Barrowman and partner have civil ceremony

'Torchwood' / BBC

John Barrowman and partner Scott Gill took part in a civil ceremony to celebrate their relationship.

The couple, who have been together for 16 years, signed the partnership at a hotel in Cardiff, with about 40 people in attendance.

The Torchwood star spoke afterwards about the importance of the civil ceremonies: "It feels great and I think more gay men and gay women should go ahead and do it as long as they're serious about it," he commented. "It's not really recognition but it's important for people to see the normality of the entire situation and it forces people who don't agree with gay men and women...to have to accept us. We deserve the rights like everybody else."

Barrowman left the hotel soon afterward to travel to the city's New Theatre, where he is currently playing the title role in the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk.