'Torchwood' - Main Cast

Jack, introduced in Doctor Who (in "The Empty Child") as a con-man from the 51st century, abandoned criminal activity under the Doctor's influence and died heroically defending a space station against the Daleks. However, the Doctor's companion, Rose, temporarily had control of the space-time vortex and brought Jack back to life -- permanently. Jack traveled back to Earth, his personal transporter accidentally taking him to the 19th century, and there he realized he could not die. Eventually he hooked up with the Cardiff section of Torchwood, helping them use alien technology to protect Earth. Jack is "omnisexual," flirting with just about any being that catches his eye. The name "Jack Harkness" was borrowed from a World War II captain.

Gwen was a police constable in Cardiff who started tracking the movements of the strange individuals associated with the shadowy group called Torchwood, eventually discovering their secret headquarters. Instead of editing her discoveries from her memory as he normally did in such cases, Jack realized that the work they did kept them isolated from ordinary life and consequently they needed Gwen's fresh perspective. Unlike the other members of the team, Gwen has a relationship outside Torchwood and is fiercely devoted to her husband Rhys, whom she unsuccessfully tried to keep from getting involved in Torchwood's activities. She maintains friends on the force, including the boyish PC Andy Davidson (Tom Price).

Ianto, formerly with the disavowed Torchwood London, pushed his way into Torchwood Cardiff, pestering Jack until he reluctantly agreed to take him on. One reason he wanted to badly to get back into Torchwood was to care for an ex-girlfiend, who had been partially transformed into a Cyberman during the events at Canary Wharf. To outsiders he seemed to be only the tea boy, but in fact Ianto handled many of the team's more difficult operations, including clean-up after alien encounters. Ianto's feelings for Jack deepened; at first Jack resisted reciprocating, despite his fondness for Ianto, because he was unused to relationships.

The medical doctor attached to Torchwood, Owen was known for acerbic attitude and liked to relieve his tension drinking and flirting with women at pubs. He had felt it necessary to maintain a distance from everyone since his wife had died because of a brain-infiltrating alien. Owen was killed partway through season 2, but a gauntlet that was supposed to revive him only for a few moments left him in a strange undead state. His unregenerating body was easily damaged, and he could not eat, drink, or breathe. Finding this existence unendurable he tried to commit suicide, but could not. Partly reconciled, he returned to his work with the team and a new, deeper friendship with Tosh. He was destroyed in an explosion at the end of season 2.

Tosh was a brilliant scientist and technologist who, arrested by UNIT after being blackmailed into building a terrible weapon, was taken on by Jack as his tech expert. Tosh could accomplish wondrous feats on a computer, but interacting with people often left her reticent. Her affections were directed at Owen, but they were almost entirely unrequited; she did, however, have a relationship with Tommy, a World War I soldier who was revived from suspended animation once a year. Tosh was also killed at the end of season 2.

For a long time Rhys was frustrated by Gwen's new job, as it seemed to take her away from home for long periods and at odd hours, and strange things would happen that she wouldn't explain. Nonetheless he remained committed to Gwen, and when he was abruptly taken into Jack's confidence he suddenly realized how heroic and dangerous his wife's work was. Gwen still tries to keep Rhys apart from Torchwood, but he's willing to lend a hand when asked.