Game of Thrones star Kit Harington said he is “overwhelmed” that the hit television show is ending as stars from the fantasy epic took to the red carpet for the final time.
The eighth and last series of the HBO drama had its UK premiere in Belfast on Friday evening.
Harington, who plays central character Jon Snow, told Sky News as he arrived: “I’m overwhelmed that we’re here and it’s ending.”
The actor later admitted to reporters he suffered sleepless nights ahead of the final series.
Harington said: “I am having sleepless nights about the whole thing, I really am.
“The last two nights I have slept really badly because I am just a worrier.
“I am a real worrier and there is a lot of pressure on this.
“I really hope we have done something that most of the people that follow this show, you cannot please everyone, that people will love.
“So I am nervous, but I am excited for people to see it.”
Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams were also amongst the cast who returned to Northern Ireland, where most of the drama was filmed, for the premiere.
Game of Thrones executive producer Bernadette Caulfield and producer Chris Newman are also in the city for a screening of the first episode from the eighth and final season of the show, and media from around the world have flown into the region for the chance to see the stars give their final verdict on the 10-year journey.
Game of Thrones has put Northern Ireland’s scenery on small screens in over 200 countries across the world and has proved a boon for the local tourist industry with scores of bus tours shuttling visitors around many of the filming locations on a daily basis.
The HBO show is estimated to be worth £30 million to the economy in the region, while Tourism NI estimates it brought 120,000 visitors to Northern Ireland in 2016.
On Wednesday the Game of Thrones Touring Exhibition opened to the public at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, close to Painthall Studios where most of the indoor scenes were filmed.
Dublin actor Liam Cunningham was among the cast members who helped launch the attraction, he described the moment he hung up his costume as Davos Seaworth when filming wrapped last year as emotional.
The eighth season will be shown in the UK at 2am on Monday April 15 on Sky Atlantic, and repeated at 9pm.
