Brown, a former teacher who rarely makes public appearances, sent a videoed acceptance speech to the awards ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. He told of his delight that the book had sparked worldwide religious debate, but added: “For the record, it is a novel.”

The 16th annual British Book Awards were hosted by TV presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas, shortlisted for the Booker Prize won the literary fiction award as well as the Richard & Judy best read of the year, voted by viewers of the couple’s Channel 4 teatime show.

Footballer Paul Gascoigne picked up the prize for sports book of the year with Gazza: My Story beating the autobiographies of Olympic stars Kelly Holmes and Matthew Pinsent, and that of former England rugby coach Clive Woodward.

There was no such luck for Jordan, nominated in the biography of the year category. Being Jordan, written under her real name of Katie Price, was beaten by the memoirs of former US President Bill Clinton.

Actress Sheila Hancock was named author of the year for The Two Of Us: My Life With John Thaw, in which she wrote about her marriage to the late Inspector Morse star. She beat rivals Dan Brown, Booker winner Alan Hollinghurst and Alexander McCall Smith, author of the No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.

Michael Palin beat actor Ewan McGregor and diet guru Gillian McKeith in the TV & film category with the companion book to his BBC series Himalaya.

Other winners included former Tory leader William Hague for his history of William Pitt the Younger and Ian Rankin’s Fleshmarket Close for crime thriller of the year.

Susanna Clarke was named newcomer of the year for Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, beating Cecelia Ahern, daughter of the Irish prime minister, a nominee with her chick-lit novel PS, I Love You.

Whitbread and Orange Prize winner Andrea Levy failed to add another award to her collection - the Decibel writer of the year award for African, Caribbean or Asian writers went instead to Hari Kunzru, author of The Impressionist.

The lifetime achievement award went to Sir John Mortimer, creator of Rumpole of the Bailey. It was presented by a surprise guest - his actress daughter Emily.

The awards will be broadcast on Friday April 22 on Channel 4.

Full List of Winners:

• Author of the Year - Sheila Hancock
• Richard & Judy Best Read of the Year - Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
• Biography of the Year - My Life by Bill Clinton
• Book of the Year - The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
• Children’s Book of the Year - The Gruffalo’s Child by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
• Crime Thriller of the Year - Fleshmarket Close by Ian Rankin
• History Book of the Year - William Pitt the Younger by William Hague
• Literary Fiction Award - Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
• Newcomer of the Year Award - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
• Sports Book of the Year - Gazza: My Story by Paul Gascoigne
• TV & Film Book of the Year - Himalaya by Michael Palin
• Decibel Writer of the Year - Hari Kunzru Lifetime Achievement Award - Sir John Mortimer

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