Jack Reacher author and best-selling British novelist Lee Child applying for Irish passport because of Brexit

Child, whose real name is James Grant, has sold more than 100 million books.

He lives between the UK and the US but is entitled to an Irish passport as his father was born in Belfast.

The author said he wants an Irish passport to avoid the possibility of post-Brexit travel restrictions in Europe.

"I haven't got the passport yet but I will do very soon, it feels like I'm cheating to be honest as I will get in the back door," Child told The Irish Times.

He was speaking in Berlin as part of a European "Friendship Tour", where Child and fellow British authors Kate Mosse, Jojo Moyes and Ken Follett spoke out against Brexit.

"I am not a huge fan of Britain, even though I was born there.

"It's a silly and frustrating country, which is why I moved to America," Child said.

He also criticised Prime Minister Boris Johnson, portraying him as an elitist.

"If he had gone to my school he would not now be Prime Minister," said Child.

Child's new book, Blue Moon, has just been released.