. However, according to the Welsh Language Use Survey in 2019–20, 22 per cent of people aged three and over were able to speak Welsh. The Annual Population Survey (APS) by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated that as of March 2024, approximately 862,700, or 28.0 per cent of
6731-443: The cast of the show for its fourth series. The first series premiered on BBC Three and on BBC HD in 2006 to mixed reviews, but viewing figures broke records for the digital channel. It returned in 2008 where it aired first on BBC Two , receiving a higher budget; its uneven tone, a criticism of the first series, was largely smoothed out, and the show attracted higher ratings and better reviews. The third series' episodes worked with
6858-460: The census. In terms of usage, ONS also reported that 14.4 per cent (443,800) of people aged three or older in Wales reported that they spoke Welsh daily in March 2024, with 5.4 per cent (165,500) speaking it weekly and 6.5 per cent (201,200) less often. Approximately 1.7 per cent (51,700) reported that they never spoke Welsh despite being able to speak the language, with the remaining 72.0 per cent of
6985-565: The comic consisted of reprints of the magazine's comic strips and short stories, and was cancelled in the wake of the parent publication folding. Following the cancellation of Torchwood Magazine , Doctor Who Magazine and its US counterpart, Doctor Who Insider, ran articles on the series. Torchwood has "a heavy online presence". At the Edinburgh International Television Festival , BBC Director of Television Jana Bennett originally promised that
7112-643: The community for over a century. Described as being designed in the simple round-headed style, the chapel closed in 1987. From 2006 to 2012, Upper Boat was known in media circles for being home to BBC Wales' Upper Boat Studios , where the hit revised version of Doctor Who , as well as spin-offs Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures , were produced, before production moved to BBC Wales new complex at Roath Lock , Cardiff. [REDACTED] Media related to Upper Boat at Wikimedia Commons Welsh language Welsh ( Cymraeg [kəmˈraːiɡ] or y Gymraeg [ə ɡəmˈraːiɡ] )
7239-414: The course of the 20th century this monolingual population all but disappeared, but a small percentage remained at the time of the 1981 census. Most Welsh-speaking people in Wales also speak English. However, many Welsh-speaking people are more comfortable expressing themselves in Welsh than in English. A speaker's choice of language can vary according to the subject domain and the social context, even within
7366-489: The creation of Old Welsh, Davies suggests it may be more appropriate to refer to this derivative language as Lingua Britannica rather than characterising it as a new language altogether. The argued dates for the period of "Primitive Welsh" are widely debated, with some historians' suggestions differing by hundreds of years. The next main period is Old Welsh ( Hen Gymraeg , 9th to 11th centuries); poetry from both Wales and Scotland has been preserved in this form of
7493-479: The decline in Welsh speakers particularly in the South Wales Valleys. Welsh government processes and legislation have worked to increase the proliferation of the Welsh language, for example through education. Welsh has been spoken continuously in Wales throughout history; however, by 1911, it had become a minority language, spoken by 43.5 per cent of the population. While this decline continued over
7620-530: The departures of main characters Owen and Tosh, whose deaths at the hands of Jack's long-lost brother Gray reduced the cast to Barrowman, Myles and David-Lloyd in its closing scenes. The Torchwood Three team made a crossover appearance in the series four finale of Doctor Who , " The Stolen Earth "/" Journey's End ", which featured Jack Harkness leaving the Doctor at the close of the story, accompanied by Martha Jones and Mickey Smith ( Noel Clarke ). Series three
7747-449: The duration of the five-episode serial, such as Permanent Secretary John Frobisher ( Peter Capaldi ), Clem McDonald ( Paul Copley ), Frobisher's personal assistant Bridget Spears ( Susan Brown ), Prime Minister Brian Green ( Nicholas Farrell ), ruthless operative Agent Johnson ( Liz May Brice ), Jack's middle-aged daughter Alice ( Lucy Cohu ), her son Steven (Bear McCausland) and Ianto's sister Rhiannon ( Katy Wix ). Cush Jumbo
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#17327804399017874-410: The early popularity of Torchwood , various tie-in media were produced, including audio dramas, novels and comic strips. From its inception, the BBC invested in a heavy online presence for the series, with an alternate reality game running alongside the show's first two series, and an animated Web series running alongside its fourth. The BBC continued to approve and commission licensed spin-offs after
