The writer and editor

From 2008-2013  I was features editor of The Mail On Sunday's Live Magazine (later renamed Event).   

I edited all our features and did over 50 cover interviews. I ghost wrote the TV chef James Martin's weekly two-page column and later Chris Evans' column. I adapted books into features, wrote coverlines, heads and sells and edited the front section rounding up new films, music, technology, style, travel and restaurants.

At the same time I was the Mail on Sunday's motoring editor, producing weekly content as well as two special all-motoring issues each year. In 2012 I set up the paper's presence at the CarFest summer event. So I know how to get a million quid's worth of classic cars insured and transported into a muddy field for a weekend. If anyone's asking. 

Now I'm on the Telegraph, I edit a twice-yearly eight page broadsheet cars supplement.

I was headhunted from the NME in 2004 to join Maxim as deputy editor. I wrote, commissioned and edited features and sections, managed a team of 30 and had sole responsibility for all promotions such as DVDs, supplements and calendars.

I was acting editor for a while in 2005 until Greg Gutfeld came from Maxim US to take over. Greg made me executive editor and put me in charge of brand extensions. We developed interactive mobile content and a weekly email magazine called Monkey. My job happily involved a lot of hiring. Sadly, some firing too.

I was hired by editor Conor McNicholas with a brief to lighten the tone. I helped recruit a new generation of young writers, many of whom are now high up in newspapers and broadcasting. I wrote, edited, flatplanned and headlined.

Despite, or perhaps because of its success, Loaded had never got a grip on editorial costs. Editor Keith Kendrick and publisher Richard Johnstone put me in charge of balancing the monthly budget for the first time. This meant staff expenses, writers' fees, shoot costs, rights agreements and even things like stationery had to be carefully controlled. Against stiff opposition, we did it.

I edited all the calendars and special supplements. There were about five or six a year. I was also in charge of the comedy and cartoons section at the back of the magazine, working closely with Mick Bunnage (now of Modern Toss).

I spent two great years working on the 'Loaded for older men' which IPC launched in 1999. Here I edited sections, wrote features, interviewed celebrities, travelled and learned a great deal under editor Phil Hilton.

Before that I was a staff writer at IPC's music and movies mag, Uncut. Here I met musicians, writers, comedians, actors and directors. I found directors have the best stories