Gervais triumphs over Pratchett in British Book Awards

Peter Kay and Ricky Gervais are accustomed to receiving acclaim at awards ceremonies. But it was for their literary efforts, not their wit, that they were named winners last night at the Galaxy British Book Awards, the UK's biggest celebration of publishing.

Gervais beat established writers including Geraldine McCaughrean and Terry Pratchett to take the children's book of the year honour with Flanimals of the Deep, the third in the series he has produced with the illustrator Rob Steen. Gervais accepted his award live on stage in Ipswich. "That's fantastic ... it's the first one for my literary outputs," he said, admitting his work had been described as "books about bollocks with eyes drawn on them".

And The Sound of Laughter, by Peter Kay, a best-selling autobiography, was named biography of the year against rivals including Gordon Ramsay's life story and Claire Tomalin for her book on Thomas Hardy.

Kay, who was performing in Manchester, said in a filmed response: "Who'd have thought it eh? I'd like to thank a lot of people. You know who you are so that's that." He also thanked Cherie - which he pronounced Cherry - Blair for announcing his win. "I'll come and see you at No 10 before you go," he said.

Cherie Blair, who had earlier discussed her prodigious reading habits with Richard and Judy, said: "As a northern lass, I can't possibly turn him down."

The ceremony in London, hosted by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan of Channel 4, will be broadcast on Friday night.

Richard Dawkins, the evolutionary biologist and scientist, was named author of the year for his demolition of religion, The God Delusion. "It is immensely gratifying to me that The God Delusion seems to have struck a chord with so many people across the country who cast their vote in its favour," he said.

The veteran crime writer John Grisham, whose legal thrillers have sold more than 250 million copies since he wrote his first book 20 years ago, won a lifetime achievement award.His award was presented with glowing taped testimonies from the film directors Francis Ford Coppola and Joel Schumacher. "When you write popular fiction you don't normally get a lot of awards," said Grisham. "In fact, this is the first one ever. I sort of think it might be the last. I can't wait to go back home and show the Yanks how books are supposed to be celebrated."

The Scottish writer Ian Rankin won crime thriller of the year with The Naming of the Dead. "How amazing to win this in the 20th year of Inspector Rebus," he said. Marian Keyes took the popular fiction prize for Anybody Out There and Victoria Hislop was named newcomer of the year for her debut novel, The Island.

The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn and Hal Iggulden, was named book of the year. The television or film book honour went to The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger. Jackie Kay won the decibel prize for a writer of African, Caribbean or Asian descent, while the America law professor Jed Rubenfeld won the Richard and Judy best read of the year award for The Interpretation of Murder.

The winning authors

Reader's Digest author of the year:

Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion

Biography of the year:

Peter Kay, The Sound of Laughter

Children's book of the year:

Ricky Gervais, Flanimals of the Deep

Book of the year:

Conn & Hal Iggulden, The Dangerous Book for Boys

Crime thriller of the year:

Ian Rankin, The Naming of the Dead

Sports book of the year:

Steven Gerrard, Gerrard: My Autobiography

Newcomer of the year:

Victoria Hislop, The Island

Popular fiction award:

Marian Keyes, Anybody Out There

Decibel writer of the year:

Jackie Kay, Wish I Was Here

The Richard & Judy best read of the year:

Jed Benfeld, The Interpretation of Murder

Television and film book of the year:

Lauren Weisberger, The Devil Wears Prada

Lifetime achievement award:

John Grisham