EAGLE-eyed viewers of a certain age may have spotted a former Goole teacher on their small screens.

Belfast-born Ian McElhinney plays celebrated hero and knight of the Kingsguard, Barriston Selmy, in the popular adaptation of Game of Thrones broadcast on Sky Atlantic.

The 66-year-old actor and director taught drama at the former Goole Grammar School now Goole High School during the 1970s before leaving teaching to follow a professional acting career.

Since then he has appeared in several TV dramas as well as films, including playing the part of a priest in the hit romantic comedy, Leap Year, alongside Amy Adams.

Married to Irish playwright and actress Marie Jones, Ian was nominated for Broadway’s 2001 Tony Award as Best Director (Play) for Stones in His Pocket.

Game of Thrones is an American fantasy drama adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin's series of fantasy novels, the first of which is titled A Game of Thrones. It premiered on HBO in the US in 2011. Two days after the fourth season premiered in April 2014, HBO renewed Game of Thrones for a fifth and sixth season.

The series also stars York actor Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon and David Bradley as Lord Walder Frey.