GAME OF DEATH

Even more than The Walking Dead, Game Of Thrones has been defined by its death scenes. Here are 10 of the most memorable/shocking from the first seven seasons…*

VISERYS TARGARYEN “A Golden Crown” (1.06)

Daenerys’s mean, arrogant and abusive older brother hadn’t done much to endear himself when Khal Drogo gave him the crown he desired – the fact that it was made of molten metal and melted off half his face made this the show’s first true shocker.

TYWIN LANNISTER “The Children” (4.10)

What does the patriarch of the Lannister dynasty have in common with Elvis Presley? He died on the loo. The cause of death was slightly different, however, as Tyrion – the son he’d always victimised – shot him with a crossbow mid movement.

NED STARK “Baelor” (1.09)

okay, Sean Bean’s chances of survival on screen are generally low, but Ned was supposed to be the hero of the show! Then King Joffrey made a bid for the hotly contested title of Westeros’s biggest scumbag by ordering for Lord Stark to be beheaded.

SHIREEN BARATHEON “The dance of dragons” (5.09)

In a show that’s frequently pushed the boundaries of Tv, the death of Stannis Baratheon’s daughter – burned at the stake as a sacrifice to the fire god – is arguably its most horrible moment. The screams lingered in the mind long after the credits.

CATELYN STARK “The rains of Castamere” (3.09)

The Lannisters sent their regards as Walder Frey and Roose Bolton turned traitor and murdered Robb Stark, his pregnant wife Talisa and mum Catelyn. The “Red Wedding” remains one of the most infamous sequences in the show’s history.

Hodor “The door” (6.05)

As Bran’s unwaveringly loyal servant struggles to keep the White Walker forces at bay, a flashback to childhood revealed the tragic origins of his name – a warging Bran’s command to “Hold the door” not only addled his brain, but also sealed his fate.

JOFFREY BARATHEON “The Lion And The rose” (4.02)

In Game Of Thrones, bad things usually happen to good people. This was completely different – there won’t have been too many viewers weeping when the Boy King’s wedding breakfast was rudely interrupted by a fatal dose of “the Strangler”.

RAMSAY BOLTON “The Battle of The Bastards” (6.09)

The heir apparent to the scumbag title vacated by Joffrey got a strangely poetic commiseration prize for losing the battle to Jon Snow. Sansa took calm, cool revenge on her abusive husband by leaving him to be eaten by his own hounds. Yeah, take that, you gross creep.

OBERYN MARTELL “The Mountain And The viper” (4.08)

He didn’t even make it through a season, but the Red viper shone so brightly we were gutted when he lost a fight to the death by Ser Gergor “The Mountain” Clegane. A lesson in the importance of taunting your opponent after you’ve killed them.

PETYR BAELISH “The dragon And The Wolf (7.07)

Littlefinger had made such a habit of wriggling his way out of dodgy situations that it looked like he might make it to the end of the game in one piece. He didn’t count on the Stark sisters, however, who quickly tried and executed him for his crimes. richard edwards