Game of Thrones Receives Guinness World Record

1 September 2015

'Game of Thrones' has picked up a Guinness World Record.

Maisie Williams

The fantasy HBO series has received an award in the annual book for the largest simulcast of a TV drama.

The show broke the record when episode two of season five was broadcast in 173 countries at the same time.

Maisie Williams - who plays Arya Stark in the programme - accepted the award on behalf of the 'Game of Thrones' cast and joked that she won't spoil the surprise for her step-brother who "gets the book every year for Christmas".

On receiving the accolade, she said: "So pleased for 'Game of Thrones' to be a part of Guinness World Records, I'm not going to tell my step-brother as he gets the book every year for Christmas. I can't wait to see the look on his face."

'Game of Thrones' beat the previous record holder, crime series 'C.S.I' which broadcast to just two countries simultaneously a month before.

Other entries in this year's Guinness World Records Book include One Direction, who picked up six awards including having the most followers on Twitter for a music group, most popular dance game track and most YouTube subscribers for a band, Ed Sheeran who got a place in the 2016 book for the longest time to reach number one on the UK singles charts with 'Thinking Out Loud', which took 19 weeks to top the chart and Taylor Swift smashed the most million selling weeks on the US albums charts.

The Guinness World Records Book 2016 will be released on September 10.