Mark Ellen

Mark Ellen, born on 16 September 1953 in Fleet, Hampshire, is a British magazine editor, journalist, and broadcaster known for his contributions to music media. He attended Oxford University, where he briefly played bass with Tony Blair in the college band Ugly Rumours.

Ellen's career began writing for magazines like Record Mirror, NME, and Time Out before becoming Features Editor of Smash Hits in 1981 and editor in 1983. He later served as launch editor of Q, re-launch editor of Select, and launch managing editor of Mojo. In 2002, he left Emap to join independent publishing company Development Hell. His broadcasting career included roles on BBC Radio 1, presenting The Old Grey Whistle Test from 1982 to 1987, and co-presenting Live Aid in 1985.

Ellen co-founded The Word magazine with David Hepworth in 2003, which reached its 50th issue in 2007 before closing in 2012. He has received several awards, including the PPA's Magazine Of The Year for Q and the British Society of Magazine Editors' Mark Boxer Award in 2003. He also won the BSME Editor's Editor Award in both 2005 and 2011.

Currently collaborating with Hepworth on Word In Your Ear, a series of music events and podcasts, Ellen is also an author, having published his memoir *Rock Stars Stole My Life!* in 2014. Outside work, he resides in West London and enjoys diving and cycling.