Dystopian drama The Handmaid's Tale earns Program of the Year honours by television critics

Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, a television adaptation of Margaret Atwood's iconic 1985 novel, took home Program of the Year and Best Achievement in Drama at the 33rd annual Television Critics Association Awards. The double win marks the U.S.-based streaming service provider's first ever at the annual TCA Awards event.

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The 10-episode series, which aired on Bravo in Canada, stars Elisabeth Moss in the role of Offred. It received 13 Emmy nominations earlier this summer and has been renewed for a second season.

The acclaimed series has brought Atwood's novel back to bestseller lists around the world. Set in the U.S., the novel imagines a dystopian society governed by a group of powerful men who strictly dictate the roles, wardrobe and thoughts of women. It is told from the perspective of a handmaid, whose sole role is to bear children. 

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Over 220 TCA members from Canada and the U.S. voted on the awards. HBO's Big Little Lies, which stars Reese Witherspoon and is based on the thriller by Liane Moriarty, also picked up an award for Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials.