Grandmother lands publishing deal

Ms Aziz was selected out of 46,000 hopefuls in the competition

A 52-year-old grandmother has landed a publishing deal after a search for new writing talent on Channel 4's Richard and Judy show.

Christine Aziz was selected out of 46,000 hopefuls to the programme, and has won a £50,000 advance towards her novel The Olive Readers.

Ms Aziz, from Bournemouth, says her success is a massive boost.

"The best thing is the luxury of having time to finish writing my novel, not having to worry about money," she said.

Impressed

Her novel has been described by the judging panel as "a love story of courage and redemption, telling of a world where we would shiver to inhabit".

Four runners-up have been awarded with £20,000 publishing advances because the judges were so impressed with their work.

Presenter Richard Madeley called the standard of finalists in the search "staggeringly high".

"All are more than worthy of a publishing contract and the panel are convinced they have found a future Booker Prize winner," he added.

His co-host and wife Judy Finnegan said they were "extremely impressed" by the literary calibre of their viewers.

The couple were both part of the judging panel who decided on the winner and runners-up.

Maria Rejt, the publishing director of Pan Macmillan who will be Ms Aziz's editor, said her character "speaks to us from the first line".