Walliams loses out on literary prize for funniest book

The Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2009, for the children aged seven to fourteen category, was awarded to Ardagh for his Grubtown Tales: Stinking Rich and Just Plain Stinky, illustrated by Jim Palliot.

The story deals with a town of oddballs plotting to rid Grubtown of the disgusting Manual Org, whose breath smells of ‘two-thirds of a pickled raw herring, a pickled onion, 11 gherkins and one jar of sandwich spread (one month past its sell-by date)’.

Also shortlisted was Walliam’s The Boy in the Dress, published by HarperCollins and illustrated by long-term Roald Dahl collaborator Quentin Blake. The book tells the story of 12-year-old Dennis who happens to love football but also fashion and Vogue magazine. 

Philip Ardagh has written over 70 books for children and collaborated with Sir Paul McCartney in 2005 on his children’s book, but has never been awarded a major literary prize before.

The judging panel for the Roald Dahl award comprised Michael Rosen, the comedian Bill Bailey, last year’s winner author Andy Stanton, author Louise Rennison and author and illustrator Mini Grey.

“Welcome to Grubtown and a cast of characters crazy enough to wake Spike Milligan from his home on the Ning Nang Nong. Here we have Manual Org who is so repulsive and smelly, Philip Ardagh has to take a several-page break for a bath. There's Farflung Heaps, Constable Gelatine, Acrid Scorn, Mango Claptrap and many more. Noddy and Toytown, it isn't,” said Rosen said.

Sam Lloyd’s Mr Pusskins Best in Show, published by Orchard Books, was the winning book in the category for children aged six and under.

Both Ardagh and Lloyd were presented with a cheque for £2,500 and a bottle of wine from Roald Dahl’s personal wine cellar.