London, Dec. 15 (Reuters) - Hugh Grant, whose only claim to literary fame is his role as a bookseller in Notting Hill, was picked today to be a judge for one of Britain?s top book prizes.

The foppish British filmstar , who won a scholarship to Oxford University to study English, is one of nine judges choosing the winner next month of the ?25,000 Whitbread book of the year award.

Grant (picture left), famed for his comic roles in Bridget Jones?s Diary and Four Weddings and a Funeral, listed Philip Roth?s ode to masturbation, Portnoy?s Complaint as one of his favourite books.

He joins a long list of celebrity judges who have helped pick the annual award.

Whitbread?s choice five years ago of Texan model Jerry Hall was greeted with scorn by the administrator of the Booker, Britain?s other top book prize. ?This dumbs down literary prizes,? said Booker administrator Martyn Goff at the time. ?Where do you go after this? Do you get a Spice Girl? It never works putting celebrities on the panel.?