 Barrowman is best known in the UK for his role in the BBC science fiction drama Doctor Who . When the series was revived in 2005 , Barrowman came on board as recurring guest character Captain Jack Harkness , an omnisexual time traveller from the 51st century . His first appearance as Harkness was in the two @-@ part story " The Empty Child " / " The Doctor Dances " . He went on to appear in the next three episodes , " Boom Town " , " Bad Wolf " and " The Parting of the Ways " . Jack became so popular , he was given his own show – Torchwood , a Doctor Who spin @-@ off series featuring a team of alien hunters based in modern @-@ day Cardiff , which premiered in 2006 . American film and television critic Ken Tucker describes Barrowman 's role on Torchwood as " dashing " , " utterly fabulous " , " <unk> promiscuous " , and " like Tom Cruise with suspenders , but minus the Scientology " . In the show , Jack " tracks down — and occasionally beds — <unk> with the help of his quartet of bedazzled groupies — slash — Experts in Their Fields : One 's a doctor , one 's a cop , one 's a scientist , and one ... makes coffee and late nights piping hot . It 's like the Justice League of Extended @-@ Pinkie Nerds . " 
