Game Of Thrones attracted a record audience when the new series launched last night.
The fifth series of the HBO drama, based on George RR Martin's epic fantasy novels, features Lena Headey, Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke among the cast.
It kicked off with 1.57 million viewers on Sky Atlantic - giving the channel its best overnight performance to date.
The series five launch was also up 29% on last year's opener, Sky said, and was watched by a 6.72% share of viewing in all homes.
The 9pm drama attracted more viewers to the channel than to BBC2, which had 1.3 million for new documentary series Inside Harley Street, and Channel 5, which attracted 802,000 to Gotham.
Game Of Thrones has been a huge hit around the globe but has been accused of misogyny because of its depiction of sexual violence.
Actress Clarke, who plays royal exile Daenerys Targaryen, recently praised the show for creating female characters which "accept our femininity".
The premiere of the fifth season previously aired in the US to rave reviews, after a leak of the first four episodes online.
Figures are expected to grow when the consolidated figures come in, which includes catch-up viewing over the next seven days.
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