10:28AM, Jun 30, 2009
Torchwood star John Barrowman is a BBC favourite and seldom away from our screens, having appeared in several shows across the network recently.
But now the star has bitten back at the hand that feeds him.
John has spoken of his disappointment that his sci-fi show has been cut from 13 episodes to just five despite its popularity.
The five part special titled Children Of Earth is due to air next week (BBC1: Mon 6 Jul, 9pm) and will see Cardiff's Torchwood team battle mysterious aliens, The 456, who threaten the safety of planet Earth.
John, who plays leading man Captain Jack Harkness in the Doctor Who spin-off, told Radio Times: "I'm going to get a little political, and I'll probably get into trouble for it, but we were the most successful show on BBC3 ever.
"We moved to BBC2 because the ratings were so good. The ratings were great again and we were beating shows that had been on BBC2 for a long time.
"The decision was made to go to BBC1 - and then we were cut. From 13 episodes down to five.
"The five episodes are incredible," John added. "I have no doubt about that - but personally, I felt like we were being punished.
"Other shows move from BBC3 and 2 to 1, and they don't get cut. So why are we?"
A BBC spokesman said: "We wanted to create a powerful sense of event when the show came to BBC1 and so talked with the makers about a story that could run over five consecutive days.
"This is something very special that we hope viewers will enjoy."
Show creator and lead writer Russell T Davies also defended the "format change" and explained: "Now we've moved from BBC2 to BBC1, we were never going to get the money for 13 episodes. That's why we have done a five-parter.
"Why not change it?" he continued. "I don't think audiences are lost by a change in format."
As big Torchwood fans we at TV Towers aren't so convinced.
Find out when Torchwood is on TV.
