It was exciting enough for us “Doctor Who” fans here on Splash Page (and there are several, let me assure you) that the successful spin-off series “Torchwood” was getting its own comic book, but now we can breath easy (and jump for joy) that “Torchwood” will be continuing on television, too.

Starz Entertainment has acquired the rights to debut the next 10-episode installment of the hit show right here in the United States — and yes, Captain Jack Harkness is on board. (You can’t hear it, but I’m whistling suggestivelyright now.)

Previous reports had the Fox network interested in picking up the show, but they passed just two months ago.

“’Torchwood’ has attracted remarkable attention and loyalty in both the UK and U.S.,” said Jane Tranter, Executive VP, BBC Worldwide Productions in the official announcement, “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.”

Cast members John Barrowman (Captain Jack) and Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper) will star along with new cast members to be announced soon. Executive Producers Russel T. Davies and Julie Gardner will also be returning and the series will still be produced by BBC Worldwide, debuting in the U.S. and the United Kingdom summer of 2011.

“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,” said Ben Stephenson of BBC Drama Commissioning.

Fans may remember that following the events of “Children of Earth,” there wasn’t much left of Torchwood headquarters in Cardiff, Wales, so how will the team and the show evolve?

“’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,” said Stephenson.

Previously, “Torchwood” was only viewable in the U.S. on BBC America.

On the positive side, it seems my fears of an Americanized “Torchwood” are all but gone as a sort of Torchwood International takes it’s place. I can dig it, but is the world really ready for Captain Jack?

source:  mtv.com

Tonight’s The Night has been renewed for a second series, the BBC has announced.

The Saturday night show, which is fronted by John Barrowman, will be tied to the National Lottery show and will include the live draws.

“I am just thrilled that Tonight’s The Night is coming back to Saturday nights on BBC One,” said Barrowman. “Once again I can’t wait to make the nation’s performance dreams come true.”

The BBC’s Alan Tyler added: “We’re delighted that Tonight’s The Night will be produced by BBC Scotland this summer. John has worked in the Pacific Quay studio before and we are confident that his enthusiasm for the show and for a return to Glasgow will light up the screen.”

Barrowman will next be seen on Desperate Housewives, in which he plays a bad guy connected to the Bolen family mystery.

Today is John’s 43rd birthday!  Happy Birthday John!  I hope it’s a fabulous one.

We’ve been looking forward to “Torchwood’s” John Barrowman’s guest appearance on “Desperate Housewives” and now we get a peek!

Barrowman is playing Patrick Logan, Angie Bolen’s ex-boyfriend and the man she fears will find her, even above the police. He’s set to stick around for a six-episode arc on the show and we’re told he’ll make life hard for everyone on Wisteria, not just Angie.

Executive producer, Bob Daily told Zap2it that we’ll be seeing him in the Sun. March 21 episode.

AfterElton.com just posted these first look pictures:

Below, check Barrowman out as he butters up actress Ellen Crawford’s character:

You think she’ll regret letting him in? Are you excited for Barrowman to hit The Lane?

John Barrowman is in talks with the bosses of US TV musical hit Glee about appearing as a teacher in the show.

The Doctor Who and Torchwood star starts work on Desperate Housewives this month and has revealed he is a ‘Gleek’, the nickname for fans of Glee.

John told The Mirror: “I absolutely love the show. What would I play in it? I’m not sure what kind of character I’d like to play, maybe I could be a teacher, you know, another teacher who comes in and helps out.

“That’s me just kind of brainstorming but the fact that they want to have a meeting with me is really quite nice in itself, it’s so exciting!”

The actor will be in six episodes of Desperate Housewives playing Patrick Logan – thought to be new character Angie Bolen’s ex lover.

John said: “I just got the script last night. He is the most evil character they’ve ever introduced to the series. And that’s saying something!

“I’ve been told I’ll not only be involved in what they call ‘the current mystery storyline’, but I’ll affect every single housewife on the street. I can’t wait! I’m going to be having my Starbucks in the morning with Eva Longoria!”

The actor revealed that although there are no firm plans for a new series of sci-fi drama Torchwood – Russell T Davies has written 15 episodes and John wants to be involved.

He said: “If I’m asked to go back and do Torchwood, I will at the drop of a hat go and do it. It’s just a question of when.

“But if they were to ask me to come back, of course I would. Look, Captain Jack changed my life, I’m not going to dump him.”

source:  http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/us-series/glee/news/is-john-barrowman-set-to-star-in-glee/8507

John Barrowman is heading to Hollywood to play the ‘bad guy’ on TV hit Desperate Housewives.

The Torchwood and Dr Who star will guest star in several episodes on the long-running show about the goings on in fictional Wisteria Lane.

Barrowman, 42, will fly to Los Angeles early March to film with Desperate Housewives leading ladies Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross and Eva Longoria Parker.

Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry is keeping the plotlines involving Barrowman secret.

However, The Daily Mail can reveal that he will be the show’s main villain in the last section of the current season, series six.

The show returned to British TV this week but has been running in the U.S. for months.

Episodes featuring Barrowman will be broadcast in the America later in the Spring and around May/ June in the UK.

