David Hamilton

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 was born in Manchester and 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.

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.

When ABC closed down in 1968, he transferred to its successor company Thames Television as an announcer, 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.

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. 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, Hamilton joined the team of Late Night Extra and in 1973 was offered his own daily show on Radio 1 every weekday afternoon from 2pm to 5pm. 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 November 1977, the show moved to Radio 2 and he remained with the station until he quit at the end of 1986, stating that the music policy had become Geriatric, as the then head of music Frances Line had decided to change the music policy to reflect that of the old Light Programme.

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 9am to 12 noon, although the show was quickly brought forward an hour, starting at 8am. In November 1988 he joined Capital Gold to present its daily 10am to 1pm 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.

Starting 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.

He was a founder director of Lite FM in Peterborough and Splash FM in Worthing, 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.

Books Hamilton is the author of six books: David Hamilton's Beauty Tips for Women, 1974, The Music Game (autobiography), 1986, A Fulhamish Tale, 2012, The Golden Days of Radio One, 2017, Commercial Radio Daze, 2020, and his autobiography The Long and Winding Road, 2024.

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.

In 2021, at the age of 82, Hamilton became the oldest broadcaster to present a daily show on national radio with his lunchtime show on Boom Radio. 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 2 December 2023, speaking on Mark Dolan Tonight he disclosed during a royal family studio discussion, "I have nine grandchildren".

