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After an extended period of waiting, season seven of Game of Thrones
Across the pond, HBO shattered records, 16.1 million Americans watching the episode , represents a staggering 50 per cent increase from the season six premiere.
Back home, 115,000 UK viewers stayed up until 2am to watch Sky Atlantic’s simulcast with America, breaking the show’s previous record.
Combined with the 788,000 people who watched the 9pm broadcast and those who recorded the simulcast, 2.83 million watched the season premiere.
Show all 44 1 /44What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Rory McCann
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Sandor "The Hound" Clegane
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Cersei Lannister
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Lena Headey
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Tyrion Lannister
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Peter Dinklage
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Daenerys Targaryen
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Emilia Clarke
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Jon Snow
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Kit Harington
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Sansa Stark
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Sophie Turner
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Jaime Lannister
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Arya Stark
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Maisie Williams
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Theon Greyjoy
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Alfie Allen
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Brienne of Tarth
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Gwendoline Christie
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Bran Stark
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Isaac Hempstead-Wright
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Aidan Gillen
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Missandei
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Nathalie Emmanuel
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Varys
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Conleth Hill
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Melisandre
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Carice von Houten
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Samwell Tarly
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character John Bradley
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Gilly
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Hannah Murray
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Jorah Mormont
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Iain Glen
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Davos Seaworth
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Liam Cunningham
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Tormund Giantsbane
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Kristofer Hivju
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Bronn
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Jerome Flynn
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What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Gregor 'The Mountain' Clegane
What the Game of Thrones cast look like out of character Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson
With catch-up available through NOW TV, the episode — titled Dragonstone — could reach as many as 4.5 million UK watchers, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Game of Thrones also broke record in Italy, where the episode attracted 570,000 people watched, an increase of 47 per cent and Sky Atlantic biggest premiere in the country.
During the episode, Glastonbury headliner Ed Sheeran made a cameo appearance that was heavily criticised by viewers. The director has since defended the troubadour , calling Sheeran a “lovely”.
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