Martin Freeman won an International Emmy Award for his performance as the lead in the BBC series The Responder.

The Sherlock and The Hobbit star, 52, won best performance by an actor at the 51st International Emmy Awards ceremony in New York yesterday, Monday, November 20. The Liverpool-set thriller follows Martin's character Chris Carson across six night shifts as an urgent response police officer.

The BBC drama sees Martin's character attempt to take down a dangerous Merseyside drug ring while battling his own personal problems. The show, written by former Merseyside Police officer Tony Schumacher and inspired by his experiences in the force, received BAFTA nominations in four categories including best drama series.

READ MORE: 'I thought I was just a tired mum until my lips swelled after taking a selfie'

READ MORE: Four men found guilty of the murder of Ashley Dale

The last episode of the series ended as Chris and his partner, Rachel Hargreaves, drove away in a police car to take on another gruelling shift. The open-ended finale left viewers hopeful there would be another series of the programme - with BBC bosses later confirming this would happen.

Filming on the second series began in September this year, with Martin and the rest of the crews spotted in various Merseyside locations including Wavertree, Bootle and Netherton. A release date for the hit drama is yet to be confirmed.

Other big winners at the International Emmy Awards included Derry Girls, which was joint winner of best comedy programme for its final season. Derry Girls, created and written by Lisa McGee on Channel 4, follows a group of teenagers growing up in Northern Ireland in the 1990s before the Good Friday Agreement.

Receive newsletters with the biggest and breaking TV and showbiz news by signing up here.

Get a free National Trust pass worth up to £50 for your family day out this autumn