The race for the top 10 Christmas books begins today with more than 800 titles in the running.

Memoirs from comedian Dawn French, chat show host Michael Parkinson and actress Julie Walters are among the hundreds being published today as possible contenders. Chefs Nigella Lawson, Jamie Oliver, Gary Rhodes and Rick Stein are also hitting the shelves as well as books by sportsmen Johnny Wilkinson and Shane Warne on what has been dubbed "Super Thursday".

Michael Jones, books category manager at Borders, who coined the phrase, said: "So many of the really big books that are contenders to be in the top 10 are coming out. I can't remember there being one day or even one week when it's been like this. We've known about this day for a while so we're prepared."

Benedicte Page of the industry magazine The Bookseller, predicted the credit crunch would not have an impact on pre-Christmas book sales.

He said: "Books traditionally continue to sell well during tricky times, with parents, for example, deciding against the expensive computer game and going for the cheaper option. Books do tend to perform well during difficult financial times; they're very good value as a present and I think sellers are quite optimistic that in spite of everything that's going on, they will do well."

• 

  All I want to know is... how big is my bonus?

  Cityboy is the banker who made his name by telling all about his wild times in high finance. Now as bonus season approaches, he says the City is filled with fear - and greed

  ---

• 

  No sex in New Moon please, we're vampires

  Film review: The creepiest thing about the second adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books - New Moon - is its obsession with teenage celibacy

  ---

Steamy scenes for Purnell in Turkish bath

Scheming over the future of the Labour Party continues even in the most unlikely places

All stories