I’ll be honest. The first time I saw him on screen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, I thought it was George Clooney.
Something about the energy, the confidence, the way he owned every room he walked into. It took me a few minutes to realise I had no idea who I was actually watching.
So I went looking.
TL;DR: Daniel Ings is a British actor who plays Ser Lyonel “Laughing Storm” Baratheon in HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2026). He’s been a recognisable face in British TV for over a decade, with notable roles in The Gentlemen, Sex Education, and The Crown. Born in 1985, he’s one of the most talked-about performers in the show.
You’ve seen him before
If you watched The Gentlemen on Netflix, you already know him. He played Freddy Horniman, the chaotic older brother who causes problems for everyone around him and is somehow still likeable doing it.
Before that, he had a recurring role in Sex Education as a teacher, spent time in The Crown as Commander Mike Parker, and was a lead in Lovesick, a British Netflix show about a guy who has to contact every woman he’s ever slept with after being diagnosed with chlamydia. It’s better than it sounds.
Who is Ser Lyonel Baratheon?
In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Ings plays the Laughing Storm, an ancestor of Robert Baratheon and the heir to Storm’s End. He’s loud, he drinks, he shouts creative abuse at people, and he’s exactly the kind of character the show needed.
The showrunner, Ira Parker, has said publicly that the role wasn’t fully written when auditions started. Nobody was giving him what he wanted from the scenes. Then Ings walked in. Parker told The A.V. Club that without him, the production would have been in serious trouble.
He also compared Ings to Al Pacino and Jack Nicholson. Not for the dramatics, but for the unpredictability. The ability to scare you in a moment when he was smiling a second before. According to Parker, that quality is rarer than people think.
Ings described the role to Deadline as being pitched to him as “Jack Sparrow meets Ernest Hemingway.” Fun and loose, but worn down by conflict. Someone who only really comes alive when things get dangerous.
That’s a decent description of what ends up on screen.
The road to Westeros wasn’t straight
Here’s the part I didn’t know: Ings had tried to get into Game of Thrones twice before landing this role.
He auditioned for Theon Greyjoy in the original pilot. Lost it to Alfie Allen. A few years later, he went for Oberyn Martell. Lost that one to Pedro Pascal.
He’s been gracious about both. He’s said publicly that Allen and Pascal were the right choices. Which is easy to say when you’ve finally landed a role that the showrunner is comparing to the work of Pacino.
One more detail that makes the story better: Ings had never actually watched Game of Thrones before he got the part. He watched it after. Became a fan.
What’s next
Season 1 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wrapped in February 2026. Season 2 hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, but the show performed well, and the character has been one of the most discussed of the season.
As for Lyonel Baratheon in the source material, the books do offer some clues about his future. Whether the show follows that path is another question.
Outside of Westeros, Ings has two projects in the pipeline: Star Wars: Starfighter and a stage adaptation of Prima Facie. The showrunner’s prediction that he should be a superstar doesn’t feel like a stretch.
FAQ
Who plays Lyonel Baratheon in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?
Daniel Ings, a British actor born in 1985. He’s best known for his roles in The Gentlemen, Sex Education, and The Crown.
What else has Daniel Ings been in?
His most recognisable roles are Freddy Horniman in The Gentlemen (Netflix), Dan in Sex Education, Commander Mike Parker in The Crown, and Luke in Lovesick. He also appeared in The Marvels (2023).
Did Daniel Ings audition for Game of Thrones?
Yes, twice. He auditioned for both Theon Greyjoy and Oberyn Martell in the original Game of Thrones. Both roles went to other actors, Alfie Allen and Pedro Pascal respectively.
Will Daniel Ings return for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 2?
Nothing has been confirmed. Season 2 hasn’t been officially announced yet, but if the show returns, the question of Lyonel Baratheon’s role will be one fans are watching closely.
Is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms connected to Game of Thrones?
Yes. It’s set roughly 90 years before the events of Game of Thrones and follows a young hedge knight named Ser Duncan the Tall. Lyonel Baratheon is an ancestor of Robert Baratheon from the original series. You can see current and upcoming HBO shows on our 2026 TV Show Release Dates page.
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