Torchwood fans mark the end of Ianto Jones shrine in Cardiff Bay as part of new documentary film
Gareth David-Lloyd and a group of fans surprised the woman who has overseen the shrine for more than a decade.
Torchwood fans have said their goodbyes to the shrine for much-loved character Ianto Jones as part of a new documentary.
The shrine was built by fans of the Doctor Who spin-off show to commemorate Ianto – who became one of sci-fi TV’s most popular LGBTQ+ characters following his romance with Jack Harkness – after he was killed off in 2009.
But last month, it was revealed that the tribute – located in Cardiff Bay (the location of Torchwood HQ) – was being taken down due to maintenance works.
Cardiff-based production company 17/11 Pictures is currently making a documentary about the shrine – provisionally titled The Man Who Never Lived – and organised a surprise on Saturday (19 April) for the person who has maintained it over the years.
Carol-Anne Hillman has added to the shrine for more than a decade, including artwork and tributes that fans have sent her from around the world.
To celebrate her efforts, more than 70 fans descended on the shrine, flashmob-style, to surprise her – including Ianto actor Gareth David-Lloyd.
The documentary's director Matt Botten said: "When we heard the shrine was going to be taken down, we wanted to make sure it was remembered just as fondly as the character it had immortalised.
"When we met Carol-Anne early on in production, we realised that the story of the shrine was very much hers, and we wanted to do something to celebrate the tireless dedication she’d given this incredible landmark for so long.
"We expected a strong turnout from fans in Cardiff and South Wales, but to have people travel from Manchester, Newcastle, and Liverpool, let alone Italy and Germany – just shows how much love there was for what she'd done, and for the amazing character Gareth had created. To see her reaction was incredible, and very moving."
Torchwood, which followed Captain Jack Harkness and a team of alien-hunters protecting the world, aired between 2006 and 2011 and amassed a cult following among sci-fans.
Ianto was introduced in the very first episode of the show, and went from having a minor role in the series to becoming Captain Jack’s love interest, before he was tragically killed off in Children of Earth.
Fans were quick to praise the pair as a refreshing example of positive LGBTQ+ relationships.
Speaking about the impact his storyline has had on fans, David-Lloyd recently told Radio Times: "I've had a few experiences where fans have come up, and they've been quite emotional."
"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.
Speaking about how the storyline was “quite a unique relationship to put at the forefront of a primetime show” at the time, he added: “And I think maybe that had something to do with it, and people felt connected to it on a deeply personal level, because it spoke to them personally.
"That's my main theory as to the longevity of the shrine and the attention and the love that Ianto still gets."
The Man Who Never Lived (working title) from 17/11 Pictures is still in production, with producers anticipating a release later this summer.
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Authors
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
