Chart Throb - Ben Elton

Current UK based TV is shockingly bad in my opinion. The BBC was set up so that all age groups and types of people are catered for in some way. This does not affect the other channels quite as much, but it does mean that there are shows as varied as 'Bob the Builder' to 'Antiques Roadshow'. The Mecca for TV execs is the 18-30 age group who they see has the most disposable income. This may seem like rubbish to us, but it does mean that more shows get made for this demographic than any other. So how come there is nothing to watch for me, a male right in the centre of this selection? Shows like 'The X Factor' are supposed to draw my viewing, but I would rather watch a ...  Read the complete review

I love to read - anything (books, Corn Flake packets, reviews) and so when my son gave me a copy of Ben Eltons book 'Chart Throb' I was instantly curious. I had not read anything by the author since his debut novel 'Stark' in '89 which was okay I suppose, for a first attempt, but lived close to my heart as I had Mr. Elton himself sign the thing. 'Chart Throb', his 11th novel, tells the tale of Calvin Simms (all-round bad guy, womaniser and Simon Cowell mimic) and his popular TV show of the same name. By his side are Beryl Blenhiem (a sex-changed former rock star now married to another woman with two dysfunctional kids - Sharon AND Ozzy in one) and Rodney ...  Read the complete review

The Blurb Chart Throb. 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 in judgement upon 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' televison and Calvin and his fellow judges are about to become ex-factors themselves. ben Elton, author of Popcorn and Dead Famous, returns to blistering comic satire with a savagely ...  Read the complete review

I have just finished reading 'Chart Throb' which was written by Ben Elton and which I would have to describe as a very cynical view of all the reality talent shows that we find on television these days. It is a very entertaining read but also really makes you think about the morality of such TV shows. Chart Throb is actually the name of a TV talent show. As you read the book, you cannot help but be reminded of X Factor all the way through (this is even though Ben Elton mentions X Factor as one of Chart Throb's predecessors, and even mentions Simon, Sharon and Louis in their roles of judges in that show. I guess that by doing so he is suggestiong that by ...  Read the complete review

Wandering around the local library the other week I was looking for something to borrow when I happened across a Ben Elton book that I had not yet read. I have read most of his books so far and have enjoyed them very much even though they do cover a varied amount of different topics. The Book ------------- The particular book that I borrowed was: Chart Throb ISBN 0-593-05749-x £17.99 (Hardback) Bantam Press 427 pages The cover of this book was quite eye catching as it is a lovely pale blue colour all over with a picture of a microphone on the front. It has all the usual bits on the back about the ...  Read the complete review