8001-508: The estate grew, the fields surrounding the area were consumed by urban sprawl; housing was quickly required for local employees. Prefabricated houses were hastily built, and the village grew, but the decision to build the A470 trunk road in the early 1970s across the north of Upper Boat saw these homes removed via a compulsory demolition order . Upper Boat was once served by two separate railway stations on different lines. The first (which
8128-702: The finale " The Blood Line ". In the epilogue, Gwen questions Jack whether he will stay to reform Torchwood; he does not provide an answer. "With Doctor Who we often had to pretend that bits of Cardiff were London, or Utah , or the planet Zog. Whereas this series is going to be honest-to-God Cardiff. We will happily walk past the Millennium Centre and say, 'Look, there's the Millennium Centre'." Russell T Davies The first two series of Torchwood were both filmed and set in Cardiff . The makers of Torchwood deliberately portray Cardiff as
8255-712: The first two series, Paul Kasey regularly appears under heavy prosthetics, portraying, as in Doctor Who , a number of aliens on the series, such as humanoid Weevils and Blowfishes . Other recurring characters include Doctor Who ' s Martha Jones ( Freema Agyeman )—like Jack, a former time-traveller, and now medical officer for the militaristic alien-investigating organisation UNIT —who crosses over into Torchwood for three episodes in series two. Additionally, James Marsters portrays Captain John Hart , Jack's villainous former lover and Time Agent partner. Others in
8382-649: The first two series, referred to as the Hub , was beneath Roald Dahl Plass in Cardiff Bay – formerly known as the Oval Basin. This is where the TARDIS landed in the Doctor Who episodes " Boom Town " and " Utopia " to refuel, and is the location of the spacetime rift first seen in " The Unquiet Dead ". The Cardiff Rift becomes "the first of several phenomena or technologies in the new Dr.Who associated with
8509-469: The first. It continues Gwen's neophyte role and includes a "sex monster" science fiction storyline. The first 13-episode series ended with a two-parter on 1 January 2007. The first part, entitled " Captain Jack Harkness ", is a love story set in wartime Britain, with a subplot which pushes the setting toward an apocalypse for the finale " End of Days ". It deals with the ramifications of diseases and persons from throughout history falling through time and across
8636-491: The following decades, the language did not die out. The smallest number of speakers was recorded in 1981 with 503,000 although the lowest percentage was recorded in the most recent census in 2021 at 17.8 per cent. By the start of the 21st century, numbers began to increase once more, at least partly as a result of the increase in Welsh-medium education . The 2004 Welsh Language Use Survey showed that 21.7 per cent of
8763-510: The government and the aliens. David-Lloyd departs the cast when Ianto is killed by the aliens in episode four, leaving Jack distraught. In the series closing scenes, with Gwen pregnant and Jack abandoning Earth, Torchwood effectively disbands. Series four, Torchwood: Miracle Day (2011), comprising ten episodes, sees Torchwood having been reduced to the status of legend following Children of Earth . The narrative follows two CIA agents ( Mekhi Phifer and Alexa Havins ) who discover Torchwood on
8890-554: The government, outside the police, and beyond the United Nations. Their public perception is as merely a ' special ops ' group. The events of the first series take place sometime after the Doctor Who series two finale , in which the Torchwood Institute's London headquarters was destroyed. This format was maintained for the first two series. Series three, a miniseries, saw the Cardiff headquarters destroyed and
9017-411: The highest number of native speakers who use the language on a daily basis, and it is the Celtic language which is considered the least endangered by UNESCO . The Welsh Language Act 1993 and the Government of Wales Act 1998 provide that the Welsh and English languages be treated equally in the public sector, as far as is reasonable and practicable. Each public body is required to prepare for approval
9144-476: The highest percentage of residents giving Welsh as their main language. The census also revealed that 3,528 wards in England, or 46% of the total number, contained at least one resident whose main language is Welsh. In terms of the regions of England , North West England (1,945), London (1,310) and the West Midlands (1,265) had the highest number of people noting Welsh as their main language. According to
9271-456: The history of Welsh, with rather indistinct boundaries: Primitive Welsh, Old Welsh, Middle Welsh, and Modern Welsh. The period immediately following the language's emergence is sometimes referred to as Primitive Welsh, followed by the Old Welsh period – which is generally considered to stretch from the beginning of the 9th century to sometime during the 12th century. The Middle Welsh period
