David Furnish

Toronto-born David met Elton John on October 30, 1993, when a mutual friend invited him to dinner at the singer's mansion. At the time David, who was born on October 25, 1962, was a young advertising executive on the London board of international agency Ogilvy & Mather. Raised in Ontario alongside brothers John and Peter by his pharmaceutical company director father Jack and homemaker mum Gladys, he'd moved to the British capital after graduating in business from the University of Western Ontario in 1985. Fifteen years younger than Elton, and a business professional with his own job, flat and car, David was very different to the singer's previous partners. In 1994 David resigned from his advertising position, finding it difficult to balance work with the demands of his high-profile relationship. Building on his existing keen interest in films, he took several courses at the British Film Institute and went on to set up his own production company, Rocket Pictures, with Elton's support. He also came up with the idea for the hugely successful Billy Elliott The Musical, of which he is executive producer. His only sadness was, he used to say, that he and Elton did not have children. And that was remedied on Christmas Day 2010 when a surrogate mother gave birth to their son, Zachary, who is a constant joy for both of them.