BBC confirms second series of 'Torchwood'

Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood will return for a second series in 2007, the BBC has confirmed.

The news comes as the show - from Who guru Russell T Davies - reaches the end of its first run on BBC Three, where it has drawn a peak of 2.4 million viewers and an average audience of around 1 million. It has also garnered regular ratings of over 2 million for BBC Two on Thursday nights.

The BBC also confirmed that the second series will premiere on BBC Two, ending speculation over which channel would get to screen the show first. As with the main Doctor Who series, it is still expected to have a repeat window on BBC Three.

Describing Torchwood as "inventive, intelligent and unpredictable", BBC Two controller Roly Keating said he was "delighted" to have secured first run broadcast of the series. Meanwhile, BBC Three head Julian Bellamy said he was "proud" that the channel had helped to "build Torchwood into one of the most talked-about and eagerly-anticipated series of recent years".

Russell T Davies, who will continue to executive produce with Julie Gardner, added: "The whole team is bristling with ideas and we are delighted that Cardiff is going to be home to more monsters and mayhem."

Filming of the second series will begin in the Spring for transmission towards the end of 2007.