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Jul 23, 2011 Comic-Con By Mark Redfern Photography by Wendy Lynch Redfern

After waiting for almost three hours in one of the longest lines I’ve ever witnessed at Comic-Con after several years of covering the event, we got into Ballroom 20 to catch the second half of the panel on Torchwood: Miracle Day. When asked if they might be renewed by Starz for another season, star John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness) responded, “We’d all love to be doing Torchwood for another five, six seasons.” The current, and fourth, season of Torchwood (named Miracle Day) is the first that the British show is a co-production with Starz, the first to be filmed mainly in America, and to feature American stars (such as Bill Pullman and Mekhi Phifer, both who were at the panel). A lot of new actors have joined the cast this season. “We want everyone who comes onto the show to feel part of the family,” said Barrowman. “I haven’t had a family situation like this since I was on the show E.R.,” Phifer confirmed.

Barrowman was asked if the coat that Captain Jack wears was also immortal, as his character is. Barrowman responded that they have a bunch of different coats for different types of scenes on the show, such as action scenes. “I just love the outfit, it’s a great thing to wear on a Friday night,” said Barrowman.

The cast was asked about practical jokes on the set and Barrowman told a story about how he hid in the trailer shower of costar Eve Myles. “I think, ‘I’m going to scare the crap out of Eve’...45 minutes I sat in the shower. It looked like I was pooping.” When Myles finally showed up, out jumped Barrowman. At the panel there was some debate between Myles and Barrowman about her reaction. “I didn’t actually pee myself,” claimed Myles. “Either that or you spilled a big glass of water,” Barrowman countered. “I almost vomited with fright,” Myles added, before later claiming, “I knew he was in the shower for 40 minutes, I knew he was there.” Whatever the case, there was a playful rapport between Barrowman and Myles, with Barrowman saying they were like siblings. A little later a married man in the audience flirted with both Myles and Barrowman, when asking a question, which led to more humor from the stars as the playfully flirted back. Towards the end, Barrowman was convinced by an audience member to sing (he’s released some cheesy albums in the U.K.) and after spending way too long deciding what to sing, he burst into “Tomorrow,” from the musical Annie, getting the audience to join in (but not Myles, who admitted she couldn’t sing).

Torchwood is a spinoff of Doctor Who, which is where Captain Jack first appeared, and Barrowman gushed, “It was a dream if mine as a kid to be on The Doctor’s assistants.” Barrowman shared a sentiment often heard from talent at Comic-Con, that it’s all thanks to the fans. “It’s because of you guys that our show is a success and that we’re living the dreams that we are.”