The Bookseller.com

2nd December 2008

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Cooks vs comics in Christmas bunfight

12.09.08 Graeme Neill

Jonathan Ross and Nigella Lawson are booksellers' top tips for festive success this year. But retailers were reluctant, even privately, to single out a runaway Christmas number one this year, instead hailing a strong and diverse range of publishing.

"There really seems to be something major from every publisher this Christmas," said Waterstone's Jon Howells. "There probably will be many books in direct competition with one another but they are strong enough that each will find their natural audience."

Nigella Lawson's Nigella Christmas proved the most popular cookery choice after Nigella Express performed strongly last year. "It's such a fantastic title and Christmas cookery books do really well so it's an outstanding combination," said Michael Jones at Borders. Also highlighted were titles by Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay. "Gordon Ramsay has a new publisher [HarperCollins] for his cookery books and it has put a lot behind him," said Asda's Steph Bateson.

Jonathan Ross' Why Do I Say These Things? was the most common celebrity pick. "It's an easy gift," said Amy Worth at Amazon. Other comedians tipped for success are Dawn French, whose Dear Fatty cost publisher Century around £2m, and Paul O'Grady. "Of all the comics, Dawn French is probably the closest to a Peter Kay-type success this year," said David Cooke at Tesco.

Elsewhere in autobiography, Michael Parkinson's forthcoming memoir proved popular. "It will be this year's safe bet," said Asda's Bateson. "There's the celebrity angle but he's also a respected journalist."

Books by comedians dominated the pick of the dark horses this Christmas. Retailers said that titles by Alan Carr and particularly The Mighty Boosh had the potential to surprise.

"The Mighty Boosh plays right into our hands with the success of the DVD," said Play.com's David Rimmer. Stephen Fry's tie-in to his television series "In America" was also a popular choice.

The children's market will be dominated by J K Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard, released in December, but strong pre-orders of Christopher Paolini's Brisingr have pushed it into contention.
John le Carré's A Most Wanted Man, Martina Cole's The Business and Linwood Barclay's No Time for Goodbye were the fiction picks.

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