Loyd Grossman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir
Loyd Grossman
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Grossman in 1999
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Loyd Daniel Gilman Grossman
16 September 1950 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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Deborah Puttnam
(m. 1985; div. 2004) |
| Children | 2 |
Sir Loyd Daniel Gilman Grossman (born 16 September 1950) is a well-known American-British author, TV presenter, musician, and businessman. He has mostly worked in the United Kingdom. Many people know him as the host of the BBC show MasterChef from 1990 to 2000. He also co-hosted Through the Keyhole with David Frost from 1987 to 2003.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Loyd Grossman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, on September 16, 1950. He grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts. His father, David K. Grossman, was an antique dealer. Many people in his father's family also dealt with art and antiques.
Loyd went to school in Marblehead. He then studied history at Boston University, earning a degree. In 1975, he moved to the United Kingdom. He studied at the London School of Economics and earned a master's degree in economic history. Later, he went to Magdalene College, Cambridge. There, he studied history of art and earned more degrees.
Loyd Grossman's Career
Journalism and Writing
Loyd Grossman started writing when he was in college. He wrote for music magazines like Rolling Stone. After finishing his studies, he worked for Harpers & Queen magazine. He was their design editor. He also wrote for The Sunday Times.
For 13 years, he was a restaurant critic. He wrote about restaurants for magazines like GQ and The Sunday Times. He still writes for Country Life magazine.
Television Shows
Loyd Grossman's TV career began in 1983. He appeared on TV-am, a morning show. He helped create a short part of the show called Through the Keyhole. This segment became a full TV show on ITV in 1987. Loyd stayed on Through the Keyhole until 2003.
He became very famous for hosting MasterChef from 1990 to 2000. He also hosted Junior Masterchef. Loyd presented many other shows too. These included Loyd on Location and The History of British Sculpture.
Music and Bands
Loyd Grossman is also a guitarist. He played with a punk band called Jet Bronx And The Forbidden. Their song "Ain't Doin' Nothing" reached number 47 in the UK charts in 1977.
He started playing music again in 2008. He formed a new band called The New Forbidden. This band has performed at the famous Glastonbury Festival eight times. Loyd also plays as a guest with Jethro Tull at their charity concerts.
Food Products
In 1995, Loyd Grossman launched his own line of cooking sauces. These sauces became very popular. A survey in 2003 found them to be the most successful celebrity brand in the UK. Premier Foods makes his sauces.
In 2000, he worked on a project to make hospital food better in the UK. He hoped to improve the quality of meals for patients.
Protecting Heritage and Arts
Loyd Grossman has always loved history, art, and heritage. He has worked with many important organizations. He was a commissioner for English Heritage. This group helps protect historic buildings and places. He also helped create the 24 Hour Museum, which is now called Culture24.
He was the chairman of the Churches Conservation Trust from 2007 to 2016. This trust helps save old churches. He also became chairman of the Heritage Alliance in 2009. This group represents over 100 heritage organizations in the UK. In 2016, he became chairman of The Royal Parks. This role involves looking after London's beautiful royal parks.
Current Roles
Loyd Grossman is still the chairman of The Royal Parks. He was reappointed for this role in 2020. He is also chairman of Gresham College. He is president of the Arts Society, which used to be called NADFAS.
Other Interests
Loyd Grossman is part of several old and respected groups in London. He is a Master of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters. He is also a fellow of important societies like the Society of Antiquaries of London. This means he is recognized for his knowledge in history and old things. Loyd is a big fan of Everton Football Club and loves scuba diving. He also supports the Boston Red Sox baseball team.
Personal Life
Loyd Grossman was married to Deborah Puttnam from 1985 to 2004. They have two daughters together. He later married Melissa Knatchbull.
His unique accent, which sounds like a mix of American and British, comes from growing up in Boston. People have often copied his accent, even in adverts for his own sauces!
Awards and Honours
Loyd Grossman has received several important awards. He was given the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award in 2003. This was for his work helping patient care. In 2015, he was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his work in heritage.
He has also received special doctorates from several universities. These are called honorary doctorates. They recognize his important work in heritage and tourism. In 2025, he was made a Knight. This means he can use the title "Sir" before his name.
