NEW YORK: British programmes dominated the International Emmy Awards scooping up six of the nine programming prizes. Britain’s wins at the 34th annual awards for the best international TV came despite strong challenges from Brazil and continental Europe.

The BBC’s Life on Mars was named best drama while its Little Britain spoof on British culture and political correctness was named best comedy for the third year running. A French made-for-TV movie Nuit Noire nabbed the top prize for TV movie or mini-series.

British actor Ray Winstone won the best actor prize for his performance as a long-suffering private eye in Vincent, while Maryam Hassouni nabbed the actress trophy for her role as a Palestinian terrorist in the Dutch TV movie Offers.

Sugar Rush, a British series about a lesbian schoolgirl, won in the children/young people category. The prize for best documentary went to Hiroshima about the first use of the atomic bomb. British cooking series Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares won in the non-scripted entertainment category while Knowledge is the Beginning, a EuroArts Music International show in co-production with ZDF/ARTE, Germany, won for best arts programming.

Director Steven Spielberg was presented the Founders Award for his long and distinguished career in television.