Torchwood One’s Yvonne Hartman Returns for Next Big Finish Release

Well, this is a surprise.

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Big Finish has announced the details of the newest chapter in their new Torchwood audio series and, unlike the first three releases, this story will not feature any returning members of the eponymous TV series. Instead, Torchwood: One Rule will star Tracy-Ann Oberman as Yvonne Hartman, head of Torchwood One in London. Oberman originated the role on Doctor Who in the second series episode ‘Army of Ghosts’ before meeting an untimely end (spoilers!).

Tracy-Ann Oberman as Yvonne Hartman in Torchwood: One Rule. (Credit: Big Finish)

But don’t worry — Hartman is not making a miraculous return from the dead. This new story actually takes place about a year before ‘Army of Ghosts’ and sees Hartman in Cardiff on a secret assignment involving the same alien conspiracy running throughout the new Torchwood series.

One Rule is written by Joseph Lidster, who was responsible for the Series 2 Torchwood episode, ‘A Day in the Death’ (as well as episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures, Wizards vs. Aliens, and numerous other Big Finish productions):

"“Torchwood was my first piece of writing for television and it remains my favourite series. Not just the television episodes but the books, audiobooks, radio plays, all of it. I’d have been gutted not to have been involved in some way – I’d have happily gone into the studio and made the tea!"

"“James Goss gave me a choice of available characters but it was Yvonne who leapt out at me. She’s one of my favourite characters to have appeared in Doctor Who – she has questionable beliefs but she genuinely thinks she’s doing the best thing for her country. She’s also incredibly funny and brilliantly performed by the magnificent Tracy-Ann Oberman.”"

The first chapter in Big Finish’s new series, Torchwood: The Conspiracy with John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, is available now. Torchwood: Fall to Earth with Gareth David-Lloyd as Ianto Jones will be released in October, followed by Torchwood: Forgotten Lives with Eve Myles and Kai Owen as Gwen Cooper and Rhys Williams in November. Naturally, Torchwood: One Rule will then be out in December, followed by two further monthly titles.

Last week, Big Finish announced they had begun pre-production on a second Torchwood series to begin in March 2016.

Here’s the official synopsis for Torchwood: One Rule:

"It’s been three weeks since the Mayor of Cardiff was killed by a shop dummy and the fight is on to see who will replace him.Yvonne Hartman is visiting the city to retrieve an invaluable alien device. She’s in charge of Torchwood One, she’s saving the British Empire and she doesn’t care about local politics. But she is going to find herself caught up in that fight. There’s a bloodthirsty alien stalking the streets and there’s a special offer on at the all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet.It’s the 26th of March 2005 and it’s the day that everything changes."

I was hoping to see Burn Gorman and Naoko Mori return as Owen and Toshiko, but I’m a fan of giving smaller characters a chance to shine, so I welcome this surprising news (besides, we still have two more chapters for an Owen/Toshiko return).

You can pre-order Torchwood: One Rule now, or subscribe to one or both series at a discounted rate.

What do you think? Are you excited to see more from Torchwood One’s Yvonne Hartman? Sound off in the comments below!

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