9398-424: The huge difference there. According to Barrowman: "I don't do any nude scenes in series one; they're saving that for the next series! I don't have a problem with getting my kit off, as long as they pay me the right money." Davies also joked to a BBC Radio Wales interviewer that he was "not allowed" to refer to the programme as " Doctor Who for grown-ups". The first series includes content rarely seen or heard in
9525-431: The in-universe story of Adam psychically inserting himself into the team members' memories as a long-standing member of the team. For Children of Earth , a recap of the last episode was played at the beginning of each episode, followed by a title card. The theme was not featured in this, instead only featuring over the end credits. A new theme arrangement and opening credit sequence was introduced with Series 4 (though
9652-512: The interface between different places, dimensions, or states of being." The Rift becomes a plot device to present threats to the characters and the world, with danger awaiting on the other side. In "The House of the Dead" the Cardiff Rift is closed through the actions of a ghost, Ianto Jones . The Hub itself was around three storeys high, with a large column running through the middle that
9779-595: The language already dropping inflections in the declension of nouns. Janet Davies proposed that the origins of the Welsh language were much less definite; in The Welsh Language: A History , she proposes that Welsh may have been around even earlier than 600 AD. This is evidenced by the dropping of final syllables from Brittonic: * bardos 'poet' became bardd , and * abona 'river' became afon . Though both Davies and Jackson cite minor changes in syllable structure and sounds as evidence for
9906-506: The language, its speakers and for the nation." The measure was not welcomed warmly by all supporters: Bethan Williams, chairman of the Welsh Language Society, gave a mixed response to the move, saying, "Through this measure we have won official status for the language and that has been warmly welcomed. But there was a core principle missing in the law passed by the Assembly before Christmas. It doesn't give language rights to
10033-555: The language. As Germanic and Gaelic colonisation of Britain proceeded, the Brittonic speakers in Wales were split off from those in northern England, speaking Cumbric, and those in the southwest, speaking what would become Cornish , so the languages diverged. Both the works of Aneirin ( Canu Aneirin , c. 600 ) and the Book of Taliesin ( Canu Taliesin ) were written during this era. Middle Welsh ( Cymraeg Canol )
10160-622: The modern period across the border in England. Archenfield was still Welsh enough in the time of Elizabeth I for the Bishop of Hereford to be made responsible, together with the four Welsh bishops, for the translation of the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer into Welsh. Welsh was still commonly spoken there in the first half of the 19th century, and churchwardens' notices were put up in both Welsh and English until about 1860. Alexander John Ellis in
10287-608: The nature of human life and the absence of a traditional afterlife, and the corrupting nature of power. The program is also notable in its portrayal of LGBT characters and the degree to which its various characters are sexually fluid; through those characters, the series examines homosexual and bisexual relationships. Torchwood Declassified is a "making-of" programme similar to Doctor Who Confidential . Each Declassified episode runs under ten minutes, in contrast to Confidential 's 45 (formerly 30). Torchwood Declassified aired on BBC Three (series 1) and BBC Two (series 2), and
10414-448: The number of Welsh-language speakers to one million by 2050. Since 1980, the number of children attending Welsh-medium schools has increased, while the number going to Welsh bilingual and dual-medium schools has decreased. Welsh is considered the least endangered Celtic language by UNESCO . The language of the Welsh developed from the language of Britons . The emergence of Welsh was not instantaneous and clearly identifiable. Instead,
10541-473: The penultimate episode " Fragments ". A three-episode arc (" Reset ", " Dead Man Walking " and " A Day in the Death ") in the middle of the series guest stars Doctor Who actress Freema Agyeman as Martha Jones , temporarily drafted into Torchwood. The arc focuses on the death and partial resurrection of main character Owen Harper, and how he copes as a dead man. The second series finale, " Exit Wounds ", features
10668-473: The people of Wales in every aspect of their lives. Despite that, an amendment to that effect was supported by 18 Assembly Members from three different parties, and that was a significant step forward." On 5 October 2011, Meri Huws , Chair of the Welsh Language Board , was appointed the new Welsh Language Commissioner. She released a statement that she was "delighted" to have been appointed to
