Warning: There will be spoilers.

Sean Bean has admitted that he was “glad” when he heard about Joffrey’s death in Game of Thrones.

The 55-year-old British actor, who starred as Ned Stark in the first season of the show and ended up getting beheaded by the sadistic boy-king, spoke of his satisfaction at the conclusion of the Purple Wedding.

Download the new Independent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

The episode culminated in Joffrey, played by Jack Gleeson, dying grotesquely after he was mysteriously poisoned at his own wedding party.

“He [Gleeson] was brilliant, that kid. He’s a fantastic actor, and he really got people’s backs up, which, I guess that’s what was required of the character,” Bean told entertainment news programme Access Hollywood at WonderCon last week.

Shape Created with Sketch. Game of Thrones season four in pictures Show all 36 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Game of Thrones season four in pictures 1/36 Game of Thrones Steward serving on The Wall and fan favourite Jon Snow HBO 2/36 Game of Thrones Arya continues on her journey through the North HBO 3/36 Game of Thrones After so long in King's Landing, Sansa sees snow falling at the Eyrie in the Vale, it reminds her of Winterfell HBO 4/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys looks contemplative as she walks down the steps of a pyramid in Meereen HBo 5/36 Game of Thrones Arya and the Hound meet an unwelcome visitor HBO 6/36 Game of Thrones Meera Reed, Bran and Hodor walk through the snow to find the three-eyed crow HBO 7/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys looks at a map as she considers her next move HBO 8/36 Game of Thrones Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne continue on their quest to find Sansa HBO 9/36 Game of Thrones Sam Tarly attempts to rally the men of the Night's Watch HBO 10/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys and Missandei survey the troops HBO 11/36 Game of Thrones The Wildlings get ready to attack HBO 12/36 Game of Thrones Jon Snow trains for battle against the wildings at Castle Black HBO 13/36 Game of Thrones Cersei watches over Tyrion's trial HBO 14/36 Game of Thrones A vulnerable family fall victim to the Hound HBO 15/36 Game of Thrones Mark Gatiss makes an appearance as Tycho Nestoris, an envoy of the Iron Bank of Braavos HBO 16/36 Game of Thrones Sophie Turner as the eldest Stark daughter Sansa HBO 17/36 Game of Thrones Jaime begs his father Tywin for mercy for his brother HBO 18/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys rules in Meereen from on high as she listens to man seeking recompense for his slaughtered cattle and another asking for the burial of his crucified father HBO 19/36 Game of Thrones Tyrion Lannister goes on trial for the murder of Joffrey as the nobles of Westeros watch HBO 20/36 Game of Thrones Maisie Williams as Arya Stark in 'The First of His Name' HBO 21/36 Game of Thrones Emilia Clarke as Danerys, the Mother of Dragons HBO 22/36 Game of Thrones Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon and Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell HBO 23/36 Game of Thrones The 'Purple Wedding' shocked fans this month HBO 24/36 Game of Thrones Daario will be a new arrival in season 4 HBO 25/36 Game of Thrones The Hound strides the fields in heavy armour HBO 26/36 Game of Thrones King Joffrey and his smirk of contempt are back HBO 27/36 Game of Thrones Sansa and Tyrion have a heart-to-heart Channel 4 28/36 Game of Thrones Ygritte and Tormund prepare for battle HBO 29/36 Game of Thrones Tywin wearing the Hand of the King brooch HBO 30/36 Game of Thrones Margaery and Olenna in the courtyard HBO 31/36 Game of Thrones Sam, a steward of the Night's Watch HBO 32/36 Game of Thrones Arya remains under the watch of the The Hound HBO 33/36 Game of Thrones Jaime and Cersai in heated discussions HBO 34/36 Game of Thrones Oberyn with Ellaria, mother of the four youngest Sand Snakes HBO 35/36 Game of Thrones Tyrion and Shae have words HBO 36/36 Game of Thrones Season 4 HBO 1/36 Game of Thrones Steward serving on The Wall and fan favourite Jon Snow HBO 2/36 Game of Thrones