July 20 U.S. Debut for Torchwood: Children of Earth

BBC America is launching into HD on July 20, and they're celebrating with the U.S. premiere of Torchwood: Children of Earth, the third season of the popular Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood starring John Barrowman, Eve Myles, and Gareth David-Lloyd.

New episodes of the long-awaited miniseries begin airing July 20 at 9 p.m. on BBC America over five consecutive nights. The official description: "The series re-joins Captain Jack (John Barrowman), Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles), and Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd) as they are still coming to terms with the death of two of their closest friends. Yet despite their pain, they know they have a job to do. This time they are faced with their fiercest threat to date - one which throws the future of Torchwood and the entire human race spiraling into danger. Battling against the odds, do they stand a chance of saving mankind?" I'm betting yes, but it will require a lot of guns.

The series is writen by John Fay, James Moran, and Russell T. Davies, and directed by Euros Lyn. Previous recurring characters, including Kai Owen as Rhys Williams and Tom Price as PC Andy Davidson, will also appear, but not, we're told, Martha Jones or Mickey Smith. Children of the Earth also features an on-screen role for Nick Briggs, who's been doing Dalek (and other) voices since the new series debuted in 2005.

The extended trailer can be seen here. I know I cannot wait.

The same week will also see the season 3 finale of Primeval, which the cable channel will show on July 25 at 8 p.m. Directly afterward, as already mentioned, the BBC America co-production of Being Human – the popular BBC Three dramedy about a werewolf, a ghost, and a vampire sharing an apartment – will premiere at 9 p.m.

Finally, the first of the 2009 Doctor Who specials – the last few chances to see David Tennant in the lead – will appear on BBC America the next night, July 26, at 8 p.m. That would be "Planet of the Dead," in which a London red bus takes a detour to an alien world – forcing the Doctor to work with the extraordinary Lady Christina (Michelle Ryan, from Bionic Woman (2007)!). But the mysterious planet holds terrifying secrets hidden in the sand...

The first between-season special, "The Next Doctor," which I have previously reviewed and for which I also have an image gallery, airs on BBC America on June 27.