About

Loyd Grossman CBE is an entrepreneur, author and broadcaster. Born in Boston in 1950, he began his career as a journalist writing for music publications including Rolling Stone, Fusion, and Vibrations whilst studying as an undergraduate at Boston University (BA).

He went on to work for Harpers & Queen and The Sunday Times before becoming a writer and presenter for a wide range of television programmes including Through the Keyhole, MasterChef, Behind the Headlines, History of British Sculpture, Loyd on Location and Build Britain. He also wrote and presented a series, Composers at Home, for BBC Radio 3.

Loyd’s knowledge of and fascination with food led him to create his own brand in 1995, which became Britain’s most successful new premium food brand.

He has a lifelong interest in history, the arts and heritage, receiving a PhD from the University of Cambridge and serving on the board of a number of cultural institutions including English Heritage, the British School at Rome and the Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. He is Chairman of The Royal Parks, President of The Arts Society and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He founded the 24 Hour Museum (now Culture 24) and was its Chairman until 2005. In June 2015 he was appointed CBE in recognition of his services to Heritage.

As an author, Loyd’s books include a major study of Benjamin West published by Merrell Publishers in 2015. His new book An Elephant In Rome: Bernini, The Pope, And The Making Of The Eternal City is published by Pallas Athene in June 2020.

In addition to his writing, Loyd is a keen guitarist and his band – The New Forbidden – made their eighth appearance at Glastonbury in June 2019.

Current titles/associations:

Chairman of The Royal Parks
Chairman of Gresham College
Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers
Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine
Fellow of the Royal Historical Society

Honorary degrees:

Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Chester (2007)

Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Lincoln (2011)

Honorary Doctor of the University of Essex (2014)

Loyd has also served as:

Commissioner of the Museums and Galleries Commission
Commissioner of English Heritage
Commissioner of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England
Founding member of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
Board member for the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions
Member of the Council of the British School at Rome
Chairman of National Museums Liverpool
Chairman Public Monuments and Sculpture Association
Deputy Chairman of Liverpool European Capital of Culture
President of the British Association of Friends of Museums
Master of the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars