Come on down, Eve Myles: currently the fanboys' favourite girl, despite an acting CV limited to stage work and one-episode bit-parts in EastEnders and Doctor Who.

Eve impressed Who scribe Russell T Davies enough for him to cast her as sidekick to skating reject John Barrowman (Captain Jack) in Torchwood, the forthcoming Doctor Who spin-off.

After the break: The hype starts here. Watch it grow

Russell T Davies says he wrote the part of Gwen Cooper especially for Myles, who played 'Gwyneth' in Mark Gatiss's Victorian-set Doctor Who episode, The Unquiet Dead. Who-watchers surmise that Gwen is Gwyn's 21st century descendant.

The 13-episode post-watershed series comes to BBC3 "later this year", allowing the Beeb, Davies et al to stoke up pre-hype for several months yet. I'm sure it'll be fantastic; torch wood. Ahahahahahaha.

What they're all saying about Torchwood:

"I have read the first draft of episode 1 (OH BOY!!!) I am so excited about this show. Also, returning to Dr Who later in the year will be a treat." (John Barrowman, on his website)

"I'm looking forward to working with John. It'll be the perfect opportunity for the both of us to show everyone what we've got." (Eve Myles)

"Doctor Who has a completely different feel to this kind of thing. This is set in the same place every week. It's an urban series, very much set on Earth." (Russell T Davies)

"I recently received an email from a 'source' informing me that the working title for Torchwood's first episode is The Valley Of Death. For now I advise readers to take it with a large dose of salt. Security must be very, very high on this script." (Torchwood.tv)

"Presumably there won't be a problem showing [Barrowman's] bum in this series." (Stuart, unitnews.co.uk forum)

"Think Eve Myles is a great casting decision given her performance in The Unquiet Dead... am I the only one in thinking that it is no coincidence in this though? Both characters have similar names and wasn't it said that the series is set in Cardiff... where the rift still is?" (Black Guardian, Digital Spy Sci-Fi forum)

"[Myles] beat Rachel thingy from S Club 7 for the part too. I bet they do suggest a link between Gwen and Gwyneth in the show, although this may be done very subtly - perhaps just something us Who fans will pick up on." (Mulett, Digital Spy Sci-Fi forum)