David Paisley grew up in Glen Village near Falkirk with his mother and his five brothers. Shy and with low self-esteem David was bullied at primary school because of his poor background. Even though he had 'a few girlfriends' he was always more aware that he was attracted to boys and at 15 headed to a gay youth group where he eventually met his first boyfriend. At 17, he went to Glasgow University to study Physics David landed the part of gay midwife Ben Saunders in BBC1's popular medical soap Holby City. During his time on the show, his character became involved in one of the show's first major 'cross-over' storylines with its sister show Casualty, where his kiss with his on-screen boyfriend attracted 114 complaints from viewers. But having relocated to London, David soon began to miss his friends, family and partner and decided to leave the show in 2003 to move back up to Glasgow. David and his boyfriend Alex, then went traveling for year in Brazil, giving him some time off. Now back in the UK, next up for David is trying to help get the film adaptation of David Leavitt's While England Sleeps up and running, in which he will take the lead role of Edward Phelan.
His mother, Janet, is an acclaimed author and playwright.
During 2002 he won a poll by Rainbownetwork.com as the ideal partner for Pop Idol winner Will Young.
Ranked as #6 in Gay Times 2002 Top Ten Best Dressed Men.
Ran the London Marathon in 2003 to raise funds for Scottish Womens Aid.
In 2003 he was voted Britains sexiest man in a Gay Times poll.
(October 2009) Playing the role of "Danny" in the UK theatre tour of Over the Rainbow - The Eva Cassidy Story.
(December 2008) Completed filming his regular role of Rory Murdoch in BBC River city. The door has been left open for him to return at a later date.
