British talent – both behind and in front of the camera – has been honoured at the most prestigious TV awards ceremony in the world, the Emmys, voted for by America’s Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Once of the highest profile British successes was the Netflix drama Baby Reindeer, which was named the Best Limited Series, as well as picking up best writing and acting awards for its creator Richard Gadd and a supporting actress honour for Jessica Gunning.

Gadd says the series is based on his own experiences of being stalked by a woman and abused by a man; “Ten years ago, I was down and out,” he began his acceptance speech for his writing award. “And then here I am, just over a decade later, picking up one of the biggest writing awards in television. I don’t mean to sound arrogant. I mean it as encouragement for anyone who’s going through a difficult time right now to persevere.”

The Bear continued its run of awards success with three comedy acting awards – for its star Jeremy Allen White and supporting players Liza Colon-Zayas and Ebon Moss-Bachrach – but with controversy over whether it’s a comedy at all, it missed out on the top award in the category, which unexpectedly went to Hacks, whose star Jean Smart picked up the best comedy acting prize.

The final series of Netflix’s royal saga The Crown took home only one Emmy – for Elizabeth Debicki’s portrayal of Princess Diana.

But the main winner in the drama categories – and overall – was the British co-produced, Japanese historical epic Shōgun, which became the first non-English language show to be named the best drama series. Thanking the backers of the series, which included Disney-owned Hulu and FX, the executive producer Justin Marks said “You guys greenlit a very expensive subtitled Japanese period piece whose central climax revolves around a poetry competition. I have no idea why you did that, but thank you for your faith in this incredible team.”

Other British winners on the biggest night for American TV include the satirist John Oliver, who won the best scripted variety series, Will Smith, who won best drama writing for Slow Horses and Alan Cumming collected the best reality competition show award for the US version of The Traitors, which he hosts.