David Hamilton
Hamilton in 2009
Born
David Pilditch[1]

(1938-09-10) 10 September 1938
Manchester, England
Other namesDiddy David Hamilton
Occupation(s)Radio and television broadcaster
Years active1959–present
WebsiteOfficial website

David Hamilton (born David Pilditch; 10 September 1938) is an English radio and television presenter.

Since his broadcasting career began in 1959, Hamilton has hosted over 12,000 radio shows and more than 1,000 television shows. He is often known as 'Diddy David Hamilton', a name given to him by the comedian Ken Dodd.

Early life

Hamilton attended Glastonbury Road Grammar School at St Helier in Surrey until the age of 17. While at school he became a columnist on the weekly national magazine Soccer Star. He performed national service in the Royal Air Force from 1959.[2]

Television career

On leaving school, Hamilton became a script-writer for the TV series Portrait of a Star.

Following his national service, he became an in-vision television announcer for ABC Weekend TV based in Didsbury, Manchester, and appeared with close friend Ken Dodd in the TV series Doddy's Music Box, acquiring the nickname 'Diddy'. Throughout the 1960s, he hosted shows for the ITV franchises Tyne Tees, Anglia and Westward.

He joined the then-new Thames Television as an announcer in 1968, subsequently hosting many shows for them including Miss TV Times, TV Times Gala Awards, The World Disco Dance Championships, as well as many outside broadcasts, circus and sports shows. He appeared alongside comedians Benny Hill and Tommy Cooper and hosted Thames TV's showcase weeks on television in New York City and Los Angeles. Later he hosted ATV's Saturday night series Up For the Cup, and four series of TVS's hangman-style game show All Clued Up.

For BBC TV, he hosted Top of the Pops and Seaside Special and the Eurovision Song Contest Previews in 1986. For seven years, he was the main host of one of the earliest satellite TV stations, Lifestyle. Hamilton was one of the final people on the network when it closed on 24 January 1993, appearing on the final segment wishing viewers goodbye.[3]

Radio career

BBC Radio

Hamilton made his broadcasting debut with the British Forces Network in Cologne in Germany during his national service in 1959. His first UK broadcast was as the host of The Beat Show from the Playhouse Theatre, Manchester, in 1962.[4] He hosted the show on the BBC Light Programme until 1965. He presented the final edition of Housewives' Choice in 1967 and was first heard on BBC Radio 1 in November 1967, presenting Family Choice. By the late 1960s, Hamilton was presenting many shows for BBC radio, including Music Through Midnight, Roundabout, Pop Inn, Radio 1 Club and shows featuring the music of Frank Chacksfield.

In 1970, he joined the team of Late Night Extra and in 1973 was offered his own daily show on Radio 1 every weekday afternoon from 2 pm to 5 pm.[5] In 1975, the show was simultaneously broadcast on Radio 1 and Radio 2 (listeners being able to hear the show in stereophonic sound on Radio 2's VHF frequency), giving it the largest British audience of the day. In December 1977, the show moved to Radio 2 and remained there until the end of 1986 when Hamilton quit the station.

Commercial radio

Since January 1987, Hamilton has been heard on many commercial stations in the UK. He joined Reading's Radio 210 initially to present a mid-morning show from 9 am to 12 noon although the show was quickly brought forward an hour, starting at 8 am. He then joined Capital Gold in November 1988 to present its daily 10 am to 1 pm show. In addition to that, he also presented a weekly oldies show which was heard on various ILR stations around the UK. This was usually heard on a Sunday afternoon.

In late 1994, Hamilton presented the Breakfast show on Melody FM (now Magic 105.4) for four years before moving to London's Liberty Radio to present an afternoon show. He also did a show on the Classic Gold Network on a Sunday.

In 2000, he joined PrimeTime Radio, presenting the weekday mid-morning show, where he remained until its demise in 2006. In October 2001, he left Classic Gold and presented the breakfast show on Birmingham's Saga 105.7 FM before moving to Nottingham's Saga 106.6 FM in early 2003. From 2004 to 2006, he was heard on radio stations around the UK, presenting his Million Sellers show, which would usually go out on a Saturday lunchtime, and was repeated at midnight. Around this time he also had a sojourn at Big L 1395.

