Chart Throb

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Chart Throb

By: Ben Elton

Narrated by: Glen McCready

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About this listen

The ultimate pop quest. Ninety-five thousand hopefuls. Three judges. Just one winner. And that’s Calvin Simms, the genius behind the show.

Calvin always wins, because Calvin writes the rules. But this year, as he sits smugly in judgement upon the mingers, clingers, and blingers whom he has pre-selected in his carefully scripted ‘search’ for a star, he has no idea that the rules are changing. The ‘real’ is about to be put back into ‘reality’ television, and Calvin and his fellow judges (the nation’s favourite mum and the other bloke) are about to become ex-factors themselves.

Ben Elton, author of Popcorn and Dead Famous returns to blistering comic satire with a savagely hilarious deconstruction of the world of modern television talent shows. Chart Throb. One winner. A whole bunch of losers.

Literature & Fiction

Comedy

Funny

Witty

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Most relevant

Would you try another book written by Ben Elton or narrated by Glen McCready?

I love Ben Elton and have read all his books. This is the first I have listened to, I think maybe it is better to read his work.

What will your next listen be?

Something that doesn't try to be funny

Which character – as performed by Glen McCready – was your favourite?

The wannabe contestants

Did Chart Throb inspire you to do anything?

don't be silly, what an odd question!

Any additional comments?

When listening there is too much repetition, which would work being read, but not so much heard. Yes judges on these shows do say "you owned that", and it is as puerile here as it is on those shows, None of the characters are likeable, though some depth is given to some of them. I think comedy needs to be read not listened to, I love Ben Elton but I did not think much of Chart Throb. Too easy to mock