10795-551: The people of the Western Roman Empire . In Old English the term went through semantic narrowing , coming to refer to either Britons in particular or, in some contexts, slaves. The plural form Wēalas evolved into the name for their territory, Wales. The modern names for various Romance-speaking people in Continental Europe (e.g. Walloons , Valaisans , Vlachs / Wallachians , and Włosi ,
10922-436: The population in Wales said they had no Welsh language skills. Other estimates suggest that 862,700 people (28.0%) aged three or older in Wales could speak Welsh in March 2024. Almost half of all Welsh speakers consider themselves fluent, while 20 per cent are able to speak a fair amount. 56 per cent of Welsh speakers speak the language daily, and 19 per cent speak the language weekly. The Welsh Government plans to increase
11049-471: The population not being able to speak it. The National Survey for Wales, conducted by Welsh Government, has also tended to report a higher percentage of Welsh speakers than the census, with the most recent results for 2022–2023 suggesting that 18 per cent of the population aged 3 and over were able to speak Welsh, with an additional 16 per cent noting that they had some Welsh-speaking ability. Historically, large numbers of Welsh people spoke only Welsh. Over
11176-502: The population of Wales aged 3 and over, were able to speak the language. Children and young people aged three to 15 years old were more likely to report that they could speak Welsh than any other age group (48.4 per cent, 241,300). Around 1,001,500 people, or 32.5 per cent, reported that they could understand spoken Welsh. 24.7 per cent (759,200) could read and 22.2 per cent (684,500) could write in Welsh. The APS estimates of Welsh language ability are historically higher than those produced by
11303-407: The population of Wales spoke Welsh, compared with 20.8 per cent in the 2001 census , and 18.5 per cent in the 1991 census . Since 2001, however, the number of Welsh speakers has declined in both the 2011 and 2021 censuses to about 538,300 or 17.8 per cent in 2021, lower than 1991, although it is still higher in absolute terms. The 2011 census also showed a "big drop" in the number of speakers in
11430-514: The precariousness of fame and the amorality of the media. The late-2000s global recession is implicated as another element of the Miracle Day conspiracy. Though largely set in the US, Wales remains a key setting. The origins of the Miracle Day conspiracy are revealed in a 1920s flashback in " Immortal Sins ", as the worldwide scale of the story takes the protagonists to Shanghai and Buenos Aires in
11557-507: The première episode. Helen Raynor and Brian Minchin were the programme's script editors. Series one of Torchwood was filmed from May 2006 until November 2006. For the second series, lead writer Chris Chibnall wrote the opening episode and the three final episodes. Both Catherine Tregenna and Helen Raynor wrote two episodes for the second series. The other episodes were written by James Moran , Matt Jones , J. C. Wilsher , Joseph Lidster , P.J. Hammond and Phil Ford . Russell T Davies
11684-409: The required fresh approach to this new role." Huws started her role as the Welsh Language Commissioner on 1 April 2012. Local councils and the Senedd use Welsh, issuing Welsh versions of their literature, to varying degrees. Road signs in Wales are in Welsh and English. Prior to 2016, the choice of which language to display first was the responsibility of the local council. Since then, as part of
11811-626: The river, one at Taff's Well , a second at Willowford, and the 'upper boat' was moored where today the Upper Boat Inn is located. Founded as a ford point across the River Taff, Upper Boat was mainly untouched by the booming coal and steel industry around which much of the industrialised south Wales grew. When the Glamorganshire Canal was constructed in the late 18th century, Upper Boat found itself located between
11938-544: The same day death ceases to occur, due to an event known as Miracle Day. The agents join Gwen and Jack as they seek to restore death to the world. While primarily a conspiracy thriller , the series also examines the depths humanity can sink to under pressure. Actress Arlene Tur portrays a surgeon who challenges the failing medical system and shifting government legislation. The characters of Oswald Danes ( Bill Pullman ) and Jilly Kitzinger ( Lauren Ambrose ) are used to highlight
12065-419: The second series in 2008, a second interactive Torchwood online game was devised, scripted by series writer Phil Ford ; this more heavily featured the actors of the series, particularly Gareth David-Lloyd, and Siwan Morris was cast as a pirate radio jockey investigating Torchwood . During the fourth series of the revival of Doctor Who , a crossover webcast production called Captain Jack's Monster Files
