Dublin comedy writer Graham Linehan was the toast of New York last week when he won an Emmy Award for his sitcom The IT Crowd in New York.

But the problem was how to get it home?

He told me, "You want to see the size of it. It's bloody huge. I don't know what the airline people are going to say when we try to get it on the plane.

"I was thinking of ringing up ahead to warn them but that could sound like I'm blowing my own trumpet. 'Listen, I've just won an Emmy. What can you do for me?'

"Last year some of the Emmy winners weren't allowed to bring them on the plane because airline staff thought the trophies could be considered deadly weapons. I think I'll just put it in my luggage and pay any excess baggage."

I was one of the first people to hear Graham's good news when he rang me up at 2am Irish time on Tuesday morning.

Post-show, where did the Father Ted co-creator end his night?

At some glitzy party with the cast of Law & Order?

Hob-nobbing with some top TV executives?

No. He went on a tour of grotty Manhattan venues with rock impressario, Aidan Lambert.

Graham (40) told me, "After the awards we just wanted to go out – but somewhere normal. So we met up with Aidan, an old friend living in New York, and he took us around the clubs. Real dives they were, and we had the Emmy with us which we were terrified of leaving behind somewhere. I wouldn't have had it any other way. We all had a great time."

Still reeling from his good fortune, Graham says he doesn't quite know yet what impact winning an Emmy Award will have.

"It just means that each Friday night on Channel 4, the announcer can say: "Now the Emmy Award winning IT Crowd..."