Some 17.4 million Americans watched the first episode of the final season of television`s 'Game of Thrones' - a record audience for the medieval fantasy series, cable channel HBO said on Monday.

Game Of Thrones: Record 17.4 million tune in to watch the first episode of the final season

Three hundred die-hard Game of Thrones fans laughed, howled and moaned their way through the premiere of the hugely popular fantasy saga's last season in New York on Sunday.

Game Of Thrones: How fans in New York prepped for the opening episode of season 8

It’s that time of the year when the fierce battle for the iron throne resurfaces. As the final season of ‘Game Of Thrones’ begins in a less than 24 hours from now, fans across the world simply cannot keep calm.

Game Of Thrones: How an army of technicians brought alive a medieval fantasy series