Torchwood star Gareth David-Lloyd reacts to loss of Ianto's shrine: "It kept me going"

With Torchwood fans left gutted by the news that Ianto's Shrine will be taken down from Cardiff Bay, actor Gareth David-Lloyd has opened up about what it's meant to him all these years.

The shrine was created after fan-favourite character Ianto Jones (played by David-Lloyd in the Doctor Who spin-off) was killed off in the third season of Torchwood, and has remained in place for 17 years.

Now, however, Mermaid Quay management has confirmed that the shrine will be taken down for maintenance works, and has suggested a plaque honouring the character will come in future.

Speaking exclusively with Radio Times, David-Lloyd said the shrine "has been a reminder for me all these years, through a lot of hard times, through times when I [wondered] whether I was going to carry on acting, those times where you don't feel like anyone wants to employ you or even consider you for something, it's a reminder that the work I've done has mattered to somebody somewhere, and it's kept me going".

He added: "It's always been close to my heart in that way. So, a big thank you to Carol-Ann [Hillman, the shrine's official caretaker] and everyone involved with its upkeep and looking after it and visiting it and posting about it, posting pictures of themselves by it. Thank you to everyone who's helped with that, because it's kept me going in quite a few ways."

The actor, who played Ianto from 2006 to 2009 and has continued to voice him in various audio projects, also said that he hopes people can pay tribute to the character by supporting the causes that would have been close to his heart, shouting out Cancer Research and Dog's Trust in particular.

"A plaque would be nice, just for the guys who are really devastated about the fact that it's being taken down," he added.

"I heard something about a petition, and I'm not sure if that's going to do any good. I would say a way to pay tribute to Ianto would be to sign the petitions that Ianto would have signed and support the causes that Ianto would have supported. I think Ianto would be much more supportive of that sort of idea than a petition to keep his own shrine up!"

He added: "I'd say to the fans, ask yourselves, what do you think is the thing that draws you to Ianto, the thing that you relate to in Ianto, what speaks to you? What do they think that he would have supported?"

While Ianto began as a smaller character in the show, his role expanded significantly during the course of the series. Most notably, his romance with John Barrowman's Captain Jack Harkness became a refreshing example of LGBTQ+ representation at a time when it wasn't commonplace on screen.

This, David-Lloyd thinks, is why the character has meant so much to so many people.

"The biggest clues I've had have been at conventions, when fans have come up and said Ianto and Ianto's relationship with Jack has really helped them in their own personal lives, whether it be coming out to their their family, or accepting themselves for who they are," he reflected.

"And that was not something I thought about a lot when I was doing it, but that is a response I've had from a lot of fans, and that's been very touching and flattering over the years. I should imagine it's something to do with that – people have seen something of themselves in him and feel like they can relate to him."

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He's also seen strides being made in LGBTQ+ representation on screen since Torchwood, adding: "To be honest, at the time, I didn't realise [LGBTQ+ characters were] so under-represented. But now later on, looking back at it, I thought, 'Wow, it really, really was,' so it's wonderful to see so many really, really good, human shows being written with huge LGBT representation."

As for what Torchwood and Ianto have meant to David-Lloyd personally?

"It was a landmark in my life and career. It changed everything so quickly. I was down and out, depressed and living in London. I was there for five years, I did a few bits and pieces, but I was questioning whether this was my calling, and all of a sudden I was going back home to shoot as a regular in a sci-fi series.

"It changed my whole life. So it will always be a big part of me."

Torchwood is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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