In April 2012, Hamilton was one of the launch presenters on The Wireless, an Internet-based radio station operated by Age UK and aimed at older people throughout the UK.[6]

He was a founder director of Lite FM in Peterborough[7] and Splash FM in Worthing,[8] hosting the first programme with guest Leo Sayer in 2003.

In February 2021, he started a daily lunchtime show with Boom Radio, the national DAB station aimed at the baby boom generation.

Stage

On stage Hamilton has compered shows by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, David Cassidy and many other pop acts. He has hosted shows at the Royal Albert Hall and the London Palladium, and headlined in four major pantomimes.

In 2016, he embarked on a 40-theatre tour, David Hamilton's Rock 'n' Roll Back The Years, with band The Fugitives, and singers.

Sport

Hamilton was the compere for the Wembley Lions Speedway team in 1970 and 1971. During the 1970s, Hamilton was also the match day presenter for the Reading Racers Speedway Club. Latterly he was seen frequently on BBC One's Match of the Day and BSkyB's Football First as he was the matchday compère at Fulham F.C.[9]

Books

Hamilton is the author of five books: David Hamilton's Beauty Tips for Women,[10] 1974, The Music Game (autobiography), 1986, A Fulhamish Tale, 2012, The Golden Days of Radio One, 2017 and Commercial Radio Daze, 2020.

Current work

In 2019, Hamilton celebrated 60 years in broadcasting. By this time he was heard regularly on his local stations BBC Radio Sussex and BBC Radio Surrey. His Million Sellers show continues to be aired on several stations in the UK and abroad.[11]

In 2021, at the age of 82, he became the oldest broadcaster to present a daily show on national radio with his lunchtime show on Boom Radio.[12] The same year David Hamilton`s Million Sellers and David Hamilton`s Hotshots launched on the Now 70s music television channel and he was a guest on Britain`s Biggest 70s Hits on Channel 5. He has been a newspaper reviewer on Sky News and also began contributing to GB News in 2022. On the 2 December 2023, speaking on Mark Dolan Tonight he disclosed during a royal family studio discussion that, "I have 9 grandchildren, including 3 who are mixed race"

