Chris Addison scoops US directing award

For Veep

Chris Addison has won a Directors Guild of America award for helming an episode of Veep.

The comedian scooped the much-coveted prize for the the Election Night episode, which brought the fourth season of Armando Iannucci's political sitcom to a close last summer.

However, Addison was not in Los Angeles to collect his award yesterday, as he's currently starring in the Royal Opera House production of L'Etoile in London – a debut that provides another string to his bow.

He scooped the award for outstanding directorial achievement in a comedy series over fellow nominees Louis CK, for an episode of his own sitcom Louie; Mike Judge for Silicon Valley; Gail Mancuso for Modern Family and Jill Solway for Transparent.

It was Addison's first nomination for the award; whereas all the other names on the shortlist had previously been up for the same award, for the same shows.

Other accoladess went to Don Roy King for helming Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary special; Dave Diomedi for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and ALejandro G. Iñárritu, who scooped the feature film category for The Revenant.

DGA president Paris Barclay said: 'We're proud to recognise the critical role of directors and honour the incredible range of talent and skill found in all of these projects.'

The winners of the 68th Annual DGA Awards were announced at a ceremony hosted by Glee star Jane Lynch.