Executive producer Cherry met with Barrowman last week after watching him in episodes of Torchwood.

He was very taken by Barrowman’s Captain Jack Harkness character.

While he’s in LA Barrowman will meet up with old friend Russell T .Davies.

Dr Who and Torchwood Writer Davies has been working in LA writing a Torchwood series for America’s Fox TV. It will be a co-production between Fox and BBC TV.

Casting is way off. Barrowman will just being saying ‘Hi’ to Davies, not asking to be cast in the U.S. Torchwood.

Meanwhile, Barrowman has a new album out March 1 featuring songs from musicals including You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel..

Later in the year Barrowman hopes to do a second season of Tonight’s the Night for the BBC.

The singer-actor had recorded the part of Raoul for the concept album of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical Love Never Dies.

However, the composer decided to re-orchestrate his score and re-record the record. Barrowman wasn’t available to re-record and by that time Joseph Millson had been cast to play Raoul so he did the new version of the album.

source: dailymail.co.uk

Performers John Barrowman and Mark Rylance were new entrants into the top 20 of this year’s Stage 100, while producer David Babani returned to the upper echelons for the first time since 2006.

The top 20’s highest climber was Royal Court artistic director Dominic Cooke, who went from 13th to seventh. Producers David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers were also high risers, up to 12th equal from 18th. Meanwhile, Old Vic artistic director Kevin Spacey made the top 10 for the first time.

The top 20 in full is:

1. Howard Panter/Rosemary Squire (ATG) [5]

2. Cameron Mackintosh (producer/ theatre owner)[1]

3. Andrew Lloyd Webber (producer/ theatre owner / composer) [2]

4. Michael Grandage (Donmar Warehouse) [3=]

5. Nicholas Hytner (National Theatre) [3=]

6. Nica Burns / Max Weitzenhoffer (Nimax)[7]

7. Dominic Cooke (Royal Court Theatre)[13]

8. Bill Kenwright (Bill Kenwright Ltd) [6]

9. Michael Boyd (RSC) [8]

10. Kevin Spacey/ Sally Greene (Old Vic Theatre) [11]

11. Nick Thomas / Jon Conway (Qdos Entertainment) [9]

12= Sonia Friedman (Sonia Friedman Productions) [12]

12= David Pugh / Dafydd Rogers (producers) [18]

14. David Babani (Menier Chocolate Factory) [New Entry]

15. Jonathan Church (Chichester Festival Theatre) [16]

16. Bill Taylor (Stage Entertainment) [15]

17. Rupert Goold (director)[14]

18. Alex Poots (Manchester International Festival)[19]

19. John Barrowman (entertainer)[New Entry]

20. Mark Rylance (actor) [New Entry]

New Entry denotes new entry into top 20, not Stage 100

source:  thestage.co.uk

ickets went on sale for a pantomime starring television star John Barrowman, a year ahead of the opening night.

The Torchwood actor is to head the cast of Aladdin in his native Glasgow next year.

Producers say the show will have all the traditional elements of pantomime as well as an array of special effects.

source:  The Press Association

John Barrowman was a guest on a BBC radio show this morning to promote his new DVD An Evening with John Barrowman. Jumping straight to the big news he said, “Most definitely, Torchwood will come back to the BBC.”

He says that the whens and hows are still being talked about but they’re looking at another 13 episode run, not 5 which is extra great news.

As for appearing with the new Doctor Who, John says it hasn’t been discussed but followed with, “I’m prepared that it won’t happen.”

If you’re a John Barrowman fan, you’ll want to listen to the full interview which does play here in the US. Visit the Steve Wright in the Afternoon webpage for the streaming link. John comes on at the 2.23.35 mark but if you have time, listen to the whole thing. They play some great music and there’s nothing like a UK traffic report. (Can someone explain “the anticlockwise” to me? Is that the UK version of a traffic circle?)

During the interview, John talks about filming the special, he speaks fondly of his parents and his first “public” appearance when he was 4-years old performing on the counter of a record store.

When asked about where he gets his inspiration, he had this to say, “People should be inspired by what they do themselves.”

I like that. It doesn’t appear that the DVD is available yet in the US, but you can buy John’s brand new autobiography I am What I am.

John Barrowman, currently starring in the West End revival of
La Cage aux Folles, will join internationally renowned singer and pianist Michael Feinstein in his engagement at the London Palladium on November 1. The two will perform selections by the Gershwins, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin.

In related news, Tony Award and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce will join Feinstein for his holiday show at NYC’s Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency, December 1-30. Additional details will be announced shortly.

Barrowman’s many stage credits include Company, Anything Goes, and A Few Good Men. He is well known in the UK for his TV appearances in Torchwood, Doctor Who, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do and I’d Do Anything. Following his engagement in La Cage, Barrowman will be appearing in Robin Hood: The Pantomime Adventure at the New Theatre, December 12 -January 24.

As previously reported, Feinstein will return to Broadway in February with All About Me, a new show which will be written by Peter Ackerman and feature a small orchestra who will accompany Feinstein on standards and other songs. Feinstein has previously played Broadway in Michael Feinstein in Concert, and the two additional concerts subtitled Piano and Voice and Isn’t It Romantic.

source:  theatermania.com