Television

ShowDescriptionYear
ABC TVContinuity announcer1960–1968
Cue For SportSeries Host, Tyne-Tees TV1962
Living Your LifeInterviewer, ABC TV for ITV Network1962
Blackpool Night And DayCompere ABC TV1963
ABC At LargeInterview with The Beatles1963
Rehearsal RoomPop Music Series Host, Tyne-Tees TV1964
About AngliaInterviewer, Anglia TV1984
It's The Geordie BeatPop show host, Tyne-Tees TV1964
The Bright SparksChildren's TV series host, Tyne-Tees TV1966–1967
Doddy's Music BoxInterviewer, ABC TV series for ITV network1967–1968
SingalongMusic series host, Tyne-Tees TV1967
Try For TenQuiz series host, Anglia TV1967–1969
Pop The QuestionQuiz series host, Tyne-Tees TV1968
Goodbye From ABCWriter and host, ABC TV1968
Thames TelevisionContinuity announcer1968–1982
Fashion From WoburnHost, Thames TV1968
Magic Circle Christmas BoxHost, Thames TV1968–1969
Out Of SchoolHost, Thames TV1969
Easter Holiday SportHost, Thames TV1969
Whit Monday SportHost, Thames TV1969
Epsom Derby DayInterviewer, Thames TV1969–1972
Glamour '69Host, Beauty contest series Anglia TV1969
Benny Hill ShowInterviewer, Thames TV1969–1970, 1973
Dickie Henderson ShowInterviewer, Thames TV1969
Doddy's Christmas BizarreInterviewer, London Weekend TV1969
Dig And RunQuiz series host, Westward TV1970
1970 World CupHost, Thames TV1970
Aladdin's CaveHost, Thames TV1970
Miss WestwardHost, Beauty contest series, Westward TV1970, 1974
Just LookHost, Children's series Yorkshire TV1971–1972
Miss TV TimesHost Thames TV for ITV network1971–1972
Christmas CavalcadeGuest, London Weekend TV1971
Once Upon A TimeStoryteller, Thames TV1971
Ken Dodd ShowSeries interviewer, ATV1972
Miss TV Times LondonHost, Thames TV1972–1973
Miss LondonHost, Thames TV1972–1974
Chipperfield's CircusHost, Thames TV for ITV network1972–1973, 1976–1978
Monty Python's Flying CircusCameo role BBC TV1973
European Figure Skating ChampionshipsHost, Thames TV1973
Ken Dodd ShowInterviewer1973
Sunday Night At The London PalladiumSeries voice-over, ATV1974
Miss Thames TVHost1974
PorridgeVoice on radio, BBC TV1974
Seaside SpecialSeries host, BBC TV1975–1977
TodayInterviewer, Thames TV1975–1977
Tommy Cooper ShowSeries interviewer, Thames TV for ITV network1975
Celebrity SquaresGuest, ATV1975
Top Of The PopsSeries host, BBC TV1976–1978, 1988
SmokieHost, BBC TV1976
Thames TV in New YorkNewsreader/programme host1976
Whose BabyGuest, Thames TV1977
Harry Secombe Christmas SpecialGuest, Yorkshire TV for ITV network1977
You Can't Be SeriousGuest, Thames TV1978
Quick On The DrawGuest, Thames TV1978
Late Late ShowGuest, RTE1978
Singalong With SunshineGuest, BBC Scotland1978
Soft TouchGuest, ATV1978
Generation GameGuest, BBC TV1978–1981
Feeling GreatGuest, BBC TV1978
World Disco Dance ChampionshipHost, Thames TV for ITV network1978–1979
MagpieGuest, Thames TV1978
Blankety BlankGuest, BBC TV1979–1982, 1985
Northern LifeGuest, Tyne-Tees TV1979
NationwideGuest, BBC TV1979
Thames TV in Los AngelesNewsreader/programme host1979
Square OneGuest, Granada TV1980
Give Us A ClueGuest, Thames TV1980
TV Times AwardsHost, Thames TV for ITV network1980–1981
Up For The CupHost, Talent Show series ATV for ITV network1980
PunchlinesPanel show guest, LWT1980–1984
Life LinesGuest, BBC TV1981
Family FortunesGuest, ATV1981
Friday LiveGuest, Tyne-Tees TV1982
The Last SongGuest, BBC TV1983
Make Me LaughGuest, Tyne-Tees TV1983
BabbleGuest, Channel 41983
Untied Shoelaces ShowGuest, BBC TV1983
Pebble Mill At OneGuest1983
Morecambe & Wise ShowGuest, Thames TV1983
Game For A LaughGuest, LWT1983
Cilla Black ShowGuest, LWT1983
Child's PlayGuest, LWT1984
Star RomancesGuest, TV-AM1984
Saturday Night AffairsGuest, BBC TV1984
Late Late Breakfast ShowGuest, BBC TV1984
Breakfast TimeGuest, BBC TV1984
Pop The QuestionTeam captain of music quiz series, TVS1985
LifestyleHost of many series including Coffee Break, David Hamilton's People SKY TV1985–1993
I've Got A SecretGuest, BBC TV1986
Eurovision Song Contest PreviewsHost, BBC TV1986
Coast To Coast PeopleGuest, TVS1987
That's My DogGuest, TSW1987
All Clued UpHost, Game show series TVS for ITV network1987–1991
QuandriesGuest, TVS1988
A Question Of EntertainmentGuest, BBC TV1988
