Given that it’s Doctor Who weekend, it seems appropriate that more news about the fate of one of its spin-offs should surface.

Talking to TV Guide magazine, Russell T Davies has confirmed that there are plans afoot for a fourth season of Torchwood, which was widely expected after the success – critically and commercially – of Torchwood: Children Of Earth earlier this year.

Speculation had been rife that a new series was coming, but Davies admitted that "The recession has hit British television, but fingers crossed, it will be a go.” Furthermore, he said, “We expect things to start to move in January. We've got great ideas for the show. I think there's a further lease of life for many years to come.”

From what he also said, it seems that he knows exactly where everything will pick up, too. He admits that he already knows where Gwen, Rhys, their baby and Jack are, and what shape Torchwood itself would actually take (which is a big unresolved issue in itself).

There’s no word yet on whether Torchwood will move to BBC One permanently, and whether it’d run for five or 13 episodes this time around. But we’re guessing we’ll find that out by January, by which point the show should have had its formal green light.

Here’s the TV Guide piece.