AS YOU can’t have failed to have noticed through blanket advertising on billboards, in magazines, in newspapers and on milk cartons, Game of Thrones was back on telly last night.

Can you believe that guy did that thing and what’s her name said that to the other bloke after the other lady met up with the chap who was talking about stuff?

Oh wait, you haven’t watched it yet, sorry.

Back before Twitter, Facebook and the like it was fairly easy to avoid a TV show, film or book being spoiled, but now the internet becomes a minefield the moment any popular show airs.

More than a year later I’m still fairly annoyed that the moment the most recent episode of Sherlock aired – which was in January 2014 so if you haven’t seen it yet it’s your own fault I’m about to spoil the ending – social media lit up with people shocked at the last minute reappearance of Moriarty.

The problem being I wasn’t watching it as it was broadcast so that was that twist spoiled thank you very much.

There’s an argument that if you’re not watching a programme when it’s on you must not care that much, but it’s hard to say that truly applies in a time when so many people watch their favourite shows through online catchup services and DVD box sets.

I don’t have whichever channel Game of Thrones is on – or any other, for that matter as I don’t have a TV licence – so I have to rely on the kindness of a friend to record it for me. The problem being any quick look at Twitter any time from last night until I get a chance to watch it, involves the risk of a spoiler.

Of course there has to be a statue of limitations – I feel absolutely no guilt in telling you that Bruce Willis was dead all along in The Sixth Sense, because you’ve had more than enough time to see that.

But loudly broadcasting a plot twist as it happens is maybe not as acceptable.

So next time you’re watching your favourite show and feel compelled to tell everyone you know how shocked you are that one guy who we thought was good is actually bad, consider the fact that not everyone is able to sit down in front of the telly at exactly the same time every week.