Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is a TV adaptation of George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels, with 5 published and more in the pipeline, the series has been critically acclaimed and has a huge fan following spanning the 15 years since the first book was realised in 1996. Anticipation for the series adaptation has reached fever pitch, and I for one will be glued to the screen!

Sky Atlantic will begin broadcasting Game of Thrones, the fantasy drama based on George RR Martin's novels, on 18 April – the day after its US premier. It has been adapted for TV by David Benioff and DB Weiss. Benioff said no one had ever done fantasy "the HBO way, where the focus is on character and psychology rather than spectacle".

A great deal of attention is being paid to fine detail. A shot of Grand Maester Pycelle's desk reveals scrolls bearing the names of previous Targaryen kings, whilst King Robert's crown has a stag motif to reflect the Baratheon heraldic symbol. Eddard's small council seat has the symbol of a hand imprinted on it, whilst Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish wears a small clasp in the shape of a mockingbird.

The drama focuses on the struggle for power between competing factions in the fictional Seven Kingdoms of the mythical continent of Westeros – a time and place "reminiscent of medieval Europe" – with a cast including Sean Bean, Lena Headey, Mark Addy, Aidan Gillen, Charles Dance and Iain Glen.