James Sutton, a prop maker for Doctor Who, has shared that steps are being taken to protect the set used as the entrance to Torchwood HQ in Cardiff Bay, now that the memorial to Ianto Jones has been taken down.
A fan-built memorial to a character from the Doctor Who spin-off, which had covered the entrance to the fictional Torchwood HQ, was removed in April for maintenance. The memorial was created to honor the character after his death on the show in 2009.
On Thursday, May 7th, Sutton shared on Instagram that he’d visited the filming location – with permission from Mermaid Quay and BBC Studios – and rescued a few smaller props. He plans to return and collect the larger items, like the newspapers used as window decorations.
I had the idea last week while looking at the Hub entrance, which was still partially visible behind what was left of Ianto’s Shrine. I was surprised to see some of the original features had lasted for almost 20 years. Knowing there were redevelopment plans, I worried they might be destroyed.
Although it’s just a small collection of items right now, it’s good to know that at least part of this set will be preserved. This is especially meaningful because many of us have experienced it firsthand over the past twenty years.
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He explained that they weren’t able to remove the larger items this time, but hoped to come back for them in the future. He was particularly disappointed about the newspapers visible in the windows, which were now so delicate that they were barely held together by the glass. He hoped the windows could be saved as they were.
Torchwood, a sci-fi show that followed Captain Jack Harkness and his team as they defended Earth from alien threats, was a big hit with fans and ran from 2006 to 2011.
Ianto was a character from the beginning of the series, and his relationship with Captain Jack quickly became a fan favorite. This storyline was especially appreciated for its positive portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships.
Last month, fans of the show Torchwood gathered to celebrate Carol-Anne Hillman, who has maintained a fan-built shrine to the series for the past ten years. The gathering, which included actor Gareth David-Lloyd (who played Ianto), was part of a new documentary and surprised Hillman with a celebration attended by over 70 enthusiasts.
The video will be included in a new documentary, currently called ‘The Man Who Never Lived.’ It was created by 17/11 Pictures, a production company based in Cardiff, who planned the surprise for Hillman.
The Man Who Never Lived (working title) from 17/11 Pictures is set for release later this year.
Authors
Molly Moss writes about the newest trends in television, movies, and other entertainment for TopMob. She has a master’s degree in journalism and has also contributed to major publications like The Guardian, The Times, and The Sun Online.
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2026-05-07 20:36