Writing should not be influenced by television, " he lamented, saying this is a complete waste of time.

Announcing the five shortlisted authors for the Kerry Group Literary Award, Gebler said the judging panel's choices reflected carefully wrought characters and constructed plots. But Carlo took a pop at some literary giants too, so those at the receiving end are in good company.

I don't believe that perfect prose is mandatory either, " he added, Orwell was a great writer, but his prose is far from lovely."

John Banville, Sebastian Barry, Dermot Bolger, Jennifer Johnston and Nick Laird made the cut, if you're interested.

But Pauline McLynn took the podium to take issue with Carlo's sentiments. I'd be thrilled to have my novel on television, so if someone wants to turn any of my books into TV, they're in all good bookshops, " the actor/writer said.

I'll have to have a dogfight with Carlo when we get to Kerry.

It will be me taking the side of popular fiction and TV and Carlo, well, just being fabulous."

Joanna Keane O'Flynn, daughter of John B, said, There's some fierce sex in Summer in the City, " Pauline's latest book. We tittered naughtily and looked down at our shoes.

We're the ordinary man's literary festival, " Joanna told me.

We do highbrow stuff, but we also do the lightweight and middleweight. We don't go over people's heads.

You've got to hit them with it."

That's what we're afraid of, sweetheart. For hoity-toity Carlo Gebler's sake, I only hope Summer in the City isn't out in hardback.