Peter Claffey steps into the boots of Ser Duncan the Tall, or Dunk, a massive hedge knight scraping by without noble blood or fancy gear. Fresh off roles in Vikings: Valhalla and Bad Sisters, the Irish actor brings raw physicality to a character who buries his mentor Ser Arlan and heads to the Ashford Meadow tourney seeking glory.
Dunk’s story kicks off with him claiming his late master’s sword and horses, then picking up a mysterious bald boy as squire after a rough encounter at an inn.
Dexter Sol Ansell plays that boy, Egg, whose true name, Prince Aegon Targaryen, stays secret for most of the action. Known from The Hunger Games prequel as young Coriolanus Snow, Ansell captures the kid’s street-smart persistence as he begs to join Dunk’s wandering life.
Their bond forms the heart of the series, drawn from George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas set nearly a century before Game of Thrones. Claffey and Ansell lead a tight ensemble in the six-episode first season that premiered January 18, 2026, on HBO, pulling in solid reviews for its buddy dynamic over epic battles.
Danny Webb portrays Ser Arlan of Pennytree, Dunk’s grizzled old mentor whose death launches the plot. Webb, a vet of shows like Humans and The Frankenstein Chronicles, fits the role of a faded hedge knight who taught Dunk the ropes of survival in Westeros.
Together, these core players set up the grounded tone, far from dragon fire or iron thrones, focusing on tourney tents and muddy fields.
Targaryen Firebrands Rock the Tourney
Finn Bennett embodies Prince Aerion Targaryen, the cruel Brightflame, whose hot temper ignites the main conflict by attacking a puppeteer. Bennett breaks out from True Detective: Night Country as a silver-haired bully who twists events to frame Dunk for assault and kidnapping.
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His clash with Dunk leads straight to a brutal Trial of Seven, a massive melee where champions bash it out to prove innocence.
Henry Ashton tackles Prince Daeron the Drunken Targaryen, Aerion’s boozy brother, who spills secrets about Egg’s disguise while fleeing their father’s watch. Ashton, seen in Platonic and The Salisbury Poisoning, adds comic relief to the royal family’s dysfunction at the tourney.
Sam Spruell plays their stern father, Prince Maekar Targaryen, a battle-hardened warrior whose presence looms over the chaos; Spruell’s turns in Small Axe and The Greatest Showman suit the no-nonsense prince perfectly.
Bertie Carvel rounds out the Targaryen crew as Prince Baelor Breakspear Targaryen, the wise Hand of the King and Egg’s uncle, who judges the trial fairly. Carvel’s acclaimed work in The Crown and Taskmaster brings gravitas to this heir to the throne, balancing the family’s wilder sides.
These royals, all hiding among the tourney crowds, crank up the stakes as Dunk fights for his freedom, with HBO’s adaptation sticking close to the novella’s political undercurrents.
Tourney Heavyweights and Key Allies
Daniel Ings swings into Ser Lyonel Baratheon, the Laughing Storm, a booming Stormlands heir whose massive frame and wild laugh dominate the lists.
Ings, familiar from Sex Education and The Crown, nails the jovial giant who parties hard but wields a mean sword against Dunk in early tilts. His tent becomes a hub of revelry, where Dunk briefly wears the stag crown amid feasts and dances.
Shaun Thomas handles Ser Raymun Fossoway, the Reluctant knight who joins Dunk’s side in the Trial of Seven after bonding over tourney woes. Thomas, from The Territory and Boiling Point, portrays the apple-emblazoned squire-turned-champion with earnest grit.
Edward Ashley plays his cocky cousin Ser Steffon Fossoway, an early antagonist who mocks Dunk’s low status before the action heats up; Ashley’s credits include Masters of the Air.
Tanzyn Crawford shines as Tanselle, the Dornish puppeteer whose dragon show sparks Aerion’s rage and Dunk’s protective fury. Crawford’s roles in Tiny Beautiful Things highlight her as the story’s moral spark amid knightly egos.
Youssef Kerkour forges ahead as Steely Pate, the Reach blacksmith who arms Dunk, drawing from his Justice League and Inflatable Guy bits for a sturdy side player.
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor plays Plummer, Ashford’s no-nonsense keeper who points Dunk toward sponsors, leveraging the actor’s Warrior and Avengers: Endgame chops. Daniel Monks jousts as Ser Manfred Dondarrion, the Blackhaven knight who snubs Dunk’s plea for vouching.
Ross Anderson clashes as Ser Humfrey Hardyng, a tiltyard foe, while Steve Wall lords over as Leo Longthorn Tyrell of Highgarden.
This packed roster fills out the Ashford Meadow with rivals, allies, and schemers, adapting The Hedge Knight into a season that hit screens last weekend to 87% on Rotten Tomatoes for its fresh Westeros vibe.
Production wrapped in Belfast last year, with season two already greenlit after fan buzz built on House of the Dragon’s success. Directors Owen Harris and Sarah Adina Smith helm episodes blending tourney spectacle with character clashes, proving HBO still rules fantasy TV.
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