By Mark Davies BBC News Online political reporter at the Hutton inquiry

A copy will grace the book shelves of every political anorak. And judging by the queue outside the public entrance to the Royal Courts of Justice ahead of Alastair Campbell's appearance before the Hutton inquiry on Tuesday, the tome would be widely read outside Westminster too.

There was no finger pointing from Campbell in court

Mr Campbell may have revealed that he doesn't use a computer - but it also emerged that he updates his diary every few days.

It was well known that he has kept a record of his experiences alongside Tony Blair since he became Labour leader in 1994.

But he had never spoken to them in public before the Hutton inquiry.

Details of the government media chief's views during his row with the BBC and ahead of the death of Dr David Kelly's death emerged in the afternoon session on the sixth day of the inquiry.

I have found it very, very distressing that Dr Kelly, who as Lord Hutton has said, was clearly somebody of distinction, had died in this way. Alastair Campbell

And after his cool, controlled performance before lunch, there was a steelier edge to Mr Campbell's responses as he was asked about the dispute over Andrew Gilligan's report about the Iraq weapons dossier.

A hush also descended on the court as, at the end of his evidence, Mr Campbell was asked about his feelings about Dr Kelly's death.

He stared long and hard ahead of him.

"I just wanted to say, I think - like everybody - I have found it very, very distressing that Dr Kelly, who as Lord Hutton has said, was clearly somebody of distinction, had died in this way.

"Obviously I had - like everybody I am sure - thought very deeply about the background to this and I just want to say I find it very, very sad."

Earlier, however, the session was dominated by the days leading to Dr Kelly's death.

Mr Campbell revealed how he had written in his diary that a "firestorm" was developing "that is causing considerable difficulty with MPs, with the press, and by now the media right around the world".

Later, he recorded that he had "opened a flank on the BBC" after demanding an apology over the report during his appearance before the Commons foreign affairs committee.

'Disingenuous'

The evidence session had been "gruelling and exhausting," he recalled.

And, he told the inquiry, it "wasn't an experience I enjoyed".

Bitterly rejecting the BBC's position as "utterly disingenuous", he recalled how he had taken his son to the Wimbledon tennis championships on 27 June, the day he received the corporation's response to one of his complaints - and later appeared on Channel 4 to defend his position.

How did he feel about the BBC reply, asked James Dingemans, counsel to the inquiry.

"Not best pleased," said Mr Campbell, admitting he was "angry - probably too angry".

"I did feel a sense of frustration when I knew the story was wrong," he said.

He left Wimbledon that day and drove to Downing Street, where he heard that Channel 4 News had asked him to appear on their programme.

He consulted the prime minister and then - in an unprecedented move - agreed to the interview.

Temperature

He revealed how Tony Blair had also counselled his media chief. "He was saying, 'this is an intense row'", said Mr Campbell.

The prime minister told him to stand by his position but to then await the report from MPs on the Iraq weapons row - due out the following Monday.

In his diary on 1 July, Mr Campbell duly noted that the temperature on the BBC row was lower.

He discussed the saga with former BBC director general John Birt, now a Downing Street advisor, and former cabinet minister and Labour communications chief Peter Mandelson.

There was also a phone call from Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, primarily to express support ahead of the committee report.

But Mr Hoon also revealed that an official - Dr Kelly - had come forward to admit his discussions with Andrew Gilligan.

Reading from his diary, he said: "Serious in this regard but there was a case to try and get some kind of plea bargain in relation to the person.

"The person had been honest and open in coming forward..."

Uncomfortable

Mr Campbell said that was not an attempt to suggest some kind of deal with the official, now known to be Dr Kelly.

The Campbell diary also reveals how he had wanted Mr Blair to put pressure on the BBC during a session of prime minister's questions in the Commons.

But Mr Blair had not been prepared to do so.

The most uncomfortable moments of the afternoon session came as Mr Campbell was asked by Lord Hutton about the naming of Dr Kelly and why it was felt necessary for the scientist to appear before committees of MPs.

Mr Campbell felt it was inevitable that Dr Kelly's name would emerge with the "media in full pursuit"

"I am afraid it's just the way of the world we live in," he said.

'Unreality'

In retrospect, a clearer policy on the identification of Dr Kelly would have been better, he said, but he defended the strategy drawn up by the Ministry of Defence.

And he told how he began to believe that such was the BBC's stance on the Andrew Gilligan story that "they must have someone really senior in the intelligence services".

There was "an element of unreality" about the days following Dr Kelly coming forward, he said.

But he recorded in his diary that he felt "if we were going to bottom out this story it was Dr Kelly appearing before a committee probably was the only way that was going to happen".

There was laughter in the court room as Mr Campbell was asked about newspaper claims on 10 July that he "wanted to put the finger on the Dyke" - apparently a reference to BBC director general Greg Dyke.