Daniel ings says Peter Claffey broke his toe during the tent dancing scene shoot

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the latest HBO series in the Game of Thrones universe, brings a lighter, funnier tone to Westeros. Based on George R.R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg novellas, it follows Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg as they travel and get into adventures. One of the standout moments in the premiere episode is the dinner-and-dancing scene where Dunk meets Ser Lyonel Baratheon, known as the ‘Laughing Storm’ (played by Daniel Ings).

Quick read:

• Daniel Ings talks about the iconic dancing duet with Peter Claffey from episode 1

• He revealed both of them wore heels during the scene

• His toe almost broke from the feet-stomping moment

Filming the Lyonel Baratheon tent dance scene

Lyonel is a loud, carefree, and entertaining lord from House Baratheon, an ancestor of the famous Robert Baratheon from the original series. He’s full of energy, loves to drink, fight, and have a good time.

In the scene, Lyonel meets Dunk in his tent during supper, and things quickly turn into a wild dance-off between the two guys. They stomp around, make funny faces, and have fun together. It’s one of the most joyful parts of the show and was thoroughly enjoyed by fans.

In a recent interview with Vulture, Daniel Ings talked about filming that scene and shared a hilarious behind-the-scenes story. The dance sequence was shot over a long, hot, and sweaty night. Both actors were wearing heels as part of their costumes, which Ings found pretty pointless since they just canceled each other out.

During the energetic dancing, Peter Claffey accidentally stepped on Daniel Ings’s toe hard.

Ings said:

“He did stand on my toe. He was in heels. We were both in heels, which, what was the point, we canceled each other out … Anyway, he did stamp on my foot.”

Rumors spread that Claffey actually broke Ings’ toe. But Ings cleared it up by saying that no bone was actually broken. He explained that he didn’t want to ruin a good story in the moment, but it was just a strong stomp. Still, Claffey felt really bad about it. Ings said Claffey has no ego and felt terrible after the incident. However, according to Ings, that moment of pain actually helped make the scene look better on screen.

In the show, when Dunk steps on Lyonel’s toes, Dunk looks scared, while Lyonel starts in pain but then looks up, sticks out his tongue, and winks. It turns the accident into a funny and charming moment that fits their budding friendship. The whole dance feels like a buddy comedy with two big men enjoying themselves without any fighting or killing.

In the same interview, Ings revealed that he improvised his character at times to bring in the charm and irreverence to Lyonel, making him unpredictable and fun to watch. The scene stands out because it’s so warm and light in the Thrones world.

Fans love these kinds of real stories from the set. It shows how much the actors put into their roles even if it means dealing with sore toes. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms continues to deliver laughs and heart alongside its Westeros action.