Arya continues on her journey through the North HBO 3/36 Game of Thrones After so long in King's Landing, Sansa sees snow falling at the Eyrie in the Vale, it reminds her of Winterfell HBO 4/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys looks contemplative as she walks down the steps of a pyramid in Meereen HBo 5/36 Game of Thrones Arya and the Hound meet an unwelcome visitor HBO 6/36 Game of Thrones Meera Reed, Bran and Hodor walk through the snow to find the three-eyed crow HBO 7/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys looks at a map as she considers her next move HBO 8/36 Game of Thrones Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne continue on their quest to find Sansa HBO 9/36 Game of Thrones Sam Tarly attempts to rally the men of the Night's Watch HBO 10/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys and Missandei survey the troops HBO 11/36 Game of Thrones The Wildlings get ready to attack HBO 12/36 Game of Thrones Jon Snow trains for battle against the wildings at Castle Black HBO 13/36 Game of Thrones Cersei watches over Tyrion's trial HBO 14/36 Game of Thrones A vulnerable family fall victim to the Hound HBO 15/36 Game of Thrones Mark Gatiss makes an appearance as Tycho Nestoris, an envoy of the Iron Bank of Braavos HBO 16/36 Game of Thrones Sophie Turner as the eldest Stark daughter Sansa HBO 17/36 Game of Thrones Jaime begs his father Tywin for mercy for his brother HBO 18/36 Game of Thrones Daenerys rules in Meereen from on high as she listens to man seeking recompense for his slaughtered cattle and another asking for the burial of his crucified father HBO 19/36 Game of Thrones Tyrion Lannister goes on trial for the murder of Joffrey as the nobles of Westeros watch HBO 20/36 Game of Thrones Maisie Williams as Arya Stark in 'The First of His Name' HBO 21/36 Game of Thrones Emilia Clarke as Danerys, the Mother of Dragons HBO 22/36 Game of Thrones Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon and Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell HBO 23/36 Game of Thrones The 'Purple Wedding' shocked fans this month HBO 24/36 Game of Thrones Daario will be a new arrival in season 4 HBO 25/36 Game of Thrones The Hound strides the fields in heavy armour HBO 26/36 Game of Thrones King Joffrey and his smirk of contempt are back HBO 27/36 Game of Thrones Sansa and Tyrion have a heart-to-heart Channel 4 28/36 Game of Thrones Ygritte and Tormund prepare for battle HBO 29/36 Game of Thrones Tywin wearing the Hand of the King brooch HBO 30/36 Game of Thrones Margaery and Olenna in the courtyard HBO 31/36 Game of Thrones Sam, a steward of the Night's Watch HBO 32/36 Game of Thrones Arya remains under the watch of the The Hound HBO 33/36 Game of Thrones Jaime and Cersai in heated discussions HBO 34/36 Game of Thrones Oberyn with Ellaria, mother of the four youngest Sand Snakes HBO 35/36 Game of Thrones Tyrion and Shae have words HBO 36/36 Game of Thrones Season 4 HBO

Although Bean did not see the episode himself, he said that was he was pleased, jokingly adding “But, what can I say? I’m glad he’s dead - he killed me.”

He went onto say: “We never really thought that it would turn into the thing that it was but I’m very proud to be associated with it. I’m glad I kick-started it.”

Ned Stark’s unexpected demise was the first big twist on Game of Thrones and was the start of a tradition of shocking deaths on the show.

Last year’s Red Wedding saw the murders of several more members of the Stark family and left many fans in mourning.

From James Bond to Lord of the Rings, Bean is notorious for playing characters that meet a sticky end, so much so that fans have made YouTube videos documenting each onscreen death.

The star was at the comic book convention, WonderCon, last Saturday to promote his new television series Legends.

Bean plays Martin Odum, a deep undercover FBI agent who assumes different identities or “legends”.

The programme has been produced by Howard Gordon, who has worked on Homeland and 24 but it’s not yet known whether Bean’s character in the spy drama will also die at some point.

Season 4 of Game of Thrones is on Sky Atlantic on Mondays.