David Hamilton

David Hamiltonis 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.

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.