To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

**Spoilers for Game of Thrones below**

He may have not been in the show since season three but Richard Madden has revealed he is ‘thankful’ he left Game of Thrones when he did.

And understandably so, as the season eight hysteria dominated the TV and pop culture world for the last few months, with an ending which was slated by fans and critics alike.

The former King in the North recently looked back on his time in the series with actress Amy Adams as part of Variety’s Actors on Actors feature.


‘I learned a lot from shooting 30 hours of television. You really start to learn the trade doing that. And then I was thankful to leave it,’ Richard said.

The King in the North in happier times (Picture: HBO)

He added: ‘I died at the end of season three. It was such a hard thing to finish because from first pilot to my death was five years. But five years was a great time to be on the show.



‘It helped me so much with my career and experience.’

Game of Thrones fans will remember Madden’s character Robb Stark went out in one of the show’s most iconic episodes, The Red Wedding.

Richard Madden at the the Rocketman UK Premiere (Picture: PA)

The Bodyguard star, 32, is currently riding high from his performance as John Reid in Elton John biopic, Rocketman, alongside Taron Egerton.

As for his former colleagues such as Kit Harington and Sophie Turner who were on the show till the very end, Madden insisted they deserve ‘medals’.

‘The actors on it now must be 11 years into playing these characters,’ he gushed.

‘Give these guys some medals, because that is a marathon.’

Madden also said he hopes his future roles will be ‘a bit not Romeo’.

‘I’ve spent 10 years playing different versions of Romeo, from Robb Stark to literally playing Romeo twice onstage, once when I was 21, once when I was 30,’ he sighed.

James Bond, perhaps?

Game of Thrones seasons one to eight are available to stream on NOW TV.

Got a showbiz story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you.

MORE: Richard Madden brushes off question asking if he’s dating Brandon Flynn

MORE: Keeley Hawes reveals her chemistry with Richard Madden in Bodyguard was down to them laughing non-stop