Chart Throb is the ultimate pop quest. There are ninety five thousand hopefuls, three judges, and just one winner. And thats 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 nations 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. This story is about a Chart Throb, one winner, and a whole bunch of losers.