Lighter Game of Thrones prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms airs on Sky Atlantic

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a lighter, funnier Game of Thrones prequel, airs at 9pm on Sky Atlantic. The new show is described as “way more enjoyable than the dismal drama of House of the Dragon” and is pitched to fans who liked unlikely pairings such as the Hound and Arya in the original series.

Set 100 years before Game of Thrones and based on a George RR Martin novella, the story follows Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), a “sweet, courageous hedge knight (‘like a knight … but sadder’)”, and his inquisitive young squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). The episode mixes lighter elements — puppet dragons, projectile poo and a promise to win a jousting tourney — with reminders of Westeros’s darker side, including cunning characters and grisly bits.

Other TV highlights include Panorama: Maxed Out – The Credit Card Trap at 8pm on BBC One, where personal finance expert Iona Bain looks at the marketplace and asks if more regulation is needed; Lynley at 8.30pm on BBC One, in which DI Lynley (Leo Suter) suspects foul play in a supposed kayaking death amid a growing list of suspects; and Lucy Worsley’s Victorian Murder Club at 9pm on BBC Two, in which Worsley studies the fifth dismembered victim and provides a convincing prime suspect in the final part of her investigation.

Later shows include Arctic Adventure: Ultimate Survival at 10pm on Channel 4 and Industry at 10.40pm on BBC One, and live sport coverage of the World Indoor Bowls Championships at 1pm on BBC Two.

Key Topics

Culture, George Rr Martin, Ser Duncan, Peter Claffey, Dexter Sol Ansell, Westeros