TORCHWOOD’S queerest moments

Owen’s sex spray

Eyebrows were raised when Torchwood’s sleaze-in-residence, Owen Harper, took an alien perfume to a club. A single spray of it made people fancy him. He used it not just to seduce a hot lady but also her outraged boyfriend. A lot of people missed Owen’s cheerful bisexuality, preferring instead to argue that a main character gleefully using a “rape spray” made him look a bit of a shit. They were rather missing the point that that’s exactly what

Owen was.

Toshiko’s butterfly girlfriend

Everyone was mildly surprised when Torchwood’s shy scientist Toshiko Sato became telepathic. But they were stunned when she turned out to have a girlfriend. Yes, the girlfriend was an alien. And a psychopath. But also, really hot.

Jack on Jack action

When Captain Jack got trapped in the past he met the man whose identity he stole. This being Torchwood, they got off with each other.

Gwen and the sex cloud

When an alien sex cloud crashed on Earth and became trapped in the body of a young Welsh girl, Gwen helped capture her. Gwen’s attempts to comfort the girl soon get out of control, and all of Torchwood watched the CCTV.

Owen’s ¿JKW FOXE

A group of Cardiff estate agents got together at night and beat up aliens. Owen joined the group and discovered they were Not At All Homoerotic.

Gay Satan

The Earth was nearly destroyed by Bilis Manger – a Cardiff antiques dealer and immortal dance hall manager who may also be the devil. Although we never found out the real identity of Bilis, he was played by gay icon Murray Melvin.

Captain John

Fans were thrilled when James Marsters (Spike from Buffy) turned up as Jack’s nemesis. They were even more thrilled when the two of them immediately made out. Then tried to kill each other. Then made out some more.

Jack and Angelo

People worried that Torchwood’s US version would be somehow toned down were answered firmly by an entire episode devoted to Jack’s 1920s fling with a man called Angelo who kept falling out of his clothes. In trying to save him, Jack nearly ended the world. Shirtless.

Jack and Ianto

AND FINALLY… Less will-they-won’t-they and more oh-God-they’re-shagging-in-the-pot-plants-again, the romance between Captain Jack and Torchwood’s butler gripped viewers. From its unique beginnings (Jack shot Ianto’s cybernetic girlfriend) to its stunning conclusion

(Ianto dying in Jack’s arms), the relationship was at the heart of Torchwood. It managed to be both understated and deeply kinky – what did they get up to with a stopwatch?!