Jane Espenson Talks Torchwood

“The final product is going to be tightly plotted and lovingly crafted,” promises writer

“I'm thrilled to say I was invited,” she tells the site. “My agent told me about it very casually; I was already busy at the time, and he thought I'd want to decline, but I jumped in fast to say I absolutely wanted to participate.”

Asked about what she’ll bring to the show, she reveals, “I love blending tones – mixing the broadly comedic moment in with the darkly dramatic one can heighten both. Torchwood is a show that welcomes that kind of moment. I’m also really eager to play with all the culture-clash material that comes naturally out of the show’s pedigree. And I’m especially eager to write material that pushes the boundaries of what can ordinarily be done on television.”

She describes the writing process as “intense” and warns, “We’ve already changed the name of at least one character that was announced in the press. And there's nothing to stop us from changing more—so if you hear anything, even if it was true at some point, it probably isn't anymore. So the more you learn about Torchwood , the less you know.”

Dave Golder
Freelance Writer

Dave is a TV and film journalist who specializes in the science fiction and fantasy genres. He's written books about film posters and post-apocalypses, alongside writing for SFX Magazine for many years.