Hugh to judge top book prize

Hugh Grant is to judge one of Britain's most prestigious literary awards, the Whitbread.

He joins newscaster Sir Trevor McDonald, broadcaster Mariella Frostrup and politicians Roy Hattersley and Michael Portillo to pick this year's finalists.

Grant will spend Christmas reading the winning books in the Whitbread's five categories: Poetry, Children's, Biography, Novel and First Novel.

The judges meet on 25 January to agree the Book of the Year. All are described as "avid readers". Grant has starred in a series of films adapted from best-selling titles.