Trump's politics in the spotlight for the Emmys

Both Charlie Brooker and actor Riz Ahmed led the way for Britain at the awards in a night of disappointment for The Crown after it entered television’s biggest ceremony with high expectations. Brooker’s Black Mirror scooped two accolades, while Riz Ahmed became the first Muslim and actor of Asian origin to win a leading actor Emmy for his role in The Night Of crime drama at the Los Angeles ceremony on Sunday night. Despite 13 nominations, The Crown only won one award – with US actor John Lithgow winning best supporting actor in a drama series for his portrayal of Sir Winston Churchill.

The highest achievers were The Handmaid’s Tale and Big Little Lies, which won five awards each. The Handmaid’s Tale, based on Margaret Atwood’s novel, won best drama and lead actress in a drama series for Elisabeth Moss, while Nicole Kidman won outstanding lead actress in a limited drama for Big Little Lies.

Trump was a repeated target of criticism, with the Armando Iannucci-created political satire, Veep, picking up two awards including best comedy. So too was comedy show Saturday Night Live, which has repeatedly satirised Trump and his staff. In one of the diatribes on the night, he was called a “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot” by presenters Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda.

Other nominated Brits to walk away empty-handed were Westworld’s Anthony Hopkins and Benedict Cumberbatch for Sherlock: The Lying Detective. Among The Crown’s nominations at the 69th Emmys were best drama series and lead drama actress for Stockport-born Claire Foy, who grew up in Leeds.