Game of Thrones has made TV history by becoming the most decorated fictional show at the Emmy Awards since the prestigious event began in 1949.

The Sky Atlantic fantasy drama, based on George RR Martin's novels, was named best drama series, while also picking up honours for outstanding writing and directing.

Its 12 awards at this year's bash in Los Angeles included another nine in technical categories.

The haul takes its overall total to 38 gongs, beating Frasier's previous record of 37.

Showrunner David Benioff told reporters: "We love Frasier and he had a long run and we're sure someone will come along and take it from us.


"We just hope it doesn't happen until we're all dead."

Game of Thrones missed out, however, in the acting categories - despite three of its stars, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke and Maisie Williams being hotly tipped in the supporting actress category.

Image: Dame Maggie Smith was named best supporting actress

The award went to Dame Maggie Smith, for her performance as the Dowager Countess Violet Crawley in the final series of Downton Abbey.

It was her third gong for the role, although she was not present at the ceremony.

Meanwhile the presidential campaign made its presence felt at the glitzy event.

Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, accepting her fifth consecutive best actress Emmy for Veep, jokingly lamented that real politics was beginning to resemble the Washington world her comedy series pokes fun at.

"Our show started out as political satire, but now it feels like a sober documentary," she said.

She promised to rebuild the wall between comedy and politics and "make Mexico pay for it".

Image: Julia Louis-Dreyfus won best actress in a comedy series

Donald Trump was a featured player at the Emmys, with host Jimmy Kimmel pointing out the man in the audience who made the tycoon a TV star.

"Thanks to Mark Burnett, we don't have to watch reality shows anymore, because we're living them," Kimmel said.

Burnett cast Mr Trump in The Apprentice - the hit series which gave him the catchphrase "you're fired" and a larger public profile.

Former Republican candidate Jeb Bush made an appearance in Kimmel's opening comedy skit and Hillary Clinton tweeted congratulations to her impersonator Kate McKinnon, of Saturday Night Live, who won best supporting actress in a comedy.

British comedian John Oliver won the outstanding variety talk series award for Last Week Tonight, beating James Corden's Late, Late Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

The People v OJ Simpson, a dramatic retelling of the football star's murder trial, was named best limited series, also earning awards for stars Courtney B Vance, Sterling K Brown and Sarah Paulson.

Sherlock: The Abominable Bride received the television movie award, with writer Steven Moffat referring on stage to The Great British Bake Off's move from the BBC to Channel Four.

He told the audience: "Thank you to the BBC who we love above all bakery. British people will get that."