141: David Hamilton

My guest this week is legendary broadcaster David Hamilton. David’s career goes back to 1959 when he joined the British Forces Network radio station in Germany and was there at the same time as Elvis Presley.

He was the last person to present Housewives’ Choice and did one of the first TV interviews with The Beatles. David talks about his stint on Radio 1 and how the station evolved from the pirate days, and discusses in particular the camaraderie with the Radio 1 football team.

We talk about the latest RAJAR radio industry data figures and how Boom Radio, where David currently works, is rising and how it taps into the gap created by national radio stations. David talks about how lockdown has changed our working patterns, and why he likes being in his cocoon in Sussex.

David reflects on his time presenting Top of the Pops in an age when whole families would congregate around the TV, and he talks about how change is happening more quickly now than has been the case in previous decades.

Radio was David’s first love and he speaks about it as being his window to the world. Pete Murray was his broadcasting hero, and we find out how he managed to talk Pete out of retirement last Christmas. 

David talks about how he got rid of the rough edges of his South London accent in order to get on radio and about the time he was offered the chance to present Wish You Were Here with Judith Chalmers but prioritized his radio commitments.

David also talks about how he started out as a journalist, how he has sung on cruise ships and how, thanks to Ken Dodd, he came to be known as ‘Diddy’ David Hamilton.

We finish by talking about his friend (and my own radio hero) Ed Stewart who died while David was doing his rock n roll tour in 2016.

Please note: Opinions expressed are solely those of Chris Deacy and David Hamilton and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the University of Kent.