Double triumph for Izzard at Emmys

British comedian Eddie Izzard was the toast of Hollywood yesterday after scooping two Emmy awards at the 52nd annual ceremony.

British comedian Eddie Izzard was the toast of Hollywood yesterday after scooping two Emmy awards at the 52nd annual ceremony.

His critically acclaimed one-man show, Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill, took voters of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences by storm.

He won Emmys for writing the show and for his performance, beating American gag-writing heavyweights such as fellow nominees on the Late Show With David Letterman and Late Night With Conan O'Brien.

Vanessa Redgrave won the award for the most outstanding supporting role in a television mini-series or movie, for her performance in If These Walls Could Talk 2, about lesbian experiences in three different decades.

She beat another British actress to the gong. Maggie Smith was nominated for her role in David Copperfield, as well as Kathy Bates, Elizabeth Franz and Melanie Griffith.

The BBC's prehistoric documentary series Walking With Dinosaurs was named best animated programme of more than 60 minutes.

It was also saluted with two Emmys for technical achievement - special visual effects for a mini-series, movie or special and achievement in non-fiction programme sound editing.