Emmy Awards: Downton Abbey and Sherlock lead the British pack

Some of the UK's best-loved television stars will be hoping to pick up gongs at tonight's Emmy Awards.

Downton Abbey and Sherlock will lead the British pack as the who's who in the world of television turn out for a dazzling ceremony in Los Angeles.

Joanna Froggatt, who plays domestic servant Anna in Downton Abbey, is nominated for the Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series award along with her ITV co-star Maggie Smith, who plays the grand Dowager Countess of Grantham.

The country house drama is up against hit shows including Homeland and Game of Thrones for the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy.

Several of its stars are recognised, including Michelle Dockery, who gets a nod for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series for her portrayal of Lady Mary Crawley.

Hugh Bonneville will have to see off the challenge of fellow Brit Damian Lewis for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series.

Brendan Coyle, who plays valet John Bates, and Jim Carter, who plays the butler Carson, are both up for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series.

BBC's Sherlock stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are in the running for Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie respectively.

Cumberbatch and Freeman are recognised for their parts in Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia.

The episode, based on Arthur Conan Doyle's story A Scandal in Bohemia, featured racy nude scenes with Lara Pulver's whip-wielding dominatrix character and was the most-watched show on the BBC iPlayer last year.

The episode, which attracted about 100 complaints for its pre-watershed nudity, is also recognised in categories for art direction and costumes.

Armando Iannucci's new US show, Veep, is nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series but faces competition from Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Big Bang Theory, while its star Julia Louis-Dreyfus is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series.

Emma Thompson is nominated for her performance in The Song of Lunch but faces competition in the category for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie from Hollywood stars Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is in the running for Outstanding Reality Programme while Cat Deeley is up for Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Programme for So You Think You Can Dance.

Mad Men, the period drama set in the world of advertising, leads the field with 17 nominations.

PA