Torchwood..

Well this preview is more for my fellow Australian's, as we are only just about to start showing the series.. You can catch it on Monday 18th June at 9:40pm on Channel TEN..

Jack Harkness, also known as Captain Jack ( An alias; his real name is, as yet, unrevealed ), is a fictional character played by John Barrowman in the long - running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and one of its spin - offs, Torchwood.. A time traveller and confidence trickster from the 51st century, he first appears in the episode " The Empty Child " and remains for the rest of the 2005 series as the third known companion of the Ninth Doctor.. He is the first openly bisexual companion..

A charming rogue from the 51st Century, who seems to flirt with everyone he meets, Jack had many adventures through time and space on his own before he begins to travel with the Doctor.. He is a former soldier of several time periods, both past and future.. With the Doctor and Rose, he helps to form a smoothly functioning TARDIS crew, and follows the Doctor's orders easily and willingly..

His departure from the Doctor's company, however, was in traumatic circumstances; this, and his unseen return to modern - day Earth, appears to change him once more.. Less gregarious and with a darker tone to his life, in his leadership role at the Torchwood Institute he has, however, begun to soften after meeting Gwen Cooper and taking her under his wing..

As mentioned earlier, Jack is bisexual, an orientation which the Doctor points out is more common in the 51st century, when mankind will deal with multiple alien species and sexuality becomes more flexible.. In " Boom Town " he flirts with the Doctor in front of Mickey, and the Doctor plays along.. He is the first companion to be anything other than openly heterosexual; Steven Moffat suggests in the Doctor Who Confidential episode " Welcome to Torchwood " that questions of sexual orientation do not even enter into Jack's mind.. Some suggest that Jack is " pansexual, " although Jack himself has only displayed attraction to people ( And, arguably, robots ) who fit into the gender binary of male / female.. John Barrowman has described Jack as bisexual, and went on to discuss bisexuality in an interview.. Jack himself refers to categories of sexual orientation as " quaint ", noticing the reactions of his teammates to Gwen's kiss with Carys in " Day One ," implying a disbelief in total monosexuality..

Jack always gives his rank as Captain, even though he is initially seen posing as an officer in the Royal Air Force, which does not use the rank ( The equivalent of army Captain is Flight Lieutenant ).. In " The Empty Child " and " The Doctor Dances " the rank insignia on his coat is of a Squadron Leader, the RAF equivalent of a Major.. In later episodes it is explained that Jack Harkness commanded a squadron - this may suggest a misunderstanding of the RAF rank system on the writers' part, since a squadron is far too junior a command for a Group Captain.. In a flashback to 1909 Lahore in " Small Worlds " he is seen wearing the three " pips " of a British Army Captain..

Well there you have it, a run down on Captain Jack and Torchwood.. I could go on and on, as there is so much information on the characters and the show, but I don't want to ruin it all for you..