I've watched the first series and I'm currently reading the book. What strikes me the most is how much extra gore and sex has been added for the TV series. I believe most of the DVDs released in the UK have been rated 18+ which seems a dramatic step up from the nature of the book.
- The initial sex scene in the tower is as yet the only one I've read, although it's described quite graphically it's written from Bran's perspective and is very naive. It describes both characters as naked (which I don't believe they are in the series, presumably due to contracts) but he has no idea what they're doing.
- Tyrion with the whores in Winterfell (where Jamie invites more in). As far as I recall this scene does not exist in the book
- The scene of Daenerys getting into the bath, again it mentions robes but nothing about nudity
- Daenerys and Drogo's first night is only briefly hinted at yet we get a graphic sex scene.
I could go on...
What was the reasoning to decision to make the sex more explicit (and frequent) than in the original books and therefore push back viewing times (and ages)?