Fans of the British scifi show Torchwood found many things to love about the program: the immortal, cheeky and omnisexual Captain Jack Harkness as played by the irrepressible John Barrowman; the spunky Gwen Cooper and her hubby Rhys Williams; the sweet Toshiko and the randy Owen, not to mention a whole host of alien critters wreaking mayhem across the world.

But of all the things fans loved about the Doctor Who spin-off, one of the most surprising was how hard so many viewers fell for Ianto Jones, the buttoned up office administrator who turned out to be so much more than the unassuming office lackey we first thought he was — including becoming the lover of Captain Jack.

Unfortunately, as all Torchwood fans know too well, the organization has a high mortality rate and on Day 4 of the Children of Earth miniseries, Ianto Jones joined former colleagues Owen Harper and Toshiko Sato as casualties of Torchwood.

AfterElton.com recently caught up with Gareth David-Lloyd, the man who so memorably brought Ianto to life, to ask about his character’s fluid sexuality, his own relationship with John Barrowman and exactly what he was thinking as Ianto lay dying in Captain Jack’s arms.

AfterElton.com: What was your reaction upon learning what was going to happen to Ianto?
Gareth David-Lloyd: I knew well before I started filming. They said, “They’re going to need you for four of the five episodes.” So I kind of knew what was coming. I just wanted to get Ianto’s backstory, the reason for what makes him tick, his background, his family, where he’s from, what makes him the way he is. And that was accomplished, I think, in the first episodes.

AE: So you weren’t particularly disappointed that he was going to die?
GDL: Of course I was disappointed. I was unhappy to leave. I’ve been there for years and forged such good friendships, but it’s the work that’s most important, and the story and the characters, and as long as we got there for Ianto before it runs out, I was happy. If everyone keeps living forever it takes away from the danger of what Torchwood is, takes away the idea that everyone who works for Torchwood has a short life expectancy.

AE: What did John say to you the first time you talked about what would happen?
GDL: He never quite got it at first. He was like, “Why? Why? Why are we killing off Ianto?” John was wondering, like myself, and then he read the script and saw how it happened and what happens prior to it, and it just sort of made sense.

You can read more at the Source

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