A FORMER Holby City and Doctor Who actor has been teaching Newport pupils how to act in preparation for their Christmas play.

Gareth Lloyd, who played Ianto Jones in Doctor Who and Torchwood, made a special appearance at Somerton Primary School yesterday when he coached 65 pupils from Years 3, 4, 5, and 6 in voice projection, singing and how to warm up their voices ahead of “Gabriel’s Big Break”.

Staff were thrilled Mr Lloyd, 32, whose sister Angelia Fitzgerald is a teaching assistant at the school and who comes from Newport, could make it.

Assistant head teacher, Judith Bevan, said: “When we knew he was coming we put a photo up for the pupils. To have an actor in the school, they think it’s amazing, they are very awestruck.”

Mr Lloyd also fronts a band called Blue Gillespie. Along with Freema Agyeman, John Barrowman, fellow Welsh actor Eve Myles and Naoko Mori, he is one of only five actors to play the same major character in both Doctor Who and Torchwood.

The school’s play, “Gabriel’s Big Break”, focuses on a group of angels who, when they hear God has a list of very important jobs that need doing, are keen to be given the responsibility of carrying them out. When unfortunate mishaps befall the two leading contenders, a young angel, Gabriel, gets his chance to shine.

The Somerton pupils perform the play on December 17 at 1.30pm. The foundation phase children will do their own play on December 10.