Torchwood star Gareth David-Lloyd reveals update on Ianto's shrine – and it's good news for fans

Torchwood fans were up in arms earlier this year when it was revealed that the shrine dedicated to fan-favourite character Ianto Jones would have to be taken down – however, it's set to be commemorated in a big way.

The shrine, which stood at Cardiff Bay for almost 20 years, pays tribute to the beloved character, whose untimely death left fans utterly traumatised.

And, speaking exclusively to Radio Times as Torchwood turns 20, Ianto actor Gareth David-Lloyd shared a very welcome update.

"Nathan Wyburn, the brilliant artist from Cardiff, he's taken all the bits and pieces from the shrine and he's making a a piece of art that will last forever," he explained.

"I think they're displaying it at the Red Dragon Centre to fall in line with the 20th anniversary – it might be a bit later now, I think it might be the beginning of next year. I know it's going to be there up until the Red Dragon Centre closes, and then hopefully it’ll find a new home."

Gareth David-Lloyd as Ianto Jones in Torchwood, pointing a gun at someone.

Earlier this year, 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."

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Looking back at the early days of the show, however, David-Lloyd admitted he never expected fans to love Ianto as much as they did.

"The popularity of Ianto and the shrine, that sort of knocked me for six," he said. "I knew he was turning to a cult character as we were shooting, with comments that were being put online and reactions.

"The first convention that I went to, I was expecting like two or three people to turn up to get pictures signed. But it really shocked me how many hearts he touched and how many hearts that relationship between him and Jack touched.

"It still makes me well up when I think of fans that come up and say that Ianto helped them come out to their families and help them accept themselves and believe in themselves. All of that was a big surprise to me, and it still makes my heart warm and fuzzy today."

Stay tuned for more from Gareth David-Lloyd as we celebrate Torchwood turning 20 this week!

Torchwood is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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Original source Torchwood star Gareth David-Lloyd reveals update on Ianto's shrine – and it's good news for fans

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