BIO
Born in West London he attended Orange Hill grammar school in Burnt Oak North London and then the London School of Economics, where he studied modern history and political thought. He is a former editor of The Face and has contributed regularly to magazines such as US Vogue, Elle and Arena. His first book, the novel In Search Of The Crack, was published in 1989.
His radio show features aspects of 'hidden London' histories, as revealed in its buildings, places, and its subterranean world. The show, dating back to the 1990s (Elms survived the loss of GLR, staying out the battle to save the station and its present reincarnation as BBC London) is popular with regular listeners, including cab drivers who regularly call in to his Wednesday "Notes & Queries" broadcast.
In his youth, Elms was a London clubber, fashionista, and a member of the New Romantics set. He remains a big fan of Spandau Ballet (Elms used to open for the group at their early gigs reading poetry and gave the group their name), and modern jazz and world music both feature on his show.
He is renowned for his controversial and sometimes unpopular views, such as his outspoken dislike of The Beatles, and of John Lennon in particular (he has called Imagine the "worst record ever made"), to the point where he refuses to play any of their music on his show (although he has played solo records by George Harrison, who he argues is the "least objectionable" of the group).
Elms lives with his family in Camden Town and occasionally in a 1,000 year-old Moorish house in Andalusia. He speaks fluent Spanish..
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