Lindsay Holiday(I)

Lindsay Holiday was born in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. His father, who came from a rich southern family, was a bootleg runner during the prohibition years. During his upbringing he developed a talent for singing, entertaining family and friends at drinks parties with the jazz and blues songs his parents played at home (including Duke Ellington), and later with Motown music from his older brothers and sisters.

In order to get through university Holiday joined the US Navy for a short period, but got an honorable discharge as soon as he could, having been dreaming of singing the blues in Paris since childhood. He ended up in London, singing heavy metal in late-night rock bands. In the early nineties he bought a house in France and began performing, until he received a call from a producer offering him some television adverts; although Holiday was unable to speak French, he accepted the job and learned the language later. This led to further work including presenting a Cajun cookery show, having developed a skill for cooking during his childhood. He divided his time between France and London, presenting a regular feature on the fifth series of Food File (1992) in 1996.

Holiday is openly gay and lives with his civil partner in Peray, Pays De La Loire, France.