LIVE: Game of Thrones stars take to the Belfast red carpet for season 8 premiere

Jon Snow actor Kit Harington and Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark arrive are all in attendance

Game of Thrones' final season premiere is being held in Belfast tonight
Author: Paulo RossPublished 12th Apr 2019

Stars from the HBO fantasy epic Game Of Thrones have descended upon the Waterfront Hall this evening for the exclusive premiere for the show’s final season.

Kit Harington, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams are amongst the cast who have returned to Northern Ireland, where most of the drama was filmed, to walk the red carpet one last time.

Kit Harington said he is "overwhelmed" that the hit television show is ending.

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.

"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."

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 in for the chance to see the stars give their final verdict on the 10-year journey

PA

Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham says the end of the show will be "bittersweet" - and "fans will never be satisfied".

The actor, who plays Davos Seaworth, admitted "all the big issues" are taken care of but suggested it isn't going to be a straightforward conclusion to the show.

He said: "If we wrap this puppy up in a nice pink ribbon, everybody would be incredibly depressed because it would be condescending and patronising and all of the above. You have to remember it is Game of Thrones.

Since it first aired, Game of Thrones has become a cultural phenomenon - breaking records for viewers, budgets and awards.

It has featured 330 characters - over half of whom have already been killed off - with one fan estimate putting the total death tally at 174,373.

Filming has taken place in 25 locations in and around Northern Ireland, which has since built a tourist economy off the back of the show.

Castle Ward is one such location, which became Winterfell, where much of the first series was set.

John McGrillen, chief executive of Tourism Northern Ireland, told Sky News the impact of Game of Thrones has been "huge" on the country, with the value from tourists coming over for the show estimated at ÂŁ50m

He said: "One in six people who come to Northern Ireland on a break want to see the sets and sights where Game of Thrones is actually being filmed.

"When you think we get 2.5 million visitors from overseas and one sixth of those are coming to those sets, that's a very significant number and it has a very big impact," he said.