The stars were out in force again as the best of television came together to celebrate the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards.

With HBO’s Game of Thrones not in contention this year, Hulu were in celebratory mode after their hit dystopian series The Handmaid’s Tale scored five major wins in the drama categories.

The television adaptation of the Bruce Miller novel overcame fierce competition from the likes of AMC’s Better Call Saul, HBO’s Westworld, and Netflix trio The Crown, House of Cards and Stranger Things to land the Outstanding Drama Series prize as well as directing and writing accolades.

Additionally, leading star Elisabeth Moss saw off fellow frontrunners Claire Foy (The Crown) and Keri Russell (The Americans) to finally land her first Emmy for her performance as enslaved Handmaid June Osborne, while co-star Ann Dowd prevailed in the Supporting Actress category for playing the cruel Aunt Lydia.

Meanwhile, Sterling K. Brown celebrated Emmy success for the second year in a row after overcoming the likes of Sir Anthony Hopkins (Westworld), Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) and Matthew Rhys (The Americans) to win Lead Actor for his role as patriarch Randall Pearson in NBC’s family drama This is Us.

Despite a number of defeats in the main categories, Netflix’s historical series The Crown enjoyed some consolation as seasoned star John Lithgow won the Supporting Actor gong for his portrayal of British prime minister Winston Churchill.

In the comedy section, HBO’s Veep celebrated a hat-trick of successes in the Outstanding Comedy Series line-up after overcoming the likes of Atlanta and Modern Family.

As to be expected, leading star Julia Louis-Dreyfus won a record SIXTH consecutive Lead Actress award for her iconic role as embittered ex-President Selina Meyer in the political satire. Furthermore, her victory now sees her tied with Cloris Leachman for the most Emmy wins as a performer.

It was also a memorable night for Donald Glover as he bagged two gongs including Lead Actor for his performance as Earnest “Earn” Marks in FX’s Atlanta. More significantly, he became the first African-American man to win Directing for his work on the dark comedy’s episode B.A.N..

There was double joy for NBC’s sketch comedy Saturday Night Live as Kate McKinnon clinched her second successive win in Supporting Actress, while co-star Alec Baldwin took home Supporting Actor for his lauded portrayal of controversial US President Donald Trump.

Trump’s name was ever present throughout this year’s ceremony as host Stephen Colbert lampooned his tenure at the White House via a monologue while various presenters and winners used their speeches to criticise the former businessman-turned-politician.

Finally, it was an evening to remember for HBO’s Big Little Lies as it scored five wins in the limited series categories, including three for acting as well as Outstanding Limited Series.

Hollywood star Nicole Kidman overcame fierce competition from Feud: Bette and Joan duo Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon to land Lead Actress for her performance as vulnerable housewife Celeste Wright, while co-stars Alexander Skarsgård and Laura Dern were victorious in the supporting fields for their respective turns as Perry Wright and Renata Klein.

Another historic first came in the Lead Actor category, as British performer Riz Ahmed became the first Asian man to win the gong for his versatile turn as incarcerated student Nasir “Naz” Khan in the HBO crime drama The Night Of.

His victory came at the expense of other high-profile names, including Robert De Niro (The Wizard of Lies), and fellow Brits Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock: The Lying Detective) and Ewan McGregor (Fargo).

Lastly, there was double satisfaction for the Black Mirror installment San Junipero as it clinched Outstanding Television Movie as well as a writing accolade for series creator Charlie Brooker.

However, there was disappointment for a variety of multi-nominated programmes as the likes of Better Call Saul, Fargo, Feud: Bette and Joan, House of Cards, Silicon Valley, Stranger Things, and Westworld all went home empty-handed.

The full list of major Emmy winners are…

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
THE HANDMAID’S TALE

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Elisabeth Moss, THE HANDMAID’S TALE

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Sterling K. Brown, THIS IS US

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Ann Dowd, THE HANDMAID’S TALE

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
John Lithgow, THE CROWN

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Reed Morano, THE HANDMAID’S TALE

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
THE HANDMAID’S TALE (Bruce Miller)

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
VEEP

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, VEEP

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Donald Glover, ATLANTA

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Kate McKinnon, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Donald Glover, ATLANTA

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
MASTER OF NONE (Aziz Ansari & Lena Waithe)

OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES
BIG LITTLE LIES

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE
BLACK MIRROR: SAN JUNIPERO

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR TV MOVIE
Nicole Kidman, BIG LITTLE LIES

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Riz Ahmed, THE NIGHT OF

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Laura Dern, BIG LITTLE LIES

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Alexander Skarsgård, BIG LITTLE LIES

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A LIMITED SERIES, TV MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Jean-Marc Vallée, BIG LITTLE LIES

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A LIMITED SERIES, TV MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
BLACK MIRROR: SAN JUNIPERO (Charlie Brooker)

OUTSTANDING VARIETY TALK SERIES
LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER

OUTSTANDING VARIETY SKETCH SERIES
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

OUTSTANDING REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
THE VOICE

The rest of this year’s Emmy nominations can be found in the following link: https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2017