Outlander star Sam Heughan has revealed an intriguing connection to another fantasy series.
The Scots actor, whose brother is named Cirdan (pronounced Keir-dan), was speaking to American singer Kelly Clarkson in an interview for her television show, when she asked if it was true that the pair were named after Lord of the Rings characters.
Sam grimaced before revealing that his parents were fans of the J.R.R. Tolkien books "and probably hippies".
He responded: "Wow, you’re really, really digging me into a hole here.
"Yes, yes it’s true. My brother is called Cirdan. Those Lord of the Rings fans that are out there, they might recognize it. He was, I believe the elf that took all the elves from Middle Earth to wherever the elves go at the end of the book. He was the shipwright. That's his character."
The inspiration for his own name was slightly more obvious to anyone with even a passing knowledge of the books or films.
"And my name, obviously my nickname is Sam, for Samwise."
He was quick to add that he wasn't christened Samwise.
It's not the first time he's spoke about his parent's love for the Lord of Rings, in an interview with Australian radio DJs, Rove & Sam, he explained that his "wacky" parents did call him Samwise - quickly adding that it was just Sam on his birth certificate - and that they even played in a band together called Gandalf's Garden.
The 40-year-old is currently appearing in his new hit travel show Men in Kilts with fellow Outlander star Graham McTavish.
He recently took to social media to thank fans after they came together to help raise much needed funds for a Fife village that appeared in the show.
The Culross (pronounced Coo-riss) community are hoping to buy the last pub in the village, the Red Lion Inn and they launched a Go Fund Me page in the hope that local residents could chip in to take it over when the current owners retire.
Sam was delighted after learning that fans from all over the world had donated with the page raising nearly £10,000 in under a week.
