When Ian McShane was cast in an unspecified secret role in Game Of Thrones' sixth season last month, there was some speculation that he might be playing Randyll Tarly, Samwell's father. Well speculate on, since Randyll Tarly has now been officially cast, as have Melessa and Talla.
James Faulkner will be the Tarly paterfamilas, joining Game Of Thrones following stints on Downton Abbey and Da Vinci's Demons. Samantha Spiro, who'll be in the BBC's London Spy next month, is Sam's mother Melessa Tarly. And Sam's sister Talla will be played by Rebecca Benson. Freddie Stroma had already been cast as Dickon.
They're just the latest additions to the cast for the new season, which, along with McShane, includes Pilou Asbæk, Max von Sydow and Richard E. Grant. Grant, like McShane, hasn't had his character officially revealed yet, although the scuttlebut is that he's Izembaro The Great, King Of The Mummers.
The show will, as in recent years, be back in April on HBO and Sky Atlantic, with the story unfolding further ahead of the books than ever...