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In series 1 episode 3 Gwen asks Jack where he sleeps, given that he lives in the Torchwood building; he replies that he doesn't sleep. In episode 5, however, we see Jack dreaming about WW2 whilst lying on a metal ring in the Torchwood building.

So does Jack sleep or not?

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  • 2
    * It's Captain Jack Harkness, please! Aug 25, 2016 at 13:58
  • 1
    My sincerest apologies. Aug 25, 2016 at 14:00
  • 1
    @Gallifreian Nice PotC reference ;-)
    – Rand al'Thor
    Aug 25, 2016 at 14:11
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    I don't know whether he sleeps, but he'll sleep with anything that moves.
    – Rand al'Thor
    Aug 25, 2016 at 14:19
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    @Randal'Thor He lies asleep? Aug 25, 2016 at 14:19

2 Answers 2

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If we look at the canonical quote listed in the answer to "Does Jack Harkness "need" to eat?", courtesy of Rand al'Thor:

DOCTOR [behind door]: When did you first realise?

JACK: Earth, 1892. Got in a fight in Ellis Island. A man shot me through the heart. Then I woke up. Thought it was kind of strange. But then it never stopped. Fell off a cliff, trampled by horses, World War One, World War Two, poison, starvation, a stray javelin. In the end, I got the message. I'm the man who can never die. And all that time you knew.

We see that he can die of a sickness that any mortal man can die from, including starvation. Since sleep deprivation is actually lethal (what was the record, 6 days?), we can assume, although it is not documented, that Captain Jack can die of lack of sleep, and thus regularly needs some.

But again, I have no canonical evidence.

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  • So he lied to Gwen. Aug 25, 2016 at 14:27
  • @Bellerophon who knows, canon is kinda tricky with Jack/Boe. Although Rand al'Thor is right, Jack lies. Or maybe not. Aug 25, 2016 at 14:28
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    @Gallifreian Jack/Boe? Spoilers! :-P
    – Rand al'Thor
    Aug 25, 2016 at 14:45
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    @Randal'thor Does it still count as spoilers this long after it was revealed? Aug 25, 2016 at 16:37
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    @Bellerophon maybe for those new to DW Aug 25, 2016 at 16:39
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Jack does sleep. As a result of his immortality (or maybe just his 55th Century physiology) he seems to require less sleep than a 21st Century human, but that's not to say that he doesn't still need forty winks every now and then.

Barrowman: This is where Captain Jack sleeps [opening manhole to reveal a tiny, grubby bedroom]

Presenter: Oh my gawd. It's like a Travelodge

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