Canadian author Yann Martel has been named as winner of this year's Man Booker Prize for his novel 'Life of Pi'.
Martel beat five other writers, including Irish-born author William Trevor, to the prestigious £50,000 award, which was announced at a dinner held in the Great Court of the British Museum in London.
The Chair of the Booker judges, Professor Lisa Jardine, described 'Life of Pi' as audacious and inventive.
Martel had been the bookies' favourite since the Booker website last week announced him as winner.
Despite the judges' protestations that the message was just a test, betting on his novel was suspended soon afterwards.