12192-624: The second series to be "child-friendly", removing overt sexuality and swearing. These edits to the shows enabled it to be broadcast at 7 pm (pre-watershed). The first three series of Torchwood were produced in-house by BBC Wales . The Head of Drama at the time of the first series, Julie Gardner , served as executive producer alongside Davies. The first two episodes of series 1 of Torchwood premiered on 22 October 2006 on BBC Three and BBC HD . Series 2 premiered on BBC Two and BBC HD on 16 January 2008. The third series, Torchwood: Children of Earth , began shooting on 18 August 2008 and comprised
12319-406: The second series, recurring in a minor capacity, include a mysteriously age-immune little girl (Skye Bennett) and Victorian-era Torchwood member Alice Guppy ( Amy Manson ). The second series also introduces Gwen's parents, Geraint ( William Thomas ) and Mary Cooper ( Sharon Morgan ), who later reappear in the show's fourth series. Children of Earth featured a largely new supporting cast for
12446-526: The series' online tie-ins were to include the ability to explore the Hub, an imaginary desktop, weekly 10-minute behind-the-scenes vodcasts . "You can join the corporation of Torchwood and be one of its employees," said Bennett. The Adobe Flash-based interactive website, including the Hub Tour, debuted on 12 October 2006. Due to digital media rights restrictions most video content on the BBC Three websites
12573-562: The series, by JC Wilsher. Euros Lyn directed all five episodes of the third series, Children of Earth . In June 2010, a BBC News report confirmed that the fourth series would have 10 episodes. Filming began in January 2011. Unlike the previous series, this series' directors did not direct in blocks but in specific episodes. The series four directors included Bharat Nalluri , Billy Gierhart , Guy Ferland and Gwyneth Horder-Payton . Richard Stokes produced series 1 and 2 of Torchwood; Originally, James Hawes (a Doctor Who director)
12700-651: The shift occurred over a long period, with some historians claiming that it had happened by as late as the 9th century , with a watershed moment being that proposed by linguist Kenneth H. Jackson , the Battle of Dyrham , a military battle between the West Saxons and the Britons in 577 AD, which split the South Western British from direct overland contact with the Welsh. Four periods are identified in
12827-434: The show had been mistreated by BBC executives, despite what he felt was the programme's proven popularity and success. In August 2009, Davies stated that the fourth series was "ready to go", and that he had the next series planned out, stating, "I know exactly how to pick it up. I've got a shape in mind, and I've got stories. I know where you'd find Gwen and Rhys, and their baby, and Jack, and I know how you'd go forward with
12954-495: The show uses a time rift in Cardiff as its primary plot generator , accounting for the unusual preponderance of alien beings in Cardiff. In the third and fourth series, Torchwood operate as fugitives. Gorman and Mori's characters were written out of the story at the end of the second series. Recurring actor Kai Owen was promoted to the main cast in series three, in which David-Lloyd was written out. Subsequently, American actors Mekhi Phifer , Alexa Havins and Bill Pullman joined
13081-493: The show's conclusion, including an audio series continuation from Big Finish Productions (2015–present). On 21 February 2020, all 41 televised episodes returned to the BBC 's online streaming service, BBC iPlayer . In the United States , the entire series was made available on HBO 's new streaming service, HBO Max , upon its launch in May 2020. Before the revival of Doctor Who , Russell T Davies began to develop an idea for
13208-414: The show's first two series are preceded by a voice-over monologue by Barrowman as Harkness, establishing the show's premise. The show's theme tune plays over this monologue and the title sequence. The theme was written by Doctor Who composer Murray Gold . The opening sequence was re-done specifically for series 2, episode 5 " Adam ", adding the titular character to the existing scenes. This reflected
13335-409: The team temporarily operating as fugitives in England's capital city of London, its membership declining and the organisation thoroughly broken over the course of the serial. Series four starts with Torchwood fully disbanded. Jack has left Earth after the events of series three, and a pregnant Gwen has retired to be with her family. The group is then unofficially reformed, this time operating primarily in
