Game of Thrones season 8 episode 1 reveals fiery fate of Ed Sheeran's character who appeared in season 7

The season eight premiere of Game of Thrones appeared to feature a reference to Ed Sheeran who cameoed in season seven.

While wasting no time in putting the bustling ensemble in place for the show’s final six episodes, the new instalment – the HBO show’s first since August 2017 – found a spare moment to seemingly reference the fate of the singer’s character.

In the season seven premiere, which was broadcast in 2017, Sheeran played a Lannister soldier whose singing captured the attention of Arya Stark (Maisie Williams).

However, if one of Bronn's prostitutes is to be believed, it seems the singer was scorched off-screen just episodes later in “The Spoils of War”, which saw Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) wipe out Lannister forces – just before Drogon takes a bolt to the head.

"You know that boy Eddie?" she says. "He came back with his face burnt off. He’s got no eyelids now."

The reference is likely a nod to the negative response to Sheeran’s controversial cameo. His appearance was the last in a long line of small roles for musicians, a compilation of which you can see below.

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Elsewhere, the reunion-heavy episode featured a terrifying death at the hands of the Night King.

The final season of Game of Thrones continues every Sunday. You can watch the new look opening title sequence here.

You can find our extensive ranking of every character – from the worst to best – below.

The show will be available on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in the UK.