Emmys 2015: Game of Thrones leads nominations while Downton Abbey and Emma Thompson head up British cohort

Downton Abbey has earned eight nominations

Cersei Lannister in the Game of Thrones season 5 finale (HBO )

Game of Thrones leads the Emmys charge for a second year running with 24 nominations for the hit HBO drama series.

American Horror Story: Freak Show is the second most nominated show with 19 nods, while HBO miniseries Olive Kitteridge is the third with 13 nominations.

Netflix’s recent series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Better Call Saul have earned nominations in the comedy and drama categories, building on the streaming service’s success last year with Breaking Bad.

Emmy Awards 2015 nominations in full

Transparent, which became the first transgender TV series to win a Golden Globe earlier this year, has been recognised in the comedy category.

House of Cards, Mad Men, Homeland, Parks and Recreation and Orange is the New Black – now in the drama category rather than comedy – have all been nominated again.

Downton Abbey leads the pack for British talent, earning eight nominations for the period drama across the pond, with recognition for Joanne Froggatt and Jim Carter.

Emma Thompson has been nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie category for her role in Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street on PBS.

BBC Two drama The Honourable Woman starring Maggie Gyllenhaal has earned four nominations, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for Gyllenhaal.