Television Show Description Year ABC TV Continuity announcer 1960–1968 Cue For Sport Series Host, Tyne-Tees TV 1962 Living Your Life Interviewer, ABC TV for ITV Network 1962 Blackpool Night And Day Compere ABC TV 1963 ABC At Large Interview with The Beatles 1963 Rehearsal Room Pop Music Series Host, Tyne-Tees TV 1964 About Anglia Interviewer, Anglia TV 1984 It's The Geordie Beat Pop show host, Tyne-Tees TV 1964 The Bright Sparks Children's TV series host, Tyne-Tees TV 1966–1967 Doddy's Music Box Interviewer, ABC TV series for ITV network 1967–1968 Singalong Music series host, Tyne-Tees TV 1967 Try For Ten Quiz series host, Anglia TV 1967–1969 Pop The Question Quiz series host, Tyne-Tees TV 1968 Goodbye From ABC Writer and host, ABC TV 1968 Thames Television Continuity announcer 1968–1982 Fashion From Woburn Host, Thames TV 1968 Magic Circle Christmas Box Host, Thames TV 1968–1969 Out Of School Host, Thames TV 1969 Easter Holiday Sport Host, Thames TV 1969 Whit Monday Sport Host, Thames TV 1969 Epsom Derby Day Interviewer, Thames TV 1969–1972 Glamour '69 Host, Beauty contest series Anglia TV 1969 Benny Hill Show Interviewer, Thames TV 1969–1970, 1973 Dickie Henderson Show Interviewer, Thames TV 1969 Doddy's Christmas Bizarre Interviewer, London Weekend TV 1969 Dig And Run Quiz series host, Westward TV 1970 1970 World Cup Host, Thames TV 1970 Aladdin's Cave Host, Thames TV 1970 Miss Westward Host, Beauty contest series, Westward TV 1970, 1974 Just Look Host, Children's series Yorkshire TV 1971–1972 Miss TV Times Host Thames TV for ITV network 1971–1972 Christmas Cavalcade Guest, London Weekend TV 1971 Once Upon A Time Storyteller, Thames TV 1971 Ken Dodd Show Series interviewer, ATV 1972 Miss TV Times London Host, Thames TV 1972–1973 Miss London Host, Thames TV 1972–1974 Chipperfield's Circus Host, Thames TV for ITV network 1972–1973, 1976–1978 Monty Python's Flying Circus Cameo role BBC TV 1973 European Figure Skating Championships Host, Thames TV 1973 Ken Dodd Show Interviewer 1973 Sunday Night At The London Palladium Series voice-over, ATV 1974 Miss Thames TV Host 1974 Porridge Voice on radio, BBC TV 1974 Seaside Special Series host, BBC TV 1975–1977 Today Interviewer, Thames TV 1975–1977 Tommy Cooper Show Series interviewer, Thames TV for ITV network 1975 Celebrity Squares Guest, ATV 1975 Top Of The Pops Series host, BBC TV 1976–1978, 1988 Smokie Host, BBC TV 1976 Thames TV in New York Newsreader/programme host 1976 Whose Baby Guest, Thames TV 1977 Harry Secombe Christmas Special Guest, Yorkshire TV for ITV network 1977 You Can't Be Serious Guest, Thames TV 1978 Quick On The Draw Guest, Thames TV 1978 Late Late Show Guest, RTE 1978 Singalong With Sunshine Guest, BBC Scotland 1978 Soft Touch Guest, ATV 1978 Generation Game Guest, BBC TV 1978–1981 Feeling Great Guest, BBC TV 1978 World Disco Dance Championship Host, Thames TV for ITV network 1978–1979 Magpie Guest, Thames TV 1978 Blankety Blank Guest, BBC TV 1979–1982, 1985 Northern Life Guest, Tyne-Tees TV 1979 Nationwide Guest, BBC TV 1979 Thames TV in Los Angeles Newsreader/programme host 1979 Square One Guest, Granada TV 1980 Give Us A Clue Guest, Thames TV 1980 TV Times Awards Host, Thames TV for ITV network 1980–1981 Up For The Cup Host, Talent Show series ATV for ITV network 1980 Punchlines Panel show guest, LWT 1980–1984 Life Lines Guest, BBC TV 1981 Family Fortunes Guest, ATV 1981 Friday Live Guest, Tyne-Tees TV 1982 The Last Song Guest, BBC TV 1983 Make Me Laugh Guest, Tyne-Tees TV 1983 Babble Guest, Channel 4 1983 Untied Shoelaces Show Guest, BBC TV 1983 Pebble Mill At One Guest 1983 Morecambe & Wise Show Guest, Thames TV 1983 Game For A Laugh Guest, LWT 1983 Cilla Black Show Guest, LWT 1983 Child's Play Guest, LWT 1984 Star Romances Guest, TV-AM 1984 Saturday Night Affairs Guest, BBC TV 1984 Late Late Breakfast Show Guest, BBC TV 1984 Breakfast Time Guest, BBC TV 1984 Pop The Question Team captain of music quiz series, TVS 1985 Lifestyle Host of many series including Coffee Break, David Hamilton's People SKY TV 1985–1993 I've Got A Secret Guest, BBC TV 1986 Eurovision Song Contest Previews Host, BBC TV 1986 Coast To Coast People Guest, TVS 1987 That's My Dog Guest, TSW 1987 All Clued Up Host, Game show series TVS for ITV network 1988–1991 Quandries Guest, TVS 1988 A Question Of Entertainment Guest, BBC TV 1988 Central Weekend Guest, Central TV 1988, 1996 The Time and The Place Guest, TVS 1988 What's My Line? Guest, Thames TV 1988 The Bottom Line Guest, Thames TV 1988 Tell The Truth Guest, TVS 1990 Ken Dodd Show Thames TV 1990 15 To 1 Guest, Channel 4 1990, 1995 Crazy Connections Guest, Celador 1990 Happy Families Guest, Meridian TV 1993 You Bet Guest, LWT 1993–1994 Living TV Guest 1993–1995, QVC Music presenter 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001 Sky News Reporter/guest 1994–1998, 2001, 2011 Through The Keyhole Guest, BBC & ITV 1994, 2000, 2007 Travel Channel Guest, 1994 1995–1996 Jobs For The Girls Guest, BBC TV 1995 The Warehouse Guest, Anglia TV 1995 Soccer AM Guest, Sky 1995 Telephonin Guest, HTV 1995 Love In The Afternoon Guest, Channel 4 1996 Bog Standard Chat Show Guest, BBC TV 1996 Capital Woman Guest, Mentorn 1996 Sportstalk Guest, Granada TV 1996 Telly Addicts Guest, BBC TV 1996 Esther Guest, BBC TV 1997 Karioke Challenge Guest, Challenge TV 1997 Pet Squad Guest, Live TV 1997 Shooting Stars Guest, BBC TV 1997 Talking Telephone Numbers Guest, ITV 1997 Elvis Has Left The Building Guest, Granada TV 1997 An Audience With Jim Davidson Guest, ITV 1997 5's Company Guest, Channel 5 1997 What's In The Box Series Host, Live TV 1998 Living It Up Guest, Living TV 1998 Hale & Pace Guest, BBC TV 1998 Clive James on Television Guest, Watchmaker TV 1998 Noel's House Party Guest, BBC TV 1998 Kilroy Guest, BBC TV 1998 Taking The Pitch Guest, Granada TV 1998 New Year's Eve Is Rubbish Guest, BBC TV 1998 The Day Britain Turned Disco Guest, BBC TV 1999 Vanessa Guest, BBC TV 1999 Mis-match Of The Day Guest, Live TV 1999 Rocking The Blind Guest, BBC TV 2001 The Real Julie Goodyear Guest, Channel 4 2002 The Real Tony Blackburn Guest, Channel 5 2002 Inside Out Presenter, BBC TV 2002 19 Keys Guest, Channel 5 2003 Anglia TV 50th Birthday Show Narrator & Guest 2005 Fulham FC show Series Host, Sky Sports 2006 It's Me or The Dog Guest, Channel 4 2007 Richard and Judy Show Guest, Cactus TV 2009 The Weakest Link Guest, BBC TV 2009 Cash In The Celebrity Attic Guest, BBC TV 2010 Bob Monkhouse Special Guest, BBC TV 2010 Celebrity Eggheads BBC TV 2010 Vintage TV Presenter 2010–2011 The One Show Guest, BBC TV 2011 Cricketer of The Year Voice-over, Sky Sports 2011 The Untold Tommy Cooper Guest, Channel 4 2011 Let's Dance for Sport Relief Contestant, BBC TV 2012 Pointless Celebrities Guest, BBC TV 2012, 2019 Antiques Road Trip Guest, BBC TV 2012 Piers Morgan's Life Stories Guest, ITV 2013 Amazing Greys Guest, ITV 2014 David Hamilton Show Series Host, Big Centre TV 2015 Ken Dodd Show Guest, Channel 5 2016 When Game Shows Go Horribly Wrong Guest, Channel 5 2017 Ken Dodd: How Tickled We Were Guest, BBC 2 2018 When TV Guests Go Terribly Wrong Guest, Channel 5 2020 Britain's Biggest 70s Hits Guest (talking head contributor - various episodes/years), Channel 5 2021 GB News panellist 2022