Game of Thrones season eight, episode two sees ratings drop - but still pulls in 15.9 million

Game of Thrones saw an audience drop of 8.6 per cent last weekend, as episode two lost 1.5million viewers across HBO platforms.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms amassed an audience of 10.29 million in linear format – those watching on HBO’s TV channel – with the figure bolstered up to 15.9 million once HBOGO and HBO Now were factored in.

The numbers were down from the 17.4million all in for the final season debut, although part of the drop could be due to the fact the episode was only repeated once during the ratings period while the opener was shown twice.

The second episode saw the key players in Winterfell, including Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), preparing for next week’s epic Battle of Winterfell.

But some fans are already fearing what might happen next, having developed a deep suspicion over the safety of the crypts.

Many viewers are predicting a return for dead Stark family members after the Night King and his army clash with the living.

HBO has confirmed that the third episode, which required 11 weeks of arduous night shoots, will be the longest in Game of Thrones history, lasting 82 minutes.

Episode two saw Arya Stark, played by Maisie Williams, embark on her first sex scene in a show famous for its nudity.

Arya lost her virginity to Gendry, telling him that “she wants to know what it feels like before she dies”.

The scene caused a spike in Google searches questioning how old Arya is. HBO confirmed she is 18 years old while Williams herself is 22.

Game of Thrones is on Sky Atlantic, Mondays at 2am and 9pm and is available to stream on NOW TV and Sky Go.