Hamilton was born in Manchester and attended Glastonbury Road Grammar School at St Helier in Surrey until the age of 17.

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.

For BBC TV, he hosted Top of the Pops and Seaside Special and the Eurovision Song Contest Previews in 1986.

[3] Hamilton made his broadcasting debut with the British Forces Network in Cologne in Germany during his national service in 1959.

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.

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.

On the 2 December 2023, speaking on Mark Dolan Tonight he disclosed during a royal family studio discussion that, "I have 9 grandchildren".