Central WeekendGuest, Central TV1988, 1996
The Time and The PlaceGuest,TVS1988
What's My Line?Guest, Thames TV1988
The Bottom LineGuest, Thames TV1988
Tell The TruthGuest, TVS1990
Ken Dodd ShowThames TV1990
15 To 1Guest, Channel 41990, 1995
Crazy ConnectionsGuest, Celador1990
Happy FamiliesGuest, Meridian TV1993
You BetGuest, LWT1993–1994
Living TVGuest1993–1995, 1977
QVCMusic presenter1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001
Sky NewsReporter/guest1994–1998, 2001, 2011
Through The KeyholeGuest, BBC & ITV1994, 2000, 2007
Travel ChannelGuest, 19941995–1996
Jobs For The GirlsGuest, BBC TV1995
The WarehouseGuest, Anglia TV1995
Soccer AMGuest, Sky1995
Telephonin'Guest, HTV1995
Love In The AfternoonGuest, Channel 41996
Bog Standard Chat ShowGuest, BBC TV1996
Capital WomanGuest, Mentorn1996
SportstalkGuest, Granada TV1996
Telly AddictsGuest, BBC TV1996
EstherGuest, BBC TV1997
Karioke ChallengeGuest, Challenge TV1997
Pet SquadGuest, Live TV1997
Shooting StarsGuest, BBC TV1997
Talking Telephone NumbersGuest, ITV1997
Elvis Has Left The BuildingGuest, Granada TV1997
An Audience With Jim DavidsonGuest, ITV1997
5's CompanyGuest, Channel 51997
What's In The BoxSeries Host, Live TV1998
Living It UpGuest, Living TV1998
Hale & PaceGuest, BBC TV1998
Clive James on TelevisionGuest, Watchmaker TV1998
Noel's House PartyGuest, BBC TV1998
KilroyGuest, BBC TV1998
Taking The PitchGuest, Granada TV1998
New Year's Eve Is RubbishGuest, BBC TV1998
The Day Britain Turned DiscoGuest, BBC TV1999
VanessaGuest, BBC TV1999
Mis-match Of The DayGuest, Live TV1999
Rocking The BlindGuest, BBC TV2001
The Real Julie GoodyearGuest, Channel 42002
The Real Tony BlackburnGuest, Channel 52002
Inside OutPresenter, BBC TV2002
19 KeysGuest, Channel 52003
Anglia TV 50th Birthday ShowNarrator & Guest2005
Fulham FC showSeries Host, Sky Sports2006
It's Me or The DogGuest, Channel 42007
Richard and Judy ShowGuest, Cactus TV2009
The Weakest LinkGuest, BBC TV2009
Cash In The Celebrity AtticGuest, BBC TV2010
Bob Monkhouse SpecialGuest, BBC TV2010
Celebrity EggheadsBBC TV2010
Vintage TVPresenter2010–2011
The One ShowGuest, BBC TV2011
Cricketer of The YearVoice-over, Sky Sports2011
The Untold Tommy CooperGuest, Channel 42011
Let's Dance for Sport ReliefContestant, BBC TV2012
Pointless CelebritiesGuest, BBC TV2012, 2019
Antiques Road TripGuest, BBC TV2012
Piers Morgan's Life StoriesGuest, ITV2013
Amazing GreysGuest, ITV2014
David Hamilton ShowSeries Host, Big Centre TV2015
Ken Dodd ShowGuest, Channel 52016
When Game Shows Go Horribly WrongGuest, Channel 52017
Ken Dodd: How Tickled We WereGuest, BBC 22018
When TV Guests Go Terribly WrongGuest, Channel 52020
Britain's Biggest 70s HitsGuest (talking head contributor - various episodes/years), Channel 52021
GB Newspanellist2022

References

  1. ↑ "Memory Lane". Fulham FC. 4 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Anthony, Stephanie (20 September 2020). "DJ David Hamilton: 'It was the golden age of radio'". yours.co.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  3. ↑ "Remembering Lifestyle – including Final Closedown". YouTube. 1 March 2018. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  4. ↑ "BBC Genome Project". The Beat Show. 28 March 1963. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  5. ↑ Hamilton, David (2017). The Golden Days of Radio One. Ashwater Press. p. 94. ISBN 978-0-9927119-8-6.
  6. ↑ "The Wireless (retrieved 10 May 2012)". Archived from the original on 17 January 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  7. ↑ "GP Broadcasting Ltd". Companies House. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "Splash FM proves worthy winner in West Sussex town". Radio Now. 6 September 2002. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "Football". mirror.
  10. ↑ "Beauty Tips for Women by David Hamilton (Paperback, 1974)". Everest.
  11. ↑ "David Hamilton's Milllion Sellers". Tailor Made Radio. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  12. ↑ Tinson, Emma (11 May 2021). "David Hamilton admits he was almost axed from Radio 1". Daily Express. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
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