Torchwood fans mourn the loss of beloved Ianto Jones memorial in Cardiff as management issues update

After 17 years, Ianto's Shrine on Cardiff Bay is set to be torn down and Torchwood fans are officially in mourning.

If those words mean nothing to you, we'll need you to cast your minds back to 2009. when the beloved Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood was airing its haunting third season, Children of Earth. All was well - or so we thought.

Suddenly and abruptly, after two seasons of making fans fall in love with the romance between Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd), fan favourite Ianto was brutally killed off.

Fans were so devastated by the loss that they created a shrine on Cardiff Bay (the location of Torchwood HQ) to pay memory to him, with fans leaving flowers and messages.

In particular, many fans remembered the character for being a refreshing example of LGBTQ+ representation when it wasn't commonplace on screen.

However, Carole Anne-Hillman, who maintains the shrine, recently revealed that it is soon to be taken down. She said on X (formerly Twitter): "Really sad news, afraid. Ianto’s Shrine is being taken down the end of April. I will try and take off cups and other small items. It is really sad. I am devastated."

She has said that reasons for the removal include: "Rotting wood, rusting ironwork and health & safety".

A spokesperson for Mermaid Quay has also confirmed the news to Radio Times and said: "We can confirm that Ianto’s shrine at Mermaid Quay will be taken down whilst we carry out maintenance work.

"This work is required to ensure the lower boardwalk continues to provide a wonderful experience for all our visitors. We hope to work with the local community to explore a new plaque for Ianto once the maintenance works have completed.”

Fans have been left gutted by the news, with one writing on X: "Sad to hear about Ianto's Shrine, It's a popular landmark down at the Bay, and for them to want to rid of it.. it just doesn't sit right with me, they should repair it up, but allow the shrine to continue. It's sad to see they want it gone."

Another added: "Well that's heartbreaking. Ianto's Shrine is such a small yet vital part of Cardiff Bay, and it's a real shame that it can't even be moved in any way to continue to honour the legacy of Doctor Who/Torchwood on Cardiff."

One more said: "I was so happy to visit Ianto’s shrine back in 2016 (along with The Doctor Who Experience) but apparently it’s due to be taken down the end of April, sad times, but a testament to #Torchwood and the love for the character that it’s remained this long, R.I.P Ianto’s shrine."

An online petition has been launched to save the shrine.

David-Lloyd, who played Ianto, previously opened up to Radio Times about the shrine, saying he would often take friends to visit it - and admitted he was expecting it to one day be taken down.

"I know I'll always have an opportunity if friends come over from overseas or are visiting Cardiff," he said.

"They always want to go to the shrine to have a picture taken. So I've been there a few times, it's been a couple of months since I've been there... I went for the 10-year anniversary. I know [caretaker, Carol-Anne Hillman] has put up lots of decorations.

"My mind boggles that it's still there and I'm just waiting for Mermaid Quay to say, 'Enough is enough, let's take it down!' So it's very weird but very flattering."

As for why the character meant so much to so many?

He added: "I've had a few experiences where fans have come up, and they've been quite emotional.

"And they've said that Jack and Ianto's relationship helped them accept who they were, and come out to their parents or feel that they're given the power to own themselves. I think maybe that has a lot to do with [why Ianto is still so loved], with that sort of relationship being so forefront in a major primetime TV show.

Radio Times has contacted Mermaid Quay management for further comment.

Torchwood is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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