13462-438: The team toward their real enemies; Frances Fisher and Teddy Sears portray recurring villains. The premiere episode " Everything Changes " was written by Russell T Davies and introduces the main characters and roles within the series, using newcomer Gwen as the audience surrogate in a similar style to the introduction of the companion characters in Doctor Who . The second episode, titled " Day One ", aired immediately after
13589-410: The team's ally. Price appears in all four series. Prior to the programme's debut, publicity materials featured Indira Varma as Suzie Costello among the regular cast members, giving the impression that she would appear throughout the series. However, Suzie was killed off at the end of the first episode with Gwen taking her place on the team, Suzie reappearing only once more as an antagonist . In
13716-454: The third, the fourth series was given its own title: Torchwood: Miracle Day . Shortly after the broadcast of Miracle Day in March 2012, the chief executive officer of Starz, Chris Albrecht , announced that he was remaining in touch with the BBC regarding a further series of Torchwood , though it would depend on Davies being free from his other commitments. However, by 2012 the show had entered an indefinite hiatus due to Davies' return to
13843-467: The title Torchwood: Miracle Day . Set both in Wales and the United States, Miracle Day fared less well with critics than Children of Earth , although it was applauded by some for its ambition. The series entered an indefinite hiatus after Miracle Day due to Davies' personal circumstances. All four televised series have been broadcast in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America. Owing to
13970-471: The traditional setting, but in the first episode the Hub was destroyed; the show adapted to a conventional London setting, with many scenes filmed and set at real-life British intelligence agency headquarters Thames House . For the show's fourth series, the programme was largely filmed and set in the United States, but parts were filmed in Wales and other locations. Torchwood explores various themes in its narrative , including issues around existentialism ,
14097-552: The universe to arrive in present day Cardiff. The episode also sets up Jack's return in the Doctor Who episode " Utopia ". 2008's second 13-episode series of Torchwood begins with Jack's return from the previous Doctor Who episode, " Last of the Time Lords " with the series premiere, " Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang ". The series introduces Jack's ex-partner Captain John Hart in its premiere, reveals flashbacks to Jack's childhood in " Adam " and shows how each member joined Torchwood in
14224-526: The use of Welsh in daily life, and standardised spelling. The New Testament was translated by William Salesbury in 1567, and the complete Bible by William Morgan in 1588. Modern Welsh is subdivided into Early Modern Welsh and Late Modern Welsh. Early Modern Welsh ran from the 15th century through to the end of the 16th century, and the Late Modern Welsh period roughly dates from the 16th century onwards. Contemporary Welsh differs greatly from
14351-577: The west bank of the Taff, the coal-fired power station provided employment for several decades, until it was decommissioned in 1972, and then demolished in 1976, following events linked to the nationalisation of the electricity supply industry in Britain . In 1936, the Treforest Industrial Estate was conceived; to bring employment to the area. By the end of the following year, three factories were built, employing 69 people. As
14478-437: The word "Torchwood", an anagram of "Doctor Who", had been used as a title ruse for the series while filming its first few episodes to ensure they were not intercepted. Davies connected the word "Torchwood" to his earlier Excalibur idea and decided to make the series a Doctor Who spin-off. Subsequently, the word "Torchwood" was seeded in Doctor Who episodes and other media that aired in 2005 and 2006. Because Torchwood
14605-469: The writers "didn't want to flinch away from what mankind can do." The first block of series two, consisting of episodes by Raynor and Tregenna, was directed by Andy Goddard . Colin Teague directed the second block, which consists of episode two by Moran and episode four by Tregenna, with Ashley Way directing the third block, consisting of the series two premiere by Chibnall and the sixth episode of
14732-556: Was also available online through the BBC's iPlayer and dedicated Torchwood site. Installments were produced for each episode of the first two series, with a single installment produced for the Children of Earth DVD release. In 2007, Titan Magazines launched Torchwood Magazine , which was released on 24 January 2008 in the United Kingdom. The United States version was launched in February 2008. The Australia/New Zealand version
14859-532: Was an extension of the fountain above; at its base lay the rift machine. The Hub had two means of access: a lift that rose to the plass next to the fountain (camouflaged by a perception filter), and a more mundane entrance hidden in a tourism office. Production crew were keen to use everything Wales had to offer in filming the series; for example, the military base scenes in " Sleeper " and the booby-trapped abandoned warehouse scenes in " Fragments " were filmed at RAF Caerwent , near Chepstow. The third series opened in
14986-523: Was called Upper Boat Halt after 1924), on the Pontypridd, Caerphilly and Newport Railway , was opened in 1904, and closed in 1956. The second (called 'Upper Boat' throughout its life), was on the Cardiff Railway , opening in 1911, and closing in 1931. The nearest station is now Treforest Estate . Built in 1839, Upper Boat was home to Carmel Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel , which serve
15113-497: Was cast as Frobisher's personal assistant Lois Habiba ; Habiba was written into the story after Agyeman was unavailable to return to portray Martha. The fourth series, Miracle Day , features an expanded cast of eight. Barrowman, Myles and Owen all return to the series. New to the Torchwood team are CIA agents Rex Matheson ( Mekhi Phifer ), and Esther Drummond ( Alexa Havins ), and surgeon Vera Juarez ( Arlene Tur ). American film star Bill Pullman joins as Oswald Danes ,
15240-622: Was complete by around AD 550, and labelled the period between then and about AD 800 "Primitive Welsh". This Primitive Welsh may have been spoken in both Wales and the Hen Ogledd ('Old North') – the Brittonic-speaking areas of what are now northern England and southern Scotland – and therefore may have been the ancestor of Cumbric as well as Welsh. Jackson, however, believed that the two varieties were already distinct by that time. The earliest Welsh poetry – that attributed to
15367-458: Was initially announced as writing two episodes, but due to commitments to Doctor Who , he no longer anticipated writing any Torchwood episodes. For series three, Davies returned and wrote the first and last episodes, co-wrote episode three with James Moran and plotted the overall story arc himself. John Fay wrote episodes two and four. For the fourth series, Miracle Day , Davies secured several popular US television writers, including Buffy
15494-503: Was launched in April 2008. The magazine emulated Doctor Who Magazine in combining behind-the-scenes features with original story content in the form of a serialised comic strip and short stories; as the magazine's run progressed, the original fiction became more predominant. The magazine was discontinued in early 2011, after two-dozen issues. Titan published six issues of a monthly Torchwood comic book in 2009 for North American markets;
15621-473: Was launched, featuring Barrowman, in character as Jack, hosting a series of shorts profiling various monsters and aliens featured on Doctor Who . These segments, posted to the BBC's official Doctor Who website, included specially shot footage of Jack in the Hub. After Series 4, the segments were produced less frequently, with the last featuring Jack, released in December 2009, taking the form of Jack narrating
15748-499: Was lined up as the producer, but he later withdrew from this project. Series 3 was produced by Peter Bennett . Series 4 was produced by Kelly A Manners, with UK filming produced by Brian Minchin, producer of Series 4 and 5 of The Sarah Jane Adventures . The series also shares Doctor Who 's production designer, Edward Thomas. Music for the series was composed by Ben Foster and Doctor Who 's composer Murray Gold , with composer Stu Kennedy assisting on Series 4. Episodes of
15875-518: Was passed and received Royal Assent, thus making the Welsh language an officially recognised language within Wales. The measure: The measure required public bodies and some private companies to provide services in Welsh. The Welsh government's Minister for Heritage at the time, Alun Ffred Jones , said, "The Welsh language is a source of great pride for the people of Wales, whether they speak it or not, and I am delighted that this measure has now become law. I am very proud to have steered legislation through
16002-517: Was probably spoken throughout the island south of the Firth of Forth . During the Early Middle Ages the British language began to fragment due to increased dialect differentiation, thus evolving into Welsh and the other Brittonic languages. It is not clear when Welsh became distinct. Linguist Kenneth H. Jackson has suggested that the evolution in syllabic structure and sound pattern
16129-544: Was sunk in the locality of Upper Boat, its growth was gradual; and by 1901, its population had increased to little over 300. With the canal and the foundry now in decline, almost all employment in the village was reliant on coal mining, with people commuting to nearby pits. In 1902, the construction of the Upper Boat power station was initiated by the South Wales Electric Company . Located on
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