Emmy Awards: Breaking Bad Wins Best Drama

Breaking Bad has won best television drama series at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.

The award marks the first time the AMC cable series - about a chemistry teacher who turns to a life of crime - has won the top drama prize at the Emmys.

"I did not see this coming," said Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan after accepting the award with the show's cast members.

Jeff Daniels took the Emmy for best drama series actor for his role as a TV anchorman in The Newsroom, while Claire Danes won top actress honours for her role as a troubled CIA agent in Homeland.

But it was a night of disappointment for the British nominees.

Downton Abbey stars Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Dame Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter all missed out.

Homeland's British lead Damian Lewis and Parade's End star Benedict Cumberbatch were also overlooked.

The show's host Neil Patrick Harris joked that nobody would be winning office sweepstakes and the reaction to the show suggests some surprise winners and losers.

Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston was odds-on favourite to win best actor in a drama, but was beaten by Daniels.

There was a win for House Of Cards supremo David Fincher, a victory seen as a landmark for the show made and aired by streaming service Netflix.

The show's star Kevin Spacey told Sky's Greg Milam: "Audiences are digging being in control and being able to decide how they watch something, whether they are going to binge on it or treat it like a novel.

"It is clear that more platforms are going to emerge, more audiences are going to evolve and if networks don't follow the audience, they're going to lose them because the audience will go where the content is.

"Maybe we've been able to learn the lesson that the music industry didn't learn."

The disappointment for Downton Abbey is tempered by the show's continual rise to phenomenon status with American audiences. Michelle Obama and rapper P Diddy are said to be fans.

But even those who make the show are baffled by its success with American audiences.

Writer Julian Fellowes told Sky News: "I don't know the answer. If I did then everything I ever did would be incredibly popular in America.

"I always thought it was good and would find an audience but this kind of cosmic whirlwind, I don't think anyone could have anticipated. You'd have to be crazy."

Among the other winners on the night was Laura Linney, who was named best actress in a mini-series or movie for her role in The Big C: Hereafter.

The Voice won best reality-competition programme, and Tina Fey won for her writing role with 30 Rock.

Michael Douglas was honoured as best actor for his portrayal of Liberace in Behind The Candelabra, besting his co-star Matt Damon.

The film also captured a top trophy as best movie or mini-series.