Guru-Murthy, Coelho and Taylor feature in star-studded judging panel for British Book Awards

A star-studded roster of broadcasters, comedians, authors and illustrators has been announced as judges of the British Book Awards 2023.

Among them are Channel 4 News lead anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy, author Anita Rani, Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coehlo and comedian, actor and entertainer Ellie Taylor.

Further confirmed celebrity judges include writer, presenter and host Chanté Joseph, who will be helping judge in the Audiobook: Non-Fiction category; broadcaster and writer Lauren Layfield for Children’s Fiction; journalist Alexandra Shulman for Debut Fiction; and presenter Charlene White for Non-fiction Narrative.

Also judging will be Helen Thorn, Liz Pichon, Poorna Bell, Dorothy Koomson, Louise Johns-Sheperd, Zoey Dixon, Vaseem Khan, Abir Mukherjee, Simon Richardson, Imriel Morgan, Jake Hope, Anna Bassi, Nina Findley, Imogen Russell Williams, Alison Flood, Sharon Canavar, Lucy Knight, Fleur Sinclair, Alice Kemp-Habib, Matthew Cornford, Joanne Finney, Bea Carvalho, Paula Sutton and Ashley Bruce.

Produced by The Bookseller, the British Book Awards, also known as the Nibbies, are a celebration of the UK’s best-loved books and authors. This year’s winners will be unveiled at a ceremony at Grosvenor House on 15th May. Full details will be announced soon.

Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller and chair of the judges, said: “We are delighted to welcome such an illustrious crop of judges to this year’s celebrations. The breadth, range and profile of those joining us are both a reminder of the stature of the British Book Awards and an example of how books and reading traverse all areas of interest. We look forward to announcing the shortlists in March and engaging in what will surely be impassioned discussions ahead of the awards ceremony.”

There are 13 Book of the Year Awards: Children’s Illustrated; Children’s Non-fiction; Children’s Fiction; Fiction Debut; Fiction Crime & Thriller; Fiction; Pageturner; Non-fiction Lifestyle and Illustrated; Non-fiction Narrative; Audiobook Fiction; Audiobook Non-fiction; and Discover Book of the Year (a breakthrough award with a focus on under-represented voices); and the Overall Book of the Year. Entries are open until 3rd February.

Alice O ’Keeffe, books editor of The Bookseller and overall chair of the Books of the Year, said: “After a strong year of publishing, from dazzling debuts to gripping thrillers, exquisite illustrated books to spellbinding narrative non-fiction, our select group of judges will bring their individual enthusiasms to the table when we meet in March to debate the books of 2022."

The 2022 winners included Marcus Rashford writing with Carl Anka, who took the overall Book of the Year Award for You are A Champion (which also won the Children’s Non-Fiction Book of the Year), published by Macmillan Children’s Books; Dapo Adeola, recognised as Illustrator of the Year for his tireless work to represent Black communities while demystifying the industry for aspiring illustrators; and Marian Keyes, who was awarded Author of the Year in recognition of her success and immense staying power as an author.