That’s a turnip for the books – Sir Tony Robinson, famed for his role as Baldrick in Blackadder, has landed a top children’s literature prize.

The actor, also noted for his years fronting Channel 4’s Time Team, has collected a Blue Peter Book Award in the factual category of the annual prize run by the CBBC show.

A panel of judges and young viewers had a say on the winner, with Sir Tony’s Weird World of Wonders: World War II book triumphing.

Newcomer Katherine Rundell, 26, was also a winner with her second novel, Rooftoppers, named best story.

Sir Tony’s character Baldrick, who was noted for his love of turnips, once showed off his literary prowess by writing a semi-autobiographical story which read: “Once upon a time, there was a lovely little sausage called Baldrick and it lived happily ever after.”

The actor and presenter – who has written more than 20 books – also won a Blue Peter prize in 2007 for his Worst Children’s Jobs In History.

He said of his latest win: “If happiness is usually the size of a tennis ball, my feelings are the size of Australia.

“Blue Peter is a genuine stamp of approval and because children themselves do the voting, there’s something very real about this win – it actually feels like a pat on the back from the readership themselves.”

The programme’s editor, Ewan Vinnicombe, who also chaired the judging panel said: “Tony Robinson’s Weird World of Wonders: World War II is a worthy winner of the best book with facts. It’s witty, clever and gives the reader an insight into an important historical event.”

The winners were announced on a World Book Day morning bulletin of CBBC show Newsround and the winners received their awards on Blue Peter yesterday evening.

Rundell, the youngest ever fellow at All Souls College in Oxford is currently working on a doctorate, alongside an adult novel.