COMEDIAN Peter Kay picked up an award at this year’s Edinburgh International TV Festival.

He came out on top in the new programme of the year category with popular show Car Share.

Car Share, which also stars Sian Gibson, became the biggest sitcom to premiere on any TV channel since 2011 when it launched, with 6.85 million viewers tuning in for the opening episode.

It was filmed in and around Bolton, Salford and Trafford with viewers regularly spotting familiar landmarks as the story unfolded. Filming for the second series started in May.

Winners had their prestigious gongs presented by comedian, writer, presenter and actress Katherine Ryan in the first year to honour those from outside the UK as well as homegrown talent.

Winners also included presenter Reggie Yates, who has been taking on more hard-hitting presenting work since his career began in kids’ TV, was victorious in factual programme of the year for Reggie Yates’ Extreme Russia, a mini series that saw him travel around Russia investigating some of the more bizarre and controversial aspects of its culture.

In the talent schemes programme choice award, American Crime Story: The People Vs O.J. Simpson won, a dramatisation of the trial whose star-studded cast included Cuba Gooding Jr as Simpson and David Schwimmer as his lawyer, Robert Kardashian.

Lisa Campbell, festival director, said: "Congratulations to all of our winners, this year’s competition was tough, but it is testament to the quality of not only the series produced, but the people, their creativity, passion and determination that makes the decision so hard.

"We were also delighted to open up entries to our international counterparts in our New Programme of the Year category, and introduce Best International Co-production. Another great year in global TV, we look forward to the next."