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Game of Thrones fans are going to be eating well this winter. No, we’re not getting a new season of House of the Dragon, but we are getting something better: an entirely new spinoff to watch.
Titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the show is based on the novellas by George RR Martin and is set in a completely different time to both the first Thrones series and its successor, A House of the Dragon: 100 years before the former and 70 years after the latter.
However, there will be Targaryens, there will be a fair amount of blood and gore, and there will be a good old fashioned jousting tournament. There’s also a stacked cast: here’s who to look out for.
Ser Duncan the Tall, played by Peter Claffey
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Ser Duncan, or Dunk, is a hedge knight who comes from an unremarkable background, but who nevertheless is the hero of this story. Raised as a squire to Ser Arlan of Pennytree, he sets out to become a “good knight” after Ser Arlan’s death.
Peter Claffey, who plays him, was born in County Galway and originally embarked on a career as a rugby player, playing for Ballinasloe RFC, the University of Galway and training at the Connacht Rugby academy. He even played for the Ireland under-20 rugby team in the 2016 Six Nations in 2016, but pivoted to acting in the years since.
He made his first stage debut in 2022, and followed that up with appearances in the Apple TV comedy Bad Sisters, and in the Cillian Murphy film Small Things Like These. This is his first major role.
Egg, played by Dexter Sol Ansell
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A small bald child whom Dunk chooses as his squire. Ansell, who plays him, was born in 2014; his parents are G4 singer Jonathan Ansell, and Debbie King, the former host of Quizmania.
He’s also been acting for years: at the age of two, he made his first appearance in Emmerdale, where he stayed until March 2021. He appeared as the young Coriolanus Snow in the Hunger Games film The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes; he appeared in 2023 horror film The Moor and in Netflix film Christmas on Mistletoe Farm.
Prince Aerion Targaryen, played by Finn Bennett
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Our first Targaryen, and judging by his actions in the trailer, one of the nasty ones. Bennett, who plays him, is the son of Ronan – aka the creator of Channel 4/ Netflix show Top Boy. Born in London, he went to weekend drama classes and began his career as a child actor, appearing in ITV show Foyle’s War and then in 2015 show Cider With Rosie.
His big breakthrough was being cast to play police officer Peter Prior in the fourth season of True Detective – which he followed up with roles in Netflix series Black Doves and the US Iraq film Warfare.
Prince Baelor Targaryen, played by Bertie Carvel
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The heir to the Iron Throne, Hand of the King to Daeron II.
Carvel, on the other hand, is acting royalty: he’s won two Olivier Awards (once more playing Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical; once for playing Rupert Murdoch in Ink) and one Tony, again for Ink.
The son of a journalist, he grew up in London and studied at RADA; he’s gone onto forge a successful career on stage and has appeared in The Crown, Doctor Who and Doctor Foster. He’s also set to appear in the upcoming HBO Harry Potter series, playing Cornelius Fudge.
Tanselle, played by Tanzyn Crawford
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A Dornish puppeteer Dunk encounters at the tournament. Crawford herself is a relative newcomer to acting: she grew up in Perth and originally wanted to become a zoologist, before switching paths to acting. Since then, she’s appeared in AppleTV show Servant and the Disney+ series Tiny Beautiful Things, as the daughter to Kathryn Hahn’s character Clare.
Ser Lyonel Baratheon, played by Daniel Ings
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A knight known as the Laughing Storm and the heir to House Baratheon. Judging by the trailer, he seems to become a friend of sorts to Dunk. Ings’ face is likely a familiar one: in the last 15 years, he’s appeared in everything from The Crown to Guy Ritchie show The Gentlemen.
After a small role in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, his first big role was as Luke in the Netflix comedy Lovesick (originally called Scrotal Recall). Since then, he’s racked up roles in I Hate Suzie (as Suzie’s husband), Dan in Sex Education, Archie Osborne in The Gold and hapless brother Freddy in The Gentlemen, which has been renewed for a second season.
Prince Maekar Targaryen, played by Sam Spruell
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Baelor’s younger brother and Aerion’s father. Spruell himself was born in London and who has, over the last few decades, carved out an impressive career. He’s appeared in The Hurt Locker, Spooks, 2015 film Snow White & the Huntsman, The Gold, Fargo and HBO spinoff series Dune: Prophecy among others.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is streaming on Sky Atlantic and NOW from January 18
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