Succession creator Jesse Armstrong used his Emmys acceptance speech to criticise Boris Johnson and Donald Trump for their responses to the coronavirus pandemic.

Succession took the top prize of outstanding drama series at the biggest night in US TV, while Armstrong also picked up a gong for his writing on the acclaimed HBO production.

He delivered his acceptance speeches from London, with the event forced to go largely remote due to the coronavirus pandemic.

For being “robbed” of spending the night with Succession’s cast and crew, Armstrong said he wanted to deliver a series of “un-thank yous” and targeted the leaders of the US and UK.

He said: “Un-thank you to the virus, for keeping us all apart this year. Un-thank-you to President Trump for his crummy and unco-ordinated response.

“Un-thank you to Boris Johnson and his Government for doing the same in my country.”

Armstrong, who was interrupted by a phone ringing in the background, added: “Un-thank you to all the nationalists and quasi-nationalist governments in the world who are exactly the opposite of what we need right now.

“And un-thank you to the media moguls who do so much to keep them in power.”

Satirical comedy-drama Succession focuses on the wealthy and powerful Roy family, headed by Scottish actor Brian Cox’s Logan Roy, a media magnate.