Evan Davis has cemented his place as one of Britain’s most recognisable broadcasters, renowned for being the host of Dragons’ Den, Newsnight and BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

With a career spanning decades, the 62-year-old has earned a reputation for his sharp intellect and captivating on-screen presence.

However, away from the spotlight, Davis has faced profound personal challenges, including the heartbreaking loss of his father on his wedding day and his journey as an openly gay figure in the public eye.

As the latest series of Dragons’ Den captivates viewers with the Dragons’ search for the next big business success, we delve into the emotional story of Davis’s father’s death during his marriage to Guillaume Baltz, his quiet life with his husband, and his experience coming out in a high-profile career.

Wedding Suicide

Davis opened up about the devastating moment he learned that his father, Quintin, had taken his own life—on the very day he married his husband, Guillaume Baltz.

Quintin, who was 92 and battling bowel cancer and heart failure, left a note explaining his decision, saying his “system is closing down” and that he had “no alternative”. The tragedy struck during Davis and Baltz’s wedding reception in London in July 2022, a follow-up to their 2012 civil partnership ceremony.

The couple had invited close friends and neighbours to celebrate their big day when Davis received a message from his brother, Roland, urging him to “call ASAP”.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Davis revealed he made the call and learned that his father had died. “I hung up and immediately told Guillaume,” Davis said. After calling back five minutes later, he discovered the heartbreaking detail that his father had taken his own life.

Despite the devastating news, Davis addressed his guests in a speech, choosing to honour the day and carry on with the celebration.

“We’ve just had some news. My father died. But I don’t want you to be alarmed. He was very elderly and it was definitely time. There’s actually nothing we can do. So I’m going to propose that we carry on,” he told them.

Davis described the occasion as “a very warm-hearted, supportive, reflective day,” crediting messages from his brothers, Roland and Beric, for helping him stay composed. Reflecting on his father’s decision, Davis said: “We’ve all speculated on what the hell was going on in his head … There’s no good day, is there? And I know he didn’t do it to spoil our day.”

Quintin had been married to Davis’s mother, Hazel, for 65 years. However, during the pandemic, Hazel began showing signs of dementia and was moved into a care home. The separation weighed heavily on Quintin, who felt immense guilt about being unable to care for her.

Returning to work the day after the wedding, Davis found himself overwhelmed with emotion when colleagues asked him how it went. “I burst into tears,” he admitted.

Life with Husband

Davis, who has presented the iconic BBC entrepreneur show since 2005, has been in a relationship with his husband, French landscape architect Guillaume Baltz, since 2002. The couple, who entered a civil partnership in 2012, officially converted it to marriage a decade later. Davis and Baltz keep their private life low-key, living together in London.

The BBC Radio 4 host has also been candid about his journey coming out as gay. In an interview with the website RUComingOut, he revealed the struggles he faced in accepting his identity. “I had a feeling that I might be gay just around and after puberty. For a couple of years I was tortured by that and tried hard to suppress any such desires I had,” he said.

He waited until after graduating to tell his parents, who, while initially surprised, quickly became supportive. “They were clearly taken aback but the next morning they were totally supportive, very lovely about it and have been ever since,” Davis said.

Reflecting on navigating his identity in the media industry, Davis admitted it was a challenge but emphasized the importance of staying true to himself. “It wasn’t easy, but I had to be authentic,” he said.

Davis has since become a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ representation, using his platform to discuss issues facing the community.

The Newsnight host has also revealed that he will never have children with his long-term partner as he laments that he has left it too late to be a father.

‘We’re probably too old to think about children — maybe 20 years ago, if we were younger, it would be different. There’s much more around in terms of gay parenting now than there was when I was about 35, but what can we do now?” he said.