Rev star Miles Jupp in the running for sports book prize

Fibber in the Heat by Miles Jupp

Rev star Miles Jupp is in the running for a literary prize after his tale of how he bluffed his way into the cricket press corps during a Test series in India was shortlisted for an award.

Fibber In The Heat, a memoir of his time in the press box during England's 2006 tour, is one of seven books shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award.

The comedian, who also played Archie in Balamory, rubbed shoulders with David Gower and Ian Botham after he claimed to be BBC Scotland cricket correspondent.

He is joined on the shortlist by former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan whose no-holds barred memoir of his time running the club is also nominated.

Also shortlisted are books about long-distance running, the Isle of Man TT, squash and the Ironman triathlon.

The shortlist is completed by The Secret Race, by former professional cyclist Tyler Hamilton and journalist Daniel Coyle, which is described as "the most damning indictment yet" of doping in the Tour de France.

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "From a record entry of 165 titles, the judges have produced a magnificently varied list of seven readable, remarkable and worthy contenders. The subject matter encompasses the entire emotional gamut from comedy to tragedy."

The winner of the award, now in its 24th year, gets a £24,000 cash prize, a free £2,000 bet, a hand-bound copy of their book and a day at the races.

The judges include footballer Clarke Carlisle and sports writer Hugh McIlvanney and the winner will be announced at Waterstones Piccadilly in central London on Monday 26 November.

The shortlist for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award is:

• Fibber In The Heat, by Miles Jupp
• That Near-Death Thing - Inside The TT: The World's Most Dangerous Race, by Rick Broadbent
• Running With The Kenyans - Discovering The Secrets Of The Fastest People On Earth, by Adharanand Finn
• The Secret Race - Inside The Hidden World Of The Tour De France: Doping, Cover-ups, And Winning At All Costs, by Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle
• Be Careful What You Wish For, by Simon Jordan
• A Life Without Limits - A World Champion's Journey, by Chrissie Wellington with Michael Aylwin
• Shot And A Ghost: A Year In The Brutal World Of Professional Squash, by James Willstrop with Rod Gilmour