Every Game of Thrones celebrity cameo - from Ed Sheeran to Bastille
18 April 2019, 16:17
Whether you realised it or not, Game of Thrones has featured a fair share of celebrity cameos in its time - and no, we're not just referring to Ed Sheeran's cringey sing-song by the campfire.
Since kicking off in 2011, Game of Thrones has garnered an international fanbase, and, quite frankly, has become a cultural phenomenon.
So it's no surprise that when offered the opportunity to star in GoT, these celebs just couldn't resist.
Here's every celebrity cameo in Game of Thrones so far:
Ed Sheeran
After learning that Arya Stark actress Maisie Williams was a huge fan of the ginger-haired pop star, showmakers David Benioff and D. B. Weiss approached Ed Sheeran, asking him if he wanted to make an appearance in the show.
His 'Thrones debut came in the season 7 premiere called 'Dragonstone', when played a Lannister soldier called Eddie (really??). He and a group of Cersei's Kingsguard - Queensguard?? - were sat around a campfire, and Eddie was, naturally, singing a wee folk song when Arya came upon them in the wood.
Drawn in by Ed's dulcet tones, Arya approaches them, commenting: "That's a pretty song." Eddie then replies: "Thanks, it's new". Arya then nestles in beside him and tucks into what looks like a rodent. They also have major bantz about Arya's age, questioning whether she's old enough to drink.
After this cringey interaction, the soldiers - who also include This is England actor Thomas Turgoose - ask Arya where she's heading by herself. She replies "I'm going to kill the Queen", referring to Cersei, whom they work for, and they dismiss her thinking she's pulling their leg. Little do they know that the little Stark lass has a list of people she wants to kill, and she's deadly serious.
Thankfully, Ed Sheeran's acting career ended there and we never saw Eddie again. In the season 8 premiere, 'Winterfell', however, we did learn of Eddie's fate. You may have missed it, but while Bronn was getting it on with two prostitutes in a scene very reminiscent of season 1, one of the women mentioned that Dany's dragons burnt Eddie's eyelids off. Yum!
Ed Sheeran then took to Instagram, saying: "Thanks @gameofthrones, I knew I was a survivor."
Bastille
In the episode entitled 'The Dragon and the Wolf', British indie band Bastille made a sneaky appearance.
Sophie Turner (who plays Sansa Stark in the show) had by this point already starred in the band's music video for 'Oblivion', so presumably she hooked the boys up.
Dick and Kyle played zombified Wights in their episode of Game of Thrones, following the Night King and the White Walkers around for most of the episode.
Martin Starr
Freaks and Geeks actor Martin Starr also made an appearance in Game of Thrones. He can be spotted playing a doomed Ironborn warrior in the season 8 premiere.
Rob McElhenney
You may recognise Rob as Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Mac, but this time the actor was playing a slightly different role.
In the season 8 premiere which aired in April 2019, Rob played one of Euron's men, as Theon went to rescue his sister Yara from his uncle's evil clutches.
Will Champion
Coldplay drummer Will Champion also couldn't turn down the offer of featuring GoT. Cast your minds back to season 3, episode 9, in the iconic 'Rains of Castamere', AKA, 'The Red Wedding'.
Funnily enough, Will beat a drum during the wedding of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey.
Gary Lightbody
Snow Patrol's lead singer also had a cameo in Game of Thrones in 2012. At the time, the 'Chasing Cars' singer posted a picture on Facebook of him dressed in his costume, announcing to fans he was playing a small part in the show. Gazza was a Bolton soldier who sings in 'The Bear and the Maiden Fair'.
Royd Tolkein
The great-grandson of fantasy genius, J.R.R. Tolkein, played a Wildling back in season 5. In the episode entitled 'Hardhome', Tolkein was killed at the hands of the Night King.
Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós featured in the same episode as Coldplay's drummer, Will Champion. The song 'The Rains of Castamere' is a gloomy ditty that crops up quite a few times throughout the show, but in the episode of the same namesake, most commonly referred to as the 'Red Wedding', the song is played by the Icelandic band.
Bass player Georg Hólm said of their cameo: "We probably managed to create the gloomiest version so far. It is maybe not the happiest wedding song, but we think that it fit the scene very well."
Of Monsters and Men
The five-piece band appeared in season 6 of Game of Thrones. Arya's watching a play in Braavos, where she goes to learn the skills of the Faceless Men. Of Monsters and Men are - fittingly - the stage musicians in the play.
