Book tops hardback charts

Peter Kay has topped the bestseller list for his third title, The Book That’s More Than Just A Book Book.

The title sold 8,400 copies last week, securing it top position on the Sunday Times chart – only marginally ahead of The World Of Downton Abbey, the official companion of the TV series.

Also in the top five hardback chart are boy band One Direction, comic poet Pam Ayres and scientist Richard Dawkins.

Kay’s book is officially priced £19.99 – but in common with most bestsellers is heavily discounted. Amazon and WH Smith have it at half price.

Despite its success, the new book cannot hope to match his first release, The Sound Of Laughter, which sold 278,000 copies, including presales, in its first day of release in 2006.

Competition will heat up next week as all the books released on so-called Super Tuesday vying for position. The date last week is when a flurry of Christmas-gift books is released - including biographies by Lee Evans, Jason Manford, Rob Brydon, James Corden and, in character, Alan Partridge.

Meanwhile Karl Pilkington’s An Idiot Abroad maintains its No1 position on the paperback chart.

Click here to read our review of The Book That's More Than A Book Book.