Kit Harington feels old after 18-year-old fan tells him he loves 'Game of Thrones'

Kit Harington has reflected on the enduring popularity of Game of Thrones, admitting that encounters with young fans of the show are beginning to make him feel decidedly old.

A telling encounter in a shop

The 39-year-old English actor attended the Disney Upfronts at the Javits Center in New York City on 12 May, where he spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the HBO fantasy drama that launched him to global stardom. When asked how he feels looking back at the show's first season, Harington was candid: "I'm starting to feel old."

He went on to describe a recent moment that brought the passage of time into sharp focus. "I went to a shop yesterday, and this lovely young man said, 'I love Game of Thrones.' And I was like how old you? And he said 18. And I went, 'You were 3 when I started that show,'" the actor recalled.

The streaming effect

Harington also reflected on how streaming platforms have continued to introduce the series to entirely new generations of viewers. "It's amazing that people are still watching it," he said.

About Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones, created by David Benioff and D B Weiss and based on George R R Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels, premiered on HBO on 17 April 2011.

Harington was 24 years old when he first appeared as Jon Snow — the bastard of Winterfell — in the opening series. The show ran for eight seasons, concluding in 2019, and remains one of the most-watched television dramas in history.

Harington received Emmy nominations for his performance in the series following the broadcast of season six in 2016 and the final season in 2019.