Mad Men wins top Emmy for third year running

It was the third time Mad Men had won the best drama series award

The hit US series Mad Men was among the big winners at this year's Emmy awards, taking the title for best drama series.

Glee star Jane Lynch won an acting award, but the musical show was beaten in the best comedy category by Modern Family.

George Clooney was presented with a humanitarian Emmy for organising a telethon in aid of Haiti.

House star Hugh Laurie, who was among the top British hopes, came away empty-handed after Sunday's ceremony.

The former Blackadder star had been the only Briton in an outstanding actor category.

One British actor to win an Emmy was London-born Archie Panjabi.

British hopes dashed

Panjabi, who made her name in British hit films East is East and Bend It Like Beckham, picked up best supporting actress for her role as a law firm's private investigator in the The Good Wife.

British-born actress Julia Ormond also scooped a best supporting actress gong for her role in mini-series Temple Grandin.

British actress Archie Panjabi celebrates her success

The programme, which had a British director and producer, was named outstanding made for television movie at the ceremony.

But there was disappointment for many British stars.

Sir Ian McKellen and Michael Sheen had been in the running for an acting award for their work in The Prisoner and The Special Relationship respectively.

Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith were also nominated for acting, for Cranford and Capturing Mary.

Laurie's Emmy nomination was his fourth for his role as curmudgeonly doctor Gregory House.

He has already won two Golden Globes for the show, in which he has starred since 2004.

Sheen's third outing as former British prime minister Tony Blair earned him his first Emmy nomination, for The Special Relationship.

But he lost out to Al Pacino, who scooped a rare TV award for his role as an advocate of doctor-assisted suicide in You Don't Know Jack.

The Special Relationship is an account of the close working bond between Mr Blair and former US president Bill Clinton. Dennis Quaid, who portrayed President Clinton, was also up for an acting award.

The film was written for TV by Peter Morgan, the screenwriter of The Queen and Frost/Nixon. Morgan was nominated for an award in the mini-series writing category.

Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner told the audience at the 62nd Emmy Awards in Los Angeles: "I knew one day I would run somewhere and win a trophy."

Weiner also claimed the Emmy for best drama series writing with Erin Levy.

Glee creator Ryan Murphy also won a directing award, while Nurse Jackie star Edie Falco was named best comedy actress.

Kyra Sedgwick won best lead actress in a drama for The Closer, while Bryan Cranston won best actor for his portrayal as a drug-dealing teacher in Breaking Bad - his third win in a row.

The awards ceremony, hosted by Jimmy Fallon, was watched by an estimated 13.5 million viewers, up slightly from last year's audience of 13.47 million.