Along with Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner has been the co-executive producer of both the BBC's revival of Doctor Who, and also its very popular spin-off Torchwood.
Julie Gardner shares some details about Doctor Who, Torchwood and BBC Television. @Photo provided by BBC Worldwide
Recently, Monsters and Critics talked with her over the phone from LA about her new job, Torchwood: Children of Earth, Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead, and more.
Born in Wales, Gardner, 40, started working at the BBC in the mid-1990s. She was a producer's secretary, a script reader and editor, then a producer. Moving to London Weekend Television in 2000, she worked as a Development Producer. While there, she began to work with Davies on the drama, Casanova.
@Photo provided by BBC Worldwide
In 2003, Gardner went back to the BBC as Head of Drama for BBC Wales, bringing the Casanova project along. Her first job was to oversee the revival of Doctor Who. She got in touch with Davies who had wanted to write and produce Doctor Who, and the series premiered in March 2005.
While commissioning other network dramas, she and Davies continued overseeing Doctor Who, Torchwood, and the "Whovian" related kids show, The Sarah Jane Adventures.
In 2006, Gardner became the Controller of Drama Commissioning at BBC Television, while still in her other position at BBC Wales. Earlier this year, her roles at BBC Wales and Doctor Who were taken over by producer Piers Wenger. Gardner is now an executive producer of scripted projects for BBC Worldwide America based in Los Angeles.
M&C:
Gardner:
M&C:
Gardner:
M&C:
Gardner:
M&C:
Gardner:
Oh, season 5 started shooting today [Tuesday]! For season 5, Steven Moffat and Piers Wenger are the new executive producers.
M&C:
Gardner:
M&C:
Gardner:
M&C:
Gardner (laughing):
M&C:
Gardner:
M&C:
Gardner (laughing):
We also were looking at the real consequences of blowing up the Hub, and stripping Torchwood bare. They now had to work outside the Hub.
M&C:
Gardner:
M&C:
Gardner:
M&C:
Gardner:
M&C:
Gardner:
M&C:
Gardner:
We had to match the lighting to the other bus. If you look at the windows of the bus, they are quite dirty.
I didn't go out to Dubai. There were very funny phone calls! Things got pretty hairy. But it worked out better. We never would have thought of trashing the bus. We're not that crazy.
M&C:
Gardner (laughing):
http://www.bbcamerica.com . Both programs will be available on DVD and Blu-ray Tuesday, July 28th.
Torchwood: Children of Earth is now available at Amazon and AmazonUK . Visit the DVD database for more information.
Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead is now available at Amazon and AmazonUK . Visit the DVD database for more information.
Your Talkback on this Story