Rivals and Ludwig scoop International Emmys as UK shows win big

UK TV series Rivals and Ludwig have scooped two of the top prizes at the International Emmy Awards.

Rivals, adapted from Dame Jilly Cooper's 1988 novel, was named best drama at the ceremony in New York.

Starring David Tennant, Danny Dyer and Emily Atack, the Disney+ story follows scandals among the rich and powerful in the fictional English county of Rutshire.

Detective comedy-drama Ludwig, starring Anna Maxwell-Martin and David Mitchell, was named best comedy.

It was a big night for Maxwell-Martin, also named best actress for her performance in ITV true crime series Until I Kill You.

The awards recognise the best TV programmes produced and originally aired outside of the US.

Oriol Pla picked up best actor for Spanish drama Yo, Adicto, a Disney+ series about a man seeking professional help with addiction issues.

Rivals' worldwide success comes as it prepares for its second series, with Rupert Everett and Hayley Atwell joining the cast.

Maxwell-Martin's win was for her performance in an adaptation of Delia Balmer's autobiography, about her relationship with a serial killer.

BBC series Ludwig, which is also getting a follow-up, was a hit with viewers in late 2024.

It tells the story of Mitchell's puzzle-writing misfit John Taylor, who agrees to impersonate his missing twin James in order to help his wife Lucy solve the mystery of his disappearance.

Other UK-made productions to win awards include BBC Two's Hell Jumper, named best documentary for its first-person storytelling by a group of volunteers in Ukraine.

Channel 4's Dispatches was honoured too, winning in the current affairs category for its Kill Zone: Inside Gaza episode, looking at Palestinian people impacted by Israeli military attacks.

Lost Boys and Fairies, a BBC production telling the story of a gay couple going through the process of adopting, won the TV movie/mini series award.

Completing a strong night for the UK was Apple TV's Fallen, which won in the children's live action category.

It follows 17-year-old Lucinda Price as she adapts to live in a rehab facility alongside other young people.

Elsewhere, Australian-made Bluey, which will be familiar to many parents around the world, won in the children's animation category.

The award for non-scripted entertainment went to Danish reality TV series Shaolin Heroes, which follows contestants leaving their conventional lives behind to pursue martial arts.