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As hefty new tomes from Heston, Jamie and the rest vie for a place under the tree, the digital revolution hits the kitchen. But can a smartphone ever replace a battered, beloved hardback?

The struggle to win the title of bestselling cookery title this Christmas threatens to be the fiercest yet with the arrival of a glamorous young contender. As hefty new volumes from the Hairy Bikers, Heston Blumenthal, Lorraine Pascale, Simon Hopkinson, Rick Stein, Gordon Ramsay and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall line up to challenge Jamie Oliver, the reigning champion, they will also have to face competition from a succession of improved cooking apps for smartphones: these on-screen digital rivals are quickly earning their place in the kitchen.