First Game of Thrones episode watched by 3.4 million viewers

Maisie Williams, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner and Isaac Hempstead Wright (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

The first episode of the new series of Game Of Thrones has already been watched by 3.4 million Sky Atlantic viewers, the broadcaster has said.

Some 192,000 enthusiasts stayed up until 2am on Monday morning to watch the first transmission of the first episode of series eight live, at the same time it was being broadcast for the first time in the US on HBO.

That transmission has now been viewed by a total of 2.7 million UK fans who recorded the early broadcast or watched on demand, as well as those who tuned in live.

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The figure is expected to increase significantly as more Game Of Thrones fans catch up on the series premiere on demand, through Sky + recordings and through repeats.

After the broadcast, fans in the UK said they were relieved they could "finally come out of hiding" after making it to the series eight debut without hearing any spoilers.

Many people tuning in to the second showing said they had stayed off social media all day in case any of the programme's secrets were spilled before they could watch for themselves.

Game Of Thrones continues on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV.