Mark Ellen

Mark Ellen is an editor, writer and broadcaster. 

He began his professional life on Record Mirror in 1977, then wrote for New Musical Express and joined the blossoming EMAP empire in the early Eighties becoming editor of Smash Hits and Select, launch editor of Q and managing editor of MOJO.

In the evenings he worked as a DJ for Radio One and presented BBC TV’s Whistle Test. He was one of the on-screen anchors of Live Aid in 1985.

As EMAP Metro’s Editor-In-Chief, he was in charge of their music, film, entertainment and teenage titles, leaving in 2001 to help launch The Word magazine which he edited for 10 years.

He contributes to Radios 2, 4 and 6 and a range of newspapers and magazines including The Times, New Statesman, Elle and Private Eye and writes occasional pieces about scuba-diving and cycling.

He’s just published his highly-acclaimed music memoir, ‘Rock Stars Stole My Life!’.