James Marsters

Torchwood Returns with a "Life-changing Event"

When John Barrowman’s time-traveling, bisexual, alien-fighting Captain Jack Harkness returns on Jan. 26 for a second season of Torchwood, look for what BBCA calls "a life-changing event for one of the team." James Marsters of Buffy/Angel fame, who most recently did his sci-fi thing on Smallville (and is expected to return in a January episode) is due to guest star on BBCA’s highest-rated series, as is Alan Dale (Ugly Betty) and Doctor Who’s Freema Agyeman.

Marsters, who says he wrote five songs for his new solo CD Like a Waterfall while filming in Wales, tells us he plays a time-agent criminal "with a lower-class English accent" who’s not that unlike his sexy blood-sucking Spike "before the wheelchair. He goes around in different times killing people with no remorse at all."

Marsters says he had a "fabulous" time doing the Who spin-off. "They’re a randy bunch over there," he says, approvingly. In other good news for fans, Torchwood: The Complete First Season goes on sale Jan. 22, with a seven-disc set that includes six hours of bonus features. — Ileane Rudolph