For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
In the constant battle against spoilers, most authors, actors and showrunners with knowledge of what is to come tend to just straight up lie when they’re asked about future plot events, as Kit Harington had to when it came to Game of Thrones questions about Jon Snow’s “death”.
But way back in 2002, George R. R. Martin managed to cleverly evade the issue of Jon Snow not actually being Ned Stark’s son, and no-one noticed.
A fan wrote to him:
“Since all of their mothers died, who gave Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen and Tyrion Lannister their names?”
GRRM’s response:
“Mothers can name a child before birth, or during, or after, even while they are dying. Dany was most likely named by her mother, Tyrion by his father, Jon by Ned.”
Rather than saying Tyrion and Jon by their fathers, Ned was named as if he wasn't the father - and indeed we now know him not to be, he’s the son of Rhaegar Targaryen.
Game of Thrones, and by extension Martin, showed their hand in the final episode of 6 with the Tower of Joy scene . It revealed Jon’s mother is Lyanna Stark (Ned’s sister) but didn’t confirm Rhaegar as his father, though HBO later cleared this up with a family tree infographic .
Bran Stark now holds arguably the most important piece of information in Westeros - here’s what actor Isaac Hempstead Wright thinks he’ll do with it in season 7 .
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6Show all 34 1 /34In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Ramsay Bolton Fed to the hounds by his ex-wife
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Tommen Baratheon Jumped out of a window
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Rickon Stark Shot by Ramsay with an arrow
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Grand Maester Pycelle Stabbed by little birds
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Loras Tyrell Wildfire
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Alliser Thorne Hung
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Olly Hung #F*ckOlly
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Walder Frey Ticked off the list
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Shaggydog Head cut off
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Summer Ripped apart by White Walkers
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 High Sparrow Wildfire
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 The Blackfish Killed off-screen…
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Hodor Hold the door…
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Trystane Martell Stabbed through the face by those damned Sand Snakes
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Leaf Blown up saving Bran
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Walda Frey and her little boy Fed to the hounds
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Balon Greyjoy Thrown off a bridge by his brother
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Lady Crane Fell off a chair
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Mace Tyrell Wildfire
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 The Waif Killed in the dark by Arya Stark
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Lothar Frey and Black Walder Rivers Fray pie
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Brother Lancel Lannister Stabbed once then blown up by Wildfire
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Lem Lemoncloak Hung by the Brotherhood Without Banners plus The Hound
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Brother Ray Hung by Leomoncloak and his gang
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Three-Eyed Raven Killed by the Night’s King
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Margaery Tyrell Wildfire
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Khal Rhalko, Khal Brozho, Khal Qorro, Khal Forzho, Khal Moro Burnt by the Mother of Dragons
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Roose Bolton Stabbed in the chest by his own son
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Kevan Lannister Wildfire
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Smalljon Umber Beaten by Tormund
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun That Goddamn Ramsay again
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Osha Throat slit by Ramsay
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Doran Martell Stabbed in the hearth by Ellaria Sand
In memoriam: Every major character who died in Game of Thrones season 6 Areo Hotah Stabbed in the spine by Tyene Sand
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies