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David Hamilton (broadcaster)

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David Hamilton
Hamilton in 2009
Born
David Pilditch[1]

(1938-09-10) 10 September 1938 (age 86)
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

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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

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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.[3]

Radio career

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BBC Radio

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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 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

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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.[6] 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.[7]

He was a founder director of Lite FM in Peterborough[8] and Splash FM in Worthing,[9] 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

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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

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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.[10]

Books

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Hamilton is the author of six books: David Hamilton's Beauty Tips for Women,[11] 1974, The Music Game (autobiography), 1986, A Fulhamish Tale, 2012, The Golden Days of Radio One, 2017 and Commercial Radio Daze, 2020. David Hamilton's new autobiography, "The Long and Winding Road", published in 2024.

Current work

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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.[12]

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.[13] 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

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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 1987–1991
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, 1977
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

References

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  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. ^ Mahoney, Elisabeth. "Radio Review - A bit fifty-fifty". Guardian.
  7. ^ "The Wireless (retrieved 10 May 2012)". Archived from the original on 17 January 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  8. ^ "GP Broadcasting Ltd". Companies House. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Splash FM proves worthy winner in West Sussex town". Radio Now. 6 September 2002. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Football". mirror.
  11. ^ "Beauty Tips for Women by David Hamilton (Paperback, 1974)". Everest.
  12. ^ "David Hamilton's Milllion Sellers". Tailor Made Radio. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  13. ^ 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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