Surprises in store for Game of Thrones fans

Game Of Thrones actor John Bradley said fans can expect to be "surprised" and "double-crossed" by the new series of the hit fantasy drama.

Bradley, who plays Night's Watch steward Samwell Tarly in the HBO program, said the Game Of Thrones team had worked hard to keep their die-hard fans hooked for the fifth series, being aired in April.

The Manchester-born actor was speaking at the launch of an exhibition into the show at London's O2 arena, where he brazenly took up a seat on the Iron Throne itself - though not in character.

"The quandary going into season five, if anything, is that we know what people like, we know what people expect, so we know that we are going to have to keep them interested in what they like but find ways of surprising them still.

"I think people, after watching 40 hours of something, they start to know the formula a bit - or they start to think they know the formula a bit - so we have got to find new and exciting ways of both keeping it familiar and double-crossing them. And I think we've managed to do that."

Looking to the coming travails for his own character, he added: "As far as Sam is concerned, Sam finished season four on a relative high.

"He achieved so much in season four, not only coming to the forefront and gaining all this responsibility during the battle for Castle Black but also forming the more intimate relationship with Gilly.

"You will see how that goes into season five and you will also see how that is affected by the arrival of Stannis and everybody else."

- PAA