The Israeli writer behind the hit television series Homeland has won the most prestigious award in US television for his work.

Gideon Raff was awarded the Emmy for best writing in a drama series for his work on the show, along with Alex Gansa and Howard Gordon.

The programme, a second series of which is about to air, is based on Mr Raff's Hebrew-language original, Hatufim and follows a prisoner of war after his return home to his family.

Its stars, Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, won best lead drama actress and actor respectively. The series took home six awards in total.

Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, currently starring as the vice-president of the United States in "Veep", was named best lead actress in a comedy. The former Seinfeld star is the granddaughter of French resistance hero Pierre Louis-Dreyfus.