Aniston wins over Friends

It was the moment the waiting finally ended for Friends star Jennifer Aniston. She took the award for best comedy actress at the Emmy awards after spending eight years on the sidelines at TV's biggest ceremony. Friends also took the best award for a comedy programme for the first time as it enters its ninth, probably final, season.

Both awards were considered long overdue and Aniston, 33, was close to tears as husband Brad Pitt kissed and hugged her as she rose to collect her award.

Accepting her trophy, she told Pitt she loved him "so much" and said: "This has been the greatest nine years of my entire life. To work with this cast who make me better every day, who inspire me every day."

Aniston, who had twice been nominated as best supporting actress, was the hot favourite after the last series centred on her unexpected pregnancy, ending with an hour-long special edition in which she gave birth. The show is widely expected to finish after filming of the current series.

Other big winners in the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, included White House drama, The West Wing, which collected its third consecutive Emmy for best drama series.

The cast collected a fistful of supporting awards, including Allison Janney, who plays press secretary CJ Gregg, John Spencer as the White House chief of staff Leo McGarry and Stockard Channing who is the First Lady.

Hit series The Sopranos was ineligible for voting because it was not in production last year. However, it has begun its fourth season in America on Sunday nights so it still had a major if unintended impact on the evening by drawing away millions of viewers. Host Conan O'Brien even joked at one point that he would switch the dozens of TV sets decorating the stage to the Mafia drama so the audience could watch.

There was disappointment for Six Feet Under, the highlypraised drama about a dysfunctional family of undertakers. Despite earning 23 nominations, it won only one award for directing.

Other comedy awards for acting were dominated by Everybody Loves Raymond with star Ray Romano joining Doris Roberts, who won her third consecutive Emmy.

Veteran British actor Albert Finney was named best actor in a mini-series or TV movie for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in The Gathering Storm, which also took an Emmy for writing.

There was an emotional moment for reality TV star Sharon Osbourne, who is being treated for colon cancer, who collected her family's award for The Osbournes.

She told the audience: "I want to thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. It means a lot to me.''

Sting won an Emmy for outstanding individual performance in a variety or music programme.

This year's awards saw a return to glitz and glamour after last year's ceremony was twice postponed in the wake of the 11 September terror attacks.