Fleabag leads British Emmy charge

British shows and talent have dominated the 2019 Emmy Awards in Los Angeles winning 13 out of 27 awards.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Fleabag

London-born writer, producer and actor Phoebe Waller-Bridge led the charge with BBC comedy Fleabag sweeping up all categories it was nominated in at the Primetime Emmys. It included a win for the 34-year-old in the acting and writing categories.

The show made for BBC3 about a woman trying to get her life back on track became the first British show to win outstanding comedy series. Fleabag also won a further three awards at last week’s Creative Emmys.

Sarah Hammond, Harry and Jack Williams of prodco Two Brothers Pictures produced Fleabag for BBC and Amazon Prime.

“We are beyond thrilled that Fleabag picked up awards this evening,” they said.

“The opportunity to take Waller-Bridge’s words and turn them into something that resonates so fiercely with audiences across the world, has been a complete joy.”

Another Waller-Bridge creation, Killing Eve, made a winner of its star Jodie Comer who took home the the best lead actress in a drama award.

HBO was the biggest winner of the night, picking up a total of 34 Emmys (including Creative). Netflix followed next with 27 while Amazon Prime Video picked up 15, eight of which went to comedy The Marvelous Mrs Maisel.

Emily Watson alongside Jared Harris in Chernobyl

The HBO and Sky coproduction Chernobyl, from Sister Pictures, about the 1986 nuclear disaster, won three awards – best directing and writing in a limited series and best limited series.

HBO’s Game of Thrones won 12 Emmys (including Creative) to make it the most successful show in the awards’ history.

Other winners included RuPaul’s Drag Race for best competition series, Netflix’s Black Mirror Bandersnatch for outstanding television movie, while Last Week Tonight won for variety series. NBC’s Saturday Night Live won another Emmy for outstanding sketch series.