Captain Jack Harkness is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its spin-off series Torchwood. Portrayed by John Barrowman, he first appears in the 2005 Doctor Who episode "The Empty Child" and reappears throughout the rest of the 2005 series as the third known companion of the ninth incarnation of the series' protagonist, "the Doctor". Jack goes on to become the central character in Torchwood, an adult-themed spin-off of Doctor Who. He returns in the 2007 series of Doctor Who, reuniting with a tenth incarnation of the Doctor, and is set to return again for the 2008 series.[citation needed]
In the programme's narrative, Jack is a bisexual time traveller and former con man from the 51st century, and the first openly non-heterosexual character in the history of Doctor Who.[citation needed] His real name is unknown; he is commonly called "Captain Jack" or "the Captain". As a consequence of his death and resurrection in the 2005 series finale of Doctor Who, the character became immortal, a lasting change throughout his appearances in both series. Adding another layer to the character is a vague backstory which is gradually revealed as both programmes progress.
The popularity of the character amongst multiple demographics directly influenced the developement of the spin-off series Torchwood, in which Jack is the lead amongst an ensemble cast. The character became a figure of the British public consciousness, rapidly gaining fame for portrayor John Barrowman. As an ongoing depiction of bisexuality in mainstream British television, the character became a role model for gay and bisexual young people in the UK. Jack is featured in the pages of various Doctor Who and Torchwood books, as well as having children's action figures created in his likeness from early appearances in Doctor Who.