Python Terry Jones on shortlist for books prize

Monty Python star Terry Jones has been shortlisted for a top children’s book prize.

The funnyman, writer and broadcaster is up for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize which is awarded to the most rib-tickling reads for young people.

Jones, 69, is nominated for his book Animal Tales – a collection of whimsical animal fables – which is battling it out with a book about a smelly troll and an alien schoolboy.

Judges for the prize include author and TV presenter Danny Wallace, and Horrid Henry creator Francesca Simon. Jones’s book competes against five other titles in the seven to 14-year-old category. The six and under prize will be fought between books which include swashbuckling cats, a show-off peacock and a chicken attending a school for cows.

The prize – organised by reading charity Booktrust – is named in honour of late children’s author Dahl, who would have celebrated his 95th birthday tomorrow.

Wallace said: “Some books are funny. Some books are funny-funny. These books are proper funny.”