Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and TV comedy Schitt’s Creek took top honours at the 78th Golden Globe Awards’ virtual ceremony.

British actor Sacha Baron Cohen won Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Film honours for his role as the title character in the Borat sequel – co-written by British writer Lee Kern - which also took the award for Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture.

Mr Baron Cohen also starred in The Trial of the Chicago 7, which won a Best Screenplay trophy for Jewish writer Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing).

The Borat creator’s acceptance speech poked fun at the homogenous makeup of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), who vote for the Globes, as well as his reluctant ‘co-star’ in the mockumentary, which was filmed in the lead up to the US presidential election. 

Mr Baron Cohen said: “Thank you to the all-white Hollywood Foreign Press. I’ve gotta say this movie couldn’t have been possible without my co-star, a fresh, new talent who came from nowhere and turned out to be a comedy genius.

“I’m talking, of course, about Rudy Giuliani. I mean, who can get more laughs out of one unzipping? Incredible. Our movie was just the beginning for him, Rudy went on to star in a string of comedy films. Hits like ‘Four Seasons Landscaping,’ ‘Hair Dye Another Day’ and the courtroom drama ‘A Very Public Fart.’”

Later, he told Israel’s Channel 13 News: “I made this movie because of Donald Trump, because I felt democracy was really in danger.

“I felt that the underbelly that I’d exposed in Borat one, of antisemitism, of hatred and misogyny had become overt.

“Racists were out and proud. We had one who was the president!”

He also joked about the upcoming Israeli elections: “You’re voting again? Enough already! Like Passover, why is this election different to all others?”

Canadian cult comedy Schitt’s Creek claimed the award for Best Comedy Series.

Creator Dan Levy accepted the honours on behalf of the show, which also features his actor father Eugene Levy as the patriarch of a wealthy family who lose everything and are forced to live in a small-town motel.

The younger Mr Levy said: “This acknowledgement is a lovely vote of confidence in the messages Schitt’s Creek has come to stand for. 

“The idea that inclusion can bring about growth and love to a community.

“In the spirit of inclusion I hope that this time next year this ceremony reflects the true breadth and diversity of the film and television being made today.”

Unorthodox star Shira Haas was nominated for her role in the Netflix series but lost to The Queen’s Gambit’s Anya Taylor-Joy.