British actor Jim Broadbent has been revealed as the latest cast member to appear in Game of Thrones.

The 67-year-old will appear in the penultimate season of HBO's hit fantasy drama when it returns in 2017.

Entertainment Weekly announced his casting, and said he will play a "significant" character, but further details about his role have not been made public.

Broadbent most recently scooped an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Iris, and was awarded a Bafta for Best Supporting Actor in Moulin Rouge and Best Actor TV for the popular drama Longford.

In a career spanning four decades, Broadbent shot to fame by starring in Bridget Jones' Diary, Harry Potter, Hot Fuzz, The Iron Lady and Time Bandits.

Game of Thrones - starring Kit Harington, Maisie Williams, Peter Dinklage and Emilia Clarke among others - is based on the George RR Martin's novels.

The seventh series will begin filming in Iceland, Northern Ireland and Spain, with an eighth and final series expected to be released in 2018.