Julian Glover on playing Pycelle 

Julian Glover plays Grand Maester Pycelle

The 81-year-old, whose new movie Brash Young Turks will air on London Live this Saturday, has been part of the HBO drama since 2011, and praised the “bravery” of show bosses for ruthlessly killing off an array of characters.

“When they killed off Joffrey, it wasn’t bloody enough for me,” he told Express.co.uk. “I really wanted to see him squirm! And I was in the scene it happened!

“I thought, ‘oh well… that’s okay, he didn’t enjoy that very much’, but I wanted more.”

The multi-award-winning actor - who has also appeared in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, 007: For Your Eyes Only and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - also spoke about one of the show’s earliest and most shocking demises.

“What was such a brave thing was killing off Sean Bean in the first series. Episode nine. None of us could believe it.

Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner drop SIX spoilers

Did Phillip Schofield get a Game Of Thrones spoiler from Faye Marsay?

Joffrey should have had a bloodier exit, Julian said

When they killed off Joffrey, it wasn’t bloody enough for me

“When we read the script, it was like killing off Hamlet in the middle of the play. It was so brave that you kill off the only person who really you sympathise with at the end of the first series. That was so brave of them, and I really applaud them.

“And they keep on killing very popular characters. Also they kill off very unpopular characters, which is very satisfactory!”

Julian also attributed the success of the massively popular show to the dedication of its crew, who he said have been continuously thorough in their approach to film-making since the very first episode.

“The producers and the writers, who are the governors, insist on absolute perfection from the very beginning,” he explained. “You might go 23 takes! And they can do that now because they don’t have to worry about how much film is in the camera. 

“They started like that on day one and they’re still doing it. And thats one of the reasons for the success of the series.”

On his own experiences, he beamed: “I love going in. It’s not very comfortable for me - I have to wear this beard and not very comfortable costume. But the people there are such good people, they really are serious film makers, you feel like you’re part of something significant. 

“And it happens to have turned out to be arguably the most successful TV franchise theres ever been.”

Brash Young Turks, part of London Live’s Independent Film season, was directed and produced by Naeem Mahmood, and was brought to Julian’s attention via his involvement with the Prince’s Trust.

“[Naeem] has really worked his a**e off for it, and he’s managed to get it off the ground, and it’s jolly good, I have to say,” he said of the finished product, which was a critical favourite at the British Urban Film Festival last year.

“It’s a damn good first feature film. I like him very much. I did it because of the Prince’s Trust… when you reach a certain age and you’ve been bashing away for years, it\'s incumbent on you to pass a bit of that on if you can, which is a difficult thing to do. 

“So to pass on a little bit of working knowledge of what it\'s like to be an actor, it’s very satisfactory because you know you’re being a bit of use, and your life hasn’t been entirely wasted! I’m very impressed with Naeem and I like the film.”

The UK premiere of Brash Young Turks will air on Saturday, 21 May, at 10pm as part of London Live’s Independent Film Season.

ITV \'planning £10 million adaptation of Vanity Fair\'

Game of Thrones: Emilia Clarke claims HBO series is not \'sexist\'

George R R Martin says Game of Thrones characters NEED to die

The Chase: Natalie Cassidy leaves The Beast speechless after rude comment

‘The suffering’s over’ Samantha Fox opens up on death of girlfriend on This Morning

WATCH: Katie Price\'s son Harvey accidentally drops the C-bomb live on Loose Women

Ben Shephard left red-faced after getting distracted by racy Susan Sarandon snap

The Chase: Governess Anne Hegerty leaves Bradley Walsh impressed as she SINGS

New Star Trek Beyond trailer: WATCH it here first

Would you let your child deliver ITSELF? \'Natural caesarean\' sees baby wriggle out UNAIDED

Father and son risk death after not one but two deadly tiger sharks appear during dive

\'I thought I was going to die\' Heroic police officer pulls trapped man from burning truck

The sharp end of politics: Canadian PM ELBOWS female MP during parliamentary brawl

Game of Thrones season 6: Director confirms Brienne and Tormund romance IS real

Top Gear: Jesse Eisenberg and Gordon Ramsay roped in after Brad Pitt pulls out?

Top Gear’s Matt LeBlanc returns to comedy in trailer for new US sitcom Man With A Plan

Jamelia on the verge of tears as she opens up about battle with depression on Loose Women

WATCH: Emilia Clarke PRANKS Game of Thrones co-star Joseph Naufahu as he sleeps

\'I can\'t wait!\' Holly Willoughby to present \'embarrassing\' new dating show

American Horror Story season 6: Finn Wittrock says show will get \'more claustrophobic’

Game Of Thrones: Did Phillip Schofield just get a BIG spoiler from Waif star Faye Marsay?

Game of Thrones season 6: Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner drop SIX spoilers

Olympics legend Tessa Sanderson, 60, defends older motherhood on This Morning

Star Trek TV series: Teaser trailer gives first look at brand new show

\'We\'re all in that boat\' Simon Cowell to receive \'pay cut\' in new X Factor and BGT deal

WATCH: Lorraine Kelly playfully pokes fun at Cheryl’s new cleavage \'tattoo\'

Jason Watkins hints at more Are You Being Served? after ‘extraordinary’ remake

American Horror Story season 6: Could Connie Britton return after Nashville axe?

Amanda Holden goes KNICKERLESS in slinky black dress for Rylan Clark chat show appearance

Outlander showrunner insists drama does ‘real sex, not TV sex’

Game of Thrones: Bran Stark meets the Night’s King in first look images

Amanda Holden ‘CONFIRMS Britain’s Got Talent will return in 2017’

Carol McGiffin reveals original Loose Woman panel ‘would LOVE’ a reunion show

Killer Women with Piers Morgan: Viewers heartbroken as boy testifies against his mother

Preacher: Watch unholy reverend in trailer for cult comic book series

David Walliams defends ‘sister’ Sheridan Smith following star’s break from exhaustion

Eurovision 2016 winner: Ukraine will remain champion amid backlash over new voting system

\'I still love him\' Loose Women\'s Saira Khan told husband to have sex with ANOTHER woman

\'Go f**k yourself\' The Chase player gets \'frosty reception\' from team after swiping £3,000

EastEnders: Almost seven million tune in to watch Peggy Mitchell\'s final episode

EastEnders: Anti-euthanasia group blasts BBC for \'cheerleading\' Peggy Mitchell\'s suicide

Marcella: Anna Friel confirms she’s signed up for two more series of ITV crime drama

House of Cards: Robin Wright BATTLED to be paid same salary as Kevin Spacey

Fame Academy to make comeback? Judge Carrie Grant says revival would be ‘heaven on Earth’

Ruth Langsford admits wedding night romp with Eamonn Holmes \'wasn\'t my finest\' 

EastEnders spoiler: Phil Mitchell discovers Peggy\'s lifeless body in heartbreaking clip

WATCH: Susanna Reid demonstrates her planking skills in skintight floral dress

Peaky Blinders series 3 stung with complaints of \'mumbling\' and \'tedious foul language\'