Matt Smith says “daunting” Doctor Who prepared him for House of the Dragon

And during an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com, he was asked if his years as the Doctor were good preparation in terms of the legacy associated with Game of Thrones and the likely fan response.

"Yeah, I think so," he replied. "Probably, because you've experienced something similar and it's a similar genre – not genre, but you know what I mean.

"And, you know, the expectation when you play the Doctor is quite daunting, and this, I'm sharing it with like 20 other actors."

Asked if he had had any words of advice about appearing in such a mammoth franchise for his co-star Considine and the rest of the cast, he responded: "No, no, no. I would never presume!"

Meanwhile, Considine – who plays Daemon's brother King Viserys – joked, "I'll just be in hiding!"

The new series launches on Sky Atlantic and NOW this Monday, telling the story of House Targaryen 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones.

Smith's character Daemon is the younger brother to King Viserys and the current heir to the throne, and is described as "a peerless warrior and a dragon rider" who "possesses the true blood of the dragon".

Additional reporting by Morgan Jeffery.

House of the Dragon is available from 22nd August exclusively on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW.

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