As anticipation builds for the upcoming series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, actor Dexter Sol Ansell has revealed a memorable filming moment that garnered high praise from George R.R. Martin, the author behind the original novellas. The series is set to debut on January 19, 2026, on platforms Sky and NOW, expanding the rich tapestry of Westeros introduced in Game of Thrones.
In an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com, Ansell discussed a pivotal scene that tested his skills as an actor. The sequence involved a dramatic tug-of-war where he portrayed his character, Egg, alongside his co-star Peter Claffey, who plays the knight Ser Duncan the Tall, or Dunk. “It was this tug-of-war scene,” Ansell explained. “I was dangling off this rope, literally for my life, because I really didn’t want to fall in the mud.”
The scene turned into an unexpected challenge, as the cast became engrossed in the action. “None of anyone was listening because the stunt coordinator, CC [Smiff], was going, ‘Right, now, this house, move this way, move this way. You’ve got to win now’. And no one was doing that,” Ansell recalled. In a moment of improvisation, he adjusted his position on the rope and managed to help his team win the contest.
Ansell humorously described how the excitement of the scene led to a minor mishap. “Dunk threw me up in the air, back and forth for a few takes. One take threw me so high that when I went down, I smashed my eye into his nose.” Despite the injury, the scene was included in the final cut, albeit edited to omit the moment of collision.
The young actor’s experience took a memorable turn when he met Martin on set. “My mum comes up to me saying, ‘Are you okay?’ And then she also goes, ‘Oh, George R.R. Martin’s here, do you wanna see?’, and I’m like, ‘Yeah’,” Ansell recounted. The author praised Ansell’s performance, saying, “Wow, you’re so good, and you look and you act like you’ve really just jumped out of the books.” Such recognition from the creator of his character left a lasting impression on the 11-year-old actor.
Ansell described his character as “brave, cheeky, mysterious,” revealing that Egg has secrets even he, as the actor, does not fully understand. Although Ansell is too young to have watched Game of Thrones, he expressed relief that he has not seen the show, noting that his character would be unaware of the events that transpire in that timeline. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set about a century before the main series.
The cast of the new series also features Finn Bennett, Bertie Carvel, Tanzyn Crawford, Daniel Ings, Sam Spruell, Ross Anderson, and Edward Ashley. As the launch date approaches, fans are eager to see how the story unfolds, drawing from Martin’s beloved novellas known as The Tales of Dunk and Egg.
For those interested in following the latest developments in television, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms can be added to watchlists via the Radio Times: What to Watch app, which offers daily recommendations and features. For immediate viewing options, audiences can explore the TV Guide and Streaming Guide for additional content until the series premiere.
