Posted Wednesday November 11th 2009
by Nikesh Shukla

Yesterday I attended the second Roald Dahl Funny Prize Award ceremony at the Unicorn Theatre, just by the mayor's office. The glass-fronted theatre, dedicated to children's performance and education, was full of bonhomie and, well... was just full. How did a prize, only in its second year, generate such goodwill? It's partly due to the nation's affection for Roald Dahl and his work and this leading on to his foundation's participation in the prize; it's also due to the indefatigable and funny Michael Rosen's tireless quest to promote books to make children's laugh. Mostly, because the books... are... funny.

So the theatre's heaving, there are two schools in attendance (Lonesome Primary and Wivelsfield school) and it's nearly standing room only. I head upstairs to the auditorium to catch my breath, except there's horseplay going on. Buoyed by the calls of the photographers, judge Bill Bailey has jumped on chair Michael Rosen's back for the photos and they're both mugging hilariously for the camera while last year's winners/this year's judges, Mini Grey and Andy Stanton are in fits of giggles nearby. It's full of joy, this theatre.

I talk to Mini Grey and she tells me about plans for the Bookstart website (she has been designing the backgrounds for the site since April). Michael Rosen is looking for a sandwich everywhere. Bill Bailey, a comedy god in my eyes, is nearby but beyond my stratosphere. I'm too nervous, my lips are too dry to even attempt to talk to the part-troll tinselworm. I worry that all I'll manage is 'I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE REALLY FUNNY.'

I turn around from the horseplay on the stage and by golly, the entire room is full up with publishers and friends of the shortlisted writers, who are mostly here, sat next to and behind Roald Dahl's widow, Liccy Dahl. Everyone is beaming, everyone is smiling. This is the least stuffy literary event in the world. It's beautiful.

Booktrust chief executive Viv Bird opens proceedings with a quote from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: ‘A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men’ before introducing Michael Rosen, the chair of this year's prize to the stage. He talks about the prize's origins, about our favourite choices from a Quality Street box of chocolates and beards, managing to deal with some impressive heckling from Andy Stanton and Bill Bailey. Everyone is laughing. He introduces films made by Lonesome Primary and Wivelsfield School and even when there's a slight technical hitch, the mood is kept light and laughing with Bill Bailey's commentary on the hitch. Everyone is in hysterics.

The films themselves are great. Lonesome Primary offer their opinions on books and Wivelsfield School put in a sterling performance, turning their school library into the audition room for the Book Factor, with pupils playing Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue. The imagination and humour on display has the entire room in stitches, not least of all the pupils who made it in the first place!

And the prizes are announced and Sam Lloyd is humble and Philip Ardagh is bizarre. And we end with a short speech from Bill Bailey involving why his son doesn't like James Blunt, badgers, his favourite books and beards.

It was a wonderful event and as someone remarked to me later, they couldn't believe it was 'only in its second year!' Congratulations to Philip Ardagh and Sam Lloyd for their wins and I can't wait for next year.

(Beard watch: Bill Bailey, Michael Rosen, Philip Ardagh and Andy Stanton are all owners of fine facial hair)

Click here to read more about the winners