Great pop records are the soundtrack to our lives and that is why number one hits hold a totemic place in our culture. This film goes in search of what it takes to get a number one hit single, uncovering how people have done it, and the effect it had on their lives. As the exploration moves through the decades the goal is to trace the various routes that lead to the top of the singles chart, and discover the role played by art, science, chance and manipulation in reaching the pinnacle of pop.