Book Review: Ben Elton - Dead Famous

Blurb:

One house, ten contestants, thirty cameras, forty microphones, one murder… and no evidence.

Dead Famous is a killer read from Ben Elton – Reality TV as you’ve never seen it before.

My thoughts:

I’ve not been a fan of Big Brother since I was about 12 years old so when I first read the blurb I thought it might be quite a tragic read, despite how many critics seemed to have loved it. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Yes, it’s quite heavily based on Big Brother but it has something that Big Brother’s been lacking for many a year now… The element of mystery plus the twists and turns we all love to watch that have been lost over the years.  

The writing style is laid-back and simple to read, making it easy to get through a hundred pages before realising you’ve spent a large chunk of time, sat in one position, reading. I will say straight away, if you don’t like the c-word, this book probably isn’t for you because one of the main characters, Geraldine, is quite the fan of it!

The story follows the murder of a housemate on ‘House Arrest’ a show that, like I’ve said before, is based almost entirely on Big Brother, with a few differences. One being that House Arrest is broadcast on the internet as opposed to television. It takes about 200 pages of the book before you find out which housemate was killed but Ben Elton writes in such a way that, whilst you’re dying to know who was killed, the suspense isn’t the kind that makes you get annoyed. It just spurs you on to read more.

Another clever thing Ben Elton does is to write about characters in such a way that you’re sure you know who killed it but, like the police in the story, you’re not so sure it wasn’t somebody else. The fact that there is no evidence for the police to work with further helps to draw the reader in the book. When you’re reading, every little decision you make about a character is based entirely on what you read, so what better than to read a book when the only way you can decide who the murderer is lays entirely on your ability to read between lines and work people out. It’s amazing.

The ending, and ultimate revelation of the mystery killer, is one of the most captivating I’ve read in a while. Chief Inspector Coleridge captivates the audience of the show but also the reader of the book in a speech that is full of twists and turns and smart ideas.

I know the book’s pretty old now; in fact, it was first published in 2001, I believe, but it’s a brilliant story and, given that so many people still rave about Big Brother, it’s clearly still relevant. It’s smart, it’s funny, it’s well-written, and it’s utterly captivating.

4/5

Review/Goodbye: Kid British - You Against The World

(Official Music Video)

One thing I’ve always loved about Kid British is that they manage to write songs that people can relate to time and time again. They had ‘Part Time Job/Shirt and Tie’ which, let’s face it, we can all relate to. Let’s not forget ‘Lost in London’ – a song that’s all about, well, getting lost in London. I live in London and I still find myself getting lost from time to time. I could go on but I’d rather you all just checked out their music and found elements to their songs that you can relate to.

This track is definitely something most people will be able to say they understand. We all have those moments when we feel like the world is against us and there’s nobody to help us fight back against it. It’s us against the world. This song takes that feeling and somehow makes it seem far more beautiful than it is. It takes that dreadful feeling and turns it into something inspiring. Clever lads!

Every song I’ve heard by Kid British, and I’ve heard a lot, is the kind of song you put on when you’re having an awful day. Y’know, the kind where you just want to get back into bed, crawl into a ball, and wait for tomorrow in the hope that it’ll, somehow, be better? All of their songs have the ability to make even the worst day seem somewhat more hopeful. That’s testament to just how talented the members (past and present) are.

The lyrics are, for me at least, part of what makes this song so uplifting. Okay, sure, it’s about a negative thing but Kid British have, like they always do, made it something that can help you. I’ll be honest, I was a bit sceptical about Dom singing – he’d always been the guitarist for me. Not just that, I was a bit nervous about how the band would sound after James went on to do his solo stuff. This track proves to me that any doubt I had was unjustified.

The vocals are incredible and Dom’s voice brings something to the track that I don’t think anybody else could have done. Adio’s part of the song is pretty immense. Great lyrics + his vocals = recipe for success. There’s something about his voice that gives off the feeling of vulnerability but also strength. It’s great.

The video also has the same kind of vibe as the song which is pretty rare these days. It seems like so many videos are about huge budgets and fancy sets but they never relate to the song in any way. I’m glad to say this one does. 

So now comes the sad news… Whilst I’ve just raved about how much I love this song (and believe me, I really do), Kid British have just announced that they’re going to part and go on to other things.

I remember when I first saw Kid British. It was at the iTunes festival in 2009. I was stood right at the front and had goosebumps the whole time they were on stage. Their vocals were brilliant on the night but so was their stage presence. Kid British don’t just go on stage, sing, and leave. They party on stage just as hard as everyone in the crowd is and I, personally, think that’s part of what makes a great band.

They were supporting Mr Hudson when I saw them but I decided to leave as soon as their set had finished. Partly because I thought I was going to pass out but partly because I really had only gone to see them. I wasn’t interested in Mr Hudson – I wanted to go and see the band whose music always made me want to dance and put a smile on my face.

When I left, I was lucky enough to meet the bassist at the time, as well as the drummer. I also managed to get everyone's autographs which I’ve kept all this time. I figured when they hit the big time, I’d sell them, ha. I’m kidding. I kept them because even though a lot of people didn’t know about Kid British, they were one of my favourite bands, and still are. 

The second time I saw them was eventful to say the least. Pretty sure I remember the police being called. It’s all one big massive party when you see Kid British and what good’s a party if the police aren’t called at least once, eh? I spoke to the lads that night and I remember going home thinking that they were probably one of the most down-to-earth bands I’d ever known of. They were just a bunch of people making music they loved for the fans they loved. Simple as that.

I don’t know exactly why they’ve chosen to go their separate ways. Their website says it’s because they “have seen some changes in the band and also a wider media/industry perception of what Kid British is which have led us to much debate”. All I can say is I look forward to hearing what each of them get up to.

Here’s to the great things to come for all of them!