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Dominik Diamond
Dominik Diamond
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Dominik Paul Diamond (born 31 December 1969) is a Scottish television, radio presenter and newspaper columnist. He was the original presenter of Channel 4's video gaming programme GamesMaster, before later hosting The Dominik Diamond Breakfast Show on XFM Scotland and as a columnist for the Daily Star. After moving to Canada in 2009, he has hosted radio shows for stations in Toronto, Halifax and Calgary, where he was host of the Morning Show on Jack FM from 2015 to 2018.

Key Information

Early life

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Born in Arbroath, Scotland, Diamond attended Strathallan School in Forgandenny, Perthshire.[2] He studied drama at Bristol University, where he was a contemporary of David Walliams and Simon Pegg.[3] Diamond, Walliams and Pegg were part of a comedy troupe called David Icke and the Orphans of Jesus.

Walliams and Diamond fell out after Walliams and Matt Lucas appeared as a guest on Diamond's[4] Paramount show Dom'n'Kirk's Night O Plenty – after which Diamond said that Walliams and Lucas were "complete arseholes" on the show. In a 2007 interview Diamond said that he had not spoken to Walliams since, whom he described as both a "comic genius" and a "twat".[5]

Television and publications

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Diamond's biggest role on television came presenting 6 series of Channel 4's computer and video game show GamesMaster, which ran from 1992 to 1998. Diamond did not present the show's third series, following disagreements with the show's creators about Diamond's desire to pursue business opportunities outside GamesMaster and the appointment of McDonald's as the show's sponsor. He returned as host from season 4 onwards.[6][7] He went on to present the short-lived BBC Scotland panel show Caledonia McBrains in 2002. He presented When Games Attack from 2004 to 2005, a British tv show focused on video games.

In 2006, Diamond filmed a Five documentary, Crucify Me. During filming, he took part in the annual Holy Week re-enactment of the crucifixion at San Pedro Cutud in the Philippines. However, he backed down at the last minute, breaking into tears.[8][9]

Diamond appeared on the Discovery Real Time programme, Rubble Trouble, which charts the development of his house extension.[10] While residing in Brighton from 2002 to 2004, he trained and worked as a bus driver with the local transport company Brighton and Hove Bus Company, recording his thoughts and feelings for a documentary to be shown on UK television Channel 5.[citation needed] Similarly to Diamond, many celebrities have worked for Brighton and Hove Bus Company, some of which are named on the front of the city's buses.[11]

Diamond's autobiography, Celtic & Me: Confessions From the Jungle, was published in the UK by Black & White Publishing in August 2010. The book is a combination of media memoir and the story of Diamond's life as a fan of Celtic Football Club.[12] In 2015, he became one of 44 financial backers for the short film Autumn Never Dies.[citation needed]

Radio

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Diamond launched XFM Scotland with The Dominik Diamond Breakfast Show on XFM Scotland in January 2006.[13] On 27 June 2007, RadioToday.co.uk announced that Diamond had joined Talk 107 to cover a number of programmes over the summer months. From 13 October 2007 Diamond presented the Dominik Diamond Breakfast Club on Talk 107. In January 2008 Dominik took over Talk 107 Drive with Marisa de Andrade. In April 2008, following a station revamp, the show became known as Diamond and de Andrade. Diamond left Talk 107;[when?] the station closed in December 2008.[14]

He hosted The Dominik Diamond Show Mon–Fri 6–11pm on Q107 in Toronto. After a stint hosting on new music station Radio 96.5 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Diamond returned to the Toronto market in March 2014, replacing Dean Blundell as host of the morning show on 102.1 the Edge.[15] From September 2015 to November 2018 he was the Morning Show host on 96.9 Jack FM in Calgary. In April 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown, Dominik started a live-stream channel on Twitch.[16]

Personal life

[edit]

Diamond is a lifelong fan of Celtic F.C.[17]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Dominik Diamond (born Paul Dominik Diamond on 31 December 1969) is a Scottish-Canadian television and radio presenter, , , and , best known for hosting the pioneering video game review programme GamesMaster from 1992 to 1998. Born in , , Diamond attended before studying at the , where he began performing in clubs and pubs alongside future stars like . His breakthrough into television came at age 23 with GamesMaster, a hit that combined challenges, guests, and his irreverent commentary, running for six series and establishing him as a key figure in early gaming media. Following , Diamond expanded his TV presence in the UK, hosting shows such as Annually Retentive (2006) on , a satirical clip compilation series, and presenting radio programmes including 5 Live's Sportscall and phone-ins on Real Radio and XFM . He also contributed to documentaries, including a series Rubble Trouble (2006) about renovating his home, and made headlines for on-air antics like punching a member of the comedy duo Little Britain during a live broadcast. In 2009, Diamond relocated to , where he built a prominent radio career, hosting shows across stations including coast-to-coast broadcasts before focusing on Halifax outlets; in 2024, he transitioned from hosting evenings on Q104 (CFRQ-FM) to the morning show (6:00–10:00 a.m.) on 89.9 The Wave (CHNS-FM), a role he continues as of 2025. Concurrently, he has written as a gaming columnist for since 2021, covering topics from digital board games to parenting simulations in video titles like The Alters. Diamond is also an author of several books, including the Amazon #1 bestselling memoir Celtic & Me: Confessions from the Jungle (2009), a personal account blending his media life with passion for , and GamesMaster: The Oral History (2023), a retrospective featuring over 40 contributors from the show's production and guests. His dual citizenship and transatlantic career highlight a versatile path from 1990s TV icon to contemporary podcaster and print contributor.

Early life and education

Upbringing in Scotland

Paul Dominik Diamond was born on 31 December 1969 in Arbroath, a historic fishing town on the east coast of Angus, Scotland, renowned for its maritime heritage and the traditional Arbroath smokie. He has described his upbringing there as almost mythical, shaped by the town's rugged coastal environment and close-knit community. Diamond grew up on a council housing estate in Arbroath, where his early family life was influenced by his parents and extended relatives. His father, a local pub singer, introduced him to doowop and rock'n'roll music, fostering an early appreciation for performance that extended to Diamond playing classical guitar and giving recitals at venues like St John's Kirk in Perth. His maternal grandfather, a Polish immigrant who fled pre-war Warsaw and settled in Arbroath after abruptly leaving his first family, inspired the unique