Torchwood creator Russell T Davies has the future of the hit Doctor Who spin-off all planned out, he has told the new issue of Torchwood Magazine.
"I could write you scene one of series four right now", says Davies in a revealing interview with Torchwood Magazine. "I know exactly how to pick it up.
"I've got a shape in mind, and I¹ve got stories. I know where you¹d find Gwen and Rhys, and their baby, and Jack, and I know how you¹d go forward with a new form of Torchwood."
The news will come as a tonic to fans of the show, which enjoyed runaway success in the ratings when the latest series Children of Earth screened over five nights in July this year.
The dramatic finale and the death of much-loved team member Ianto Jones had fans fearing the worst for the future of the show, but Davies' positive comments will re-ignite hopes that Torchwood will once again return to television screens.
Davies is also confident of writing another compelling series of Torchwood, regardless of the format the BBC decides to choose for the show.
"If the BBC asked for another 13 one-part stories, that's what we'd do", Davies goes on to explain to Torchwood Magazine. "I'm ready for anything, but I think it works well as one continuous story. But if the BBC decide they want 13 one-offs, I'll suddenly decide that¹s the best format in the world!"
The prolific writer, widely credited with sparking the recent revival of parent show Doctor Who, goes on to talk candidly about the origins of Torchwood, and why he thinks the timing was all important for the success of the show.
"It's been a very intelligent decision to make hay while the sun shines", he says. "Look at the recession that's sweeping in now. If I'd tried to get Torchwood off the ground now, they would say there¹s no money for it.
So while we had one very successful show, we made a strategic decision to push our advantage. Julie [Gardner, then Head of Drama at BBC Wales] passionately wanted a big, strong Welsh drama department but one show is not a drama department, You've got to have more, so we did it while those doors were open to us."
After Davies' incredible successes on British shores, where he has also penned the acclaimed drama serials Queer as Folk and The Second Coming, the writer is looking forward to his next challenge across the Atlantic.
Davies tells Torchwood Magazine he believes his trade is taken much more seriously in the USA than it is at home in the UK:
"The attitudes towards drama there are very different, and their outlook is more professional in terms of how they approach the job. I heard this brilliant quote from [acclaimed British screenwriter] Frank Cottrell Boyce recently, where he said that British writers are essentially amateur and they want to go home or go to the pub, but in America they can¹t wait to go in to the office."
Russell T Davies interview appears in Torchwood Magazine Issue #17. On sale - 20 Aug 2009
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