The Fame Game

by Ben Dunn

The Fame Game is an acerbic Comedy novel about fame and celebrity.

Ben is a non-celebrity, a never-has-been with one claim to fame. But that one claim is enough to earn an invite to the reality show, "Fame", where along with nine other reasonably well-known celebs, whose careers are all on the downward slope, he will partake in challenges to humiliate, torture and embarrass so they can all have a shot at getting back to the mainstream and have their redone faces all over TV. Ben just wants the money.

It would never be the place Ben thought he would find anyone he likes, be interested in, would like to talk to, or remain in contact with, but all places throw up surprises, and maybe, just maybe, there is someone here who, despite his best efforts to push everyone away through insults dressed up as jokes, he might actually like. There are definitely people here he detests.

Can Ben overcome the dislike he fosters in contestants, the distaste he elicits from viewers, and the self-disgust he feels for taking part to overcome challenges and be crowned series champion? He really hopes not.

333 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2022

About the author

Ben Dunn is a writer. He has written Thrillers, Comedies, a Murder Mystery as well as Young Adult Fiction.

He has made audiobooks and written for the BBC in collaboration with an animation company.

He writes most days and is vaguely annoyed by people.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.

I loved this book, it’s a fun look at the type of celebrities who agree to go on Contests like “ I’m a celebrity get me out of here!”

Ben is a writer who once wrote a best seller which was then made into a film. Unfortunately he’s been unable to write anything of comparable worth since. He lives modestly on the income from royalties. He used to be asked onto lots of political and intellectual programmes for his opinion, however. Ben actually does have opinions and expresses them, so the invitations have dried up.

He has agreed to appear on what we know as “I’m a celebrity get me out of here”. However from the very start Ben begins to regret doing so, but he’s taken the money, although he later finds out he’s the lowest paid celeb on the show.

Ben has self esteem issues and appears bitter and frankly unpleasant to the other contestants whom he despises, except for Jenny, with whom he is beginning to form a friendship. He hopes by being unpleasant to the other contestants he can be voted off first by the viewers and so keep the money for as brief an appearance as possible. However the hosts and owners of the production company (or at least the male half of the duo) have different ideas. Realising the show is a bit stale and interest is waning the male host decides to “tweak” the tasks the Celebs have to perform.

Ben is the main protagonist and it’s his thoughts and opinions we read from day one in a sort of diary form, which is interspersed with the thoughts and feelings of the hosts and in particular the male host who seems to be becoming slightly unhinged in his desire for ratings and popularity.

This is a satire on the ridiculous celebrity contests that are prevalent on our televisions and just how far Z list celebs will go to to try and have a “second shot” at fame. This is a funny, very sweary book, it’s a little long and I found the ending, especially the epilogue very abrupt, however I really liked this book.

[Wendie · Rating 4 out of 5]

High entertainment

The Fame Game made me laugh out loud a couple times. I've become a big fan of Ben Dunn's character development & humor. He doesn't necessarily rely on physical descriptions (though some characters are described more than others - Chelsey with all her plastic surgery), but the reader still gets a good picture of each.

The only downside to The Fame Game was the ramblings of Ben, at times. It got tiresome as the book went on so I ended up skipping entire paragraphs, which didn't seem to detract from the story.

Overall, a very entertaining novel!

[Chip · Rating 4 out of 5]

This started off really well. It was a funny take on I'm a Celebrity with an abrasive main character. It gets a bit whacky in the last third and shifts into more of a thriller/action story. It was a good read and hard to put down.

The setting was easy to imagine, the characters well described and by the end most had been well developed too. The ending was a bit abrupt with a quick transition to the epilogue. I would have liked another 5-10 pages explaining what happened to everyone.

Overall though, great book that I would recommend.

[Glennjoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful spoof of " I'm A Celebrity " which flings together a bunch of desperate z-list wannabes who we watch as the inevitable havoc and mayhem unfolds. Hilariously funny for much of the time although the backbiting, backstabbing and blatant avarice of the contestants becomes a little repetitive at times as does the cynically infused bickering between the shows co-presenters. Almost a 4* read and I will be sure to read more of this author.

[Harold Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the funniest book I have read probably ever. Maybe because my wife watches "I'm a celebrity" and I endure it making snide comments throughout. It is brilliantly written and although some people call it a satire I just think it is a funny book which happens to have a ridiculous game show as it's backdrop. I am definitely going to read more from this guy!

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy as much as I hoped. It was quite repetitive and the actual way the text was laid out in the book was strange. There was also a few little typos such as jenny instead of Jenny. It made me look at the back again to make sure I wasn’t reading an uncorrected book proof.

[Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and surprisingly touching story about pseudo celebrities on a reality competition show. Kinda like celebrity fear factor and wipeout. This is a great book full of wit and self aware humor that I'd gladly read again.

[Sharon Durant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird yet wonderfully silly in a uniquely British way.