Brace yourselves Game of Thrones fans, winter is finally here.

But as drama in the seven kingdoms hits boiling point, the weather does also, delaying Game of Thrones season seven productions.

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The HBO program, which typically premieres in April, is likely to return later in 2017, according to creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

“We don’t have an airdate yet, but this year it’ll probably be a bit later, ‘cause we’re starting a bit later,” they told the UFC Unfiltered podcast.

“‘Winter is Here’ and that means that sunny weather doesn’t really serve our purposes anymore. So we kind of pushed everything down the line, so we could get some grim, grey weather even in the sunnier places that we shoot.”

The show came to a climax at the end of season six, with a number of major players being wiped out in shocking GoT fashion.

Adding to the turmoil, the endgame edges ever closer as the Night King and the king of the North Jon Snow prepare for an epic battle, while Daenerys Targaryen plans to take over Westeros, where Cersei Lannister claims the throne following the death of her son, Tommen Baratheon.