Lost Boys and Fairies wins International Emmy Award

Lost Boys and Fairies is writer Daf James' first original screenplay for the BBC

An adoption drama, inspired by the writer's own experience and filmed in Wales, has won an International Emmy award.

Lost Boys and Fairies, which follows the story of a gay couple who adopt a son, has received widespread acclaim from TV critics and viewers on social media for its frank portrayal of the adoption process from an LGBT perspective.

Following an awards ceremony in New York on Monday, writer Daf James said he was "beyond delighted".

"It's especially meaningful to me that this Welsh, queer, adoption drama has been recognised in this way on a global stage," he said.

James, who grew up in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, added: "This is testament to the incredible work of everyone who made the show."

Last month, the three-part BBC One series also scooped five awards at the Bafta Cymru film and TV awards.

Cardiff-born actor Siôn Daniel Young, who plays one half of a gay couple trying to adopt a child, won best actor for the musical drama, which was also awarded prizes for writing, editing and directing and best television drama.

The series is billed as a tender, glittering story of "queer" club performer Gabriel and his partner Andy's journey to adoption.

The drama was filmed in and around Cardiff, with some characters speaking both English and Welsh.

James has said his bilingual drama about a same-sex couple adopting felt like a "massive triumph"

"It's not only a queer story... it is a bilingual show on primetime BBC One," James said previously.

"That's a massive triumph not just for me personally but also for the BBC."

Eight years ago, James and his husband adopted two children under the age of six and have since adopted a third.

"When anyone becomes a parent their life changes drastically and dramatically," he said in June.

"But when you're a parent to adopted children and two arrive at the same time and they have lived through early life trauma… it's parenting plus."

The opening episode of Lost Boys and Fairies sees Siôn Daniel Young's character, Gabriel, reticent to open up to his social worker about his upbringing and the shame he felt over his sexuality.

"Everything I write is personally inspired… I've taken the themes of my life and the emotions of my life," James has said.

Also at the Bafta Cymru film and TV awards, Anna Maxwell Martin won Best Performance by an Actress for her role in Until I Kill You, which was also filmed in Wales.