Game of Thrones actor Alexander Siddig has slammed the hit show in a scathing interview.

The actor, who played Doran Martell in season five, has claimed GoT's lead actors are the only ones who benefit from appearing in the show long-term as the pay is poor and schedules are 'messed up.'

Alexander also claims in the candid chat with startrek.com that his character was suddenly killed off at the beginning of season six despite him being contracted for another four episodes.

Hitting out: Game of Thrones actor Alexander Siddig, who played Doran Martell in season five, has slammed the hit show in a scathing interview

The Sudanese-born British actor, who played Dr Julian Bashir in Star Trek, landed the role of the ruling Prince of Dorne in 2015, but only lasted one season before his character was killed off in the show famous for its bloodbaths.

In the interview, the actor insists the global popularity of the HBO show, which has a cast of around 40 prominent roles, means co-creators Dan Weiss and David Benioff can get away with much more.

'From an actor's point of view, professionally you don't want to be on a show like that for too long — unless you are one of the top leads who originated the show — because your schedule gets kind of messed up,' he explained.

All about them: The actor has claimed GoT's lead actor such as Emilia Clarke are the only ones who benefit from appearing in the show long-term

'You don't earn as much as you would if you were doing another show because they're Game of Thrones, and they don't have to pay anyone.'

Although the series does not release details of salaries, Deadline.com reported in June that Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister) will all be paid approximately $500,000 an episode for Season 7.

Alexander went on to discuss the moment he learned his character would be killed off, claiming he received a phone call from the co-creators telling him he would only appear in the first episode of season six despite being contracted for four episodes.

He muses that the fan excitement surrounding his casting 'might have been the kiss of death' as perhaps the creators weren't keen for so much attention to be drawn to Doran.

Men in charge: Alexander insists the popularity of the show means co-creators David Benioff (L) and Dan Weiss (pictured at the Emmys) can get away with much more

'Maybe they thought, "Well, let's prove that we're going to stray from the books. We're going to do something else, and he will be our first example of that". Or maybe I just screwed up. Maybe I said the wrong thing to the wrong person.'

Alexander has gone on to star in another hit series - Peaky Blinders as Ruben Oliver while he'll also be seen in the anticipated mini series The Kennedys After Camelot, which sees Katie Holmes take on the role of Jacqueline Kennedy in the aftermath of the assassination of her husband, President Kennedy.

Game of Thrones meanwhile made history at this month's Emmys, winning three awards during the televised portion of the show bringing its total to 38, which is one more than previous all-time record holder Frasier.