Kay won biography of the year for his bestseller, The Sound Of Laughter.

But he lost out in book of the year, for which he had also been nominated, to The Dangerous Book For Boys.

His nomination had previously sparked an attack from atheist Richard Dawkins, whose book The God Delusion was also shortlisted, who criticised the comic for beliving in God simply because he found it comforting.

Meanwhile, Gervais won the children’s category for Flanimals Of The Deep.

Collecting the award, he took a swipe at awards host Richard Madeley, whose Channel 4 show triggered the scandal over TV phone votes.

Gervais said: ‘This is voted for by the public, isn’t it? Tell them to stop voting as it will be another phone con.’

Madeley fired back with: ‘You ungrateful fucking bastard.’