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The first part of the Torchwood Double-bill is out now, starring Louise Jameson in a 1970s-set tale.

The Autons emerge as Jameson gives an unmissable performance as Roberta Craven – the messy, extremely intelligent, and complicated head of 1970s Torchwood!

1970s London is a place of suspicion and murder. The assassination of an entire embassy comes to the attention of Torchwood. There’s a global energy crisis. There’s an alien invasion. Petrochemical companies are subject to hostile take overs by the mysterious Nessoil. Extremely hostile take overs. Roberta Craven was once a spy. Now she’s broken. But she can still see the patterns in the world. And they’re closing in around her. 

It’s a Sin star and BAFTA-nominee Omari Douglas features as the journalist Neal Hart, alongside Downton Abbey’s Emma Lowndes (as Patty), EastEnders actor Don Gilét (as Herman Baker), Reda Elazouar (as Mac) and Anthony Howell (as Cornwell).

Director Barnaby Edwards said: “Guy’s script is a masterpiece of understatement and complexity, so I knew I needed to assemble a top-notch cast. I couldn’t be happier with
the actors we got – they’re world-class and so are their performances.

“It’s often said that a company of actors take their tone from their leading lady or leading man. Nowhere is that more noticeable than here. Louise Jameson blew everyone away. It’s a sensational, layered, nuanced, powerful, vulnerable and completely-laying-everything-bare performance. I cannot thank her enough!

“And because she was so dangerous and so vulnerable, everyone else felt able to go out on a limb too. The result is packed with extraordinary performances which has made this – for me – a magical story to work on.”

Writer Guy Adams added: “It was exciting and challenging to come up with a new head of Torchwood. Roberta is very good at her job and doesn’t suffer fools. She’s gotten to a position where morality is really hard to find and she clearly carries a good deal of guilt.

“It was important for me to look to neurodivergence because I’m neurodivergent. To have a brain that can be thinking about everything all at once is brilliant but extraordinarily draining.

“It was pleasing to have a splendidly vinegary and exciting lead character who could take my neurodivergences for a spin and see where they ended up when it came to saving the world.”

Torchwood: Double Part 1, written by Guy Adams, is now available to own for just £10.99 (collector’s edition single-disc CD + download) or £8.99 (download only).