ABBA Duo Benny and Bjorn almost wrote Torchwood: The Musical!!!!

[SiHart]

The most ridiculous piece of news I've read for days is on the BBC website this morning:

Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus from Abba were lined up for a musical version of Doctor Who spin-off show Torchwood, according to a new book.

In it, head writer Russell T Davies reveals that he was asked about the concept and told: "They have the two chaps from Abba on board."

Davies said after he had finished laughing he asked for clarification.

He was told: "Yep. Bjorn and Benny love Torchwood." But the idea never progressed beyond the early stages.

Other revelations in The Writer's Tale: The Final Chapter include a conversation between Davies and the Prince of Wales in which the first in line to the throne said he would "love to" appear in Doctor Who.

'Are those ears real?'

However the prince said he was unable to because he "gets too many requests like that".

Davies, who was being made an OBE for services to drama at Buckingham Palace, said he replied by asking the prince: 'Never mind that, are those ears real?'

According to the book, which is released later this month, the team behind the show had wanted Prince Charles to make a cameo appearance in the programme's 2007 Christmas Special, Voyage of the Damned, which starred pop star Kylie Minogue.

The Writer's Tale is made up of two and a half years of e-mails between Russell T Davies and journalist Benjamin Cook.

They discuss the process of producing Doctor Who and its associated programmes Torchwood and the Sarah Jane Adventures.

Can you hear the drums Ianto?

Si xx

[P-Bal]

Is it a joke Daisy K?

[Llordllama]

Maybe they were hoping for a Once More With Feeling type of episode, where an Tosh finds an alien dildo that makes everyone around her sing their deepest secrets.

Hell, that would be better than any S1 Torchwood episode.

[WhiteCrowNZ]

It would have neatly combined John Barrowmans two tv vehicles.

[Lissa]

Super Cooper.

[Jonno]

It must have been budgetary constraints that scuppered this.

There just wasn't enough money, money, money. Honey honey.

[Llordllama]

Should we extrapolate one key song for each Torchwood member?

Jack - Dancing Queen (natch)
Tosh & Owen - Knowing Me, Knowing You
Ianto - Fenando (as suggested by Sim Hart reworded to "Can you hear the Drums Ianto?")
Gwen-Take a Chance on Me
Rhys - Does your mother know? (sung by SHOUTING THE LYRICS)
PC Andy - Save All Your Kisses for Me (once again missing the point and ending up with the Brotherhood of Man not Abba)

[SiHart]

Someone, somewhere else suggested Super Gwen Cooper (or Super Trouper) for Gwen.

Si xx

[Llordllama]

Oh my yes, that's brilliant!

[Jonno]

It was Lissa just 3 posts above you, Si!

[SiHart]

So it was.

Si xx

[WhiteCrowNZ]

I wonder which was the episode we got instead of this? Meat probably.

[WhiteCrowNZ]

Actually I'm not sure. I think they did actually make this? But it was so awful the dastardly RTD retconned up all into forgetting.

[matthewsch]

Torchwood/Doctor Who ABBA? EPIC.

I Have A Dream - Gwen (annoying, whiny version)
Honey Honey - Gwen
Money, Money, Money - Sylvia
Mamma Mia - Sarah Jane
Dancing Queen - Jack
Lay All Your Love On Me - Gwen/Rhys
Super Trouper - Gwen (aka Super Cooper)
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! - Jack
The Name of the Game - Donna/Ten
One of Us - Mickey/Rose
S.O.S. - Ten/Rose
Does Your Mother Know - Jack/Martha
Knowing Me, Knowing You - Tosh/Owen
Our Last Summer - Ten/Rose
Slipping Through My Fingers - Jackie/Rose
The Winner Takes It All - Mickey/Rose/Ten
I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do - Gwen/Rhys
Take A Chance On Me - Jack/Ianto
Fernando - Ten/Master