Game of Thrones season five: First preview clip shows a beardy Tyrion, a moody Cersei and a distressed Arya

In fact nobody looks remotely happy in HBO's first look footage

Peter Dinklage plays Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones (HBO)

Game of Thrones fans have been given the first preview clip for season five, starring Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister.

The hit fantasy TV series returns next year, likely in the spring, but a brief glimpse of future episodes was revealed in HBO's end of year video.

Jon Snow (Kit Harington) is seen chatting with Olly (Brenock O'Connor) at the Wall, while Cersei Lannister (Lena Heady) looks seriously unimpressed in other footage.

Tyrion appears to have let his facial hair grow for the new run, while a distressed-looking Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) makes her arrival in Braavos.

Maisie Williams looks concerned as Arya Stark (HBO)

Williams dropped a sizable spoiler earlier this month when she hinted that season five will see huge changes for her character.

"It's the end of Arya as far as anyone knows," she told the Guardian. However, Arya is still very much alive in George RR Martin's books, so no-one really knows what might happen on the show.

The 'Coming in 2015' segment of HBO's video also includes first looks at the next season of Girls, as well as Hugh Laurie's upcoming appearance on Veep.