Cumming scoops Emmy for show

A programme about Scotland fronted by Alan Cumming has won an Emmy.

NBC’s 1st Look: Scotland showed the actor taking host George Oliphant on a whistlestop tour of the country to show off the nation from his perspective.

A week-long shoot filmed through Cumming’s eyes took the American crew on a trip to Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Perthshire, Loch Lomond, Angus and Glasgow.

Cumming, 52, pulled out all the stops for his American guests as he arranged a traditional ceilidh in Glasgow and a round of drams at Glamis castle – where he provided a private recital of lines from Macbeth, Shakespeare’s “Scottish Play”.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also played a part, providing a private tour of the National Portrait Gallery for the guests.

The episode was filmed as part of a series for the popular lifestyle magazine programme and was aired to a prime-time American audience after the Saturday Night Live show.

It was named Best Lifestyle Programme at the Emmys’ 60th annual awards ceremony at New York’s Marriott Marquis Broadway Ballroom.

Cumming said: “Considering I define myself as Scottish before everything else, it seems fitting that after five nominations for acting, I win an Emmy for expressing love and wandering around my homeland.”