David Hamilton's Long and Winding Road

A Journey through Seven Decades of Radio and Tv David Hamilton’s ‘Long and Winding Road’ has taken him from the remote farm in Sussex where he grew up, dreaming of the bright lights, to working all over the UK and in America in a broadcasting career that has lasted for seven decades, eventually bringing him back after over fifty years to the same farm where he started, from which he would broadcast on national radio in his mid-eighties. This road took David to Germany where, during his National Service in the RAF, he became one of the first DJs to play rock ’n’ roll. Four years later, he did one of the first TV interviews with a new group called The Beatles. Since then he has presented thousands of radio shows and on television has hosted Top of the Pops, beauty contests, sports and game shows and appeared alongside top comedians. In this amazingly frank memoir, David tells what it was like working with such comedy greats as Ken Dodd, Benny Hill and Tommy Cooper; of the two serious car crashes he had in his twenties; of how he rode in a speedway race at Wembley Stadium; about his time as a football club director and how he played in the England team that won the World Cup in 1966. David writes of the beautiful women he has loved. His life, his loves, his laughs. It’s all here, from one of Britain’s most enduring broadcasters.

David Hamilton is a distinguished English radio and television presenter, renowned for his extensive career spanning over six decades. Born on September 10, 1938, in Manchester, England, he is affectionately known as 'Diddy David Hamilton', a moniker bestowed upon him by the legendary comedian Ken Dodd.

Hamilton's broadcasting journey commenced in 1959, and since then, he has hosted an impressive tally of over 12,000 radio shows and more than 1,000 television shows.
After completing his national service in the Royal Air Force, Hamilton's career took off as he became a script-writer for the TV series "Portrait of a Star". His television career flourished with roles as an in-vision announcer for ABC Weekend TV and appearances alongside Ken Dodd in "Doddy's Music Box". Throughout the 1960s, he hosted shows for various ITV franchises and later for Thames Television, presenting a variety of programs ranging from awards shows to game shows.
In radio, Hamilton made his mark with the British Forces Network in Cologne, Germany, during his national service. His first UK broadcast was "The Beat Show" from the Playhouse Theatre, Manchester, in 1962. He became a familiar voice on BBC Radio, presenting shows like "Music Through Midnight", "Roundabout", and "Pop Inn". In the 1970s, he was offered his own daily show on Radio 1, which eventually was simultaneously broadcast on Radio 2, garnering the largest British audience of the day.

Customer Reviews

5.0

28 reviews

Minilegs Randall

The best ever written book. I love the man, he is superb. It made a good read.
Noel Tyrrel

Diddy’s page turner – you won’t be able to put it down. That phrase living legend has become far too hackneyed; almost to the extent of devaluing the subject, but here we have the autobiography of a living artifact - I'm referring to a man still entertaining daily radio audiences after 65 years in the TV and Radio business. This is the guy who used to remind you to switch off your set after the National Anthem close down. Amazingly at 85 years David Hamilton has forgotten nothing, despite his 'diddy' stature, he can be compared to one of those giant tortoises on The Galapagos Islands, he is one of the last surviving and possibly the last connection to a bygone era. This is the man that closed down The BBC Light Programme and ABC Television in the North before moving onto to become The House Wive's Choice on Radio 1 in it's golden heyday of the 1970s. There are so many stories to tell and David does so in vivid and hilarious detail, but it's not all laughter and romance, read about his Father's unexpected 'hero's welcome' and his disappointment at being passed over for the pirates, but despite that the boy came good, his Father dished out some tough love and he became a household name who now holds his place upon the highest throne in Royal Radio Land. This really is a great read, highly recommended and a worthy edition to your bookshelf.
Ryan Claridge

I am really enjoying my lovely David Hamilton book once it arrived today. I started reading the book straight away and once I started reading the book I could not put the book down and I ended reading the book in detail and in full. I would have to say it is one of the best ever music related autobiography/ memoir I have ever had the privilege to read. I would certainly recommend the book to anybody who has a specific interest in the history of British radio British radio disc jockeys, or has a specific interest in the history of British music, or a specific interest in the history of British pirate radio stations.
Eyad abuseaen

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