Connolly's wife wins top prize for Billy book
Former comedienne Pamela Stephenson and husband Billy Connolly are celebrating today after she won the Book Of The Year prize for her work about his life.
The Not The Nine O’Clock News star, now a psychotherapist, triumphed at the British Book Awards with her best-selling biography Billy.
Author of the year was Philip Pullman who has been lauded for his children’s novel The Amber Spyglass. He beat fellow nominees JK Rowling and Ian McEwan.
The awards were handed out at a dinner attended by celebrities such as Joan Collins and figures from the publishing world at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
Stephenson’s book beat other highly fancied works such as McEwan’s Atonement - which has been nominated but beaten in a string of major book prizes.
McCarthy’s Bar, the comic travelogue by broadcaster Pete McCarthy, was also up for the title but the writer had some consolation when he took the best newcomer prize last night.
Pullman’s The Amber Spyglass landed the Whitbread Book Of The Year prize in January, the first children’s title to pick up the prize.
:
:: Securicor Omega Express author of the year award - Philip Pullman.
:: Butler & Tanner book of the year award - Billy by Pamela Stephenson.
:: Virgin Books newcomer of the year award - Pete McCarthy.
:: WH Smith children’s book of the year award - Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.
:: SWPA audio book of the year - The Laying On Of Hands, written and read by Alan Bennett.
:: KPMG Publisher of the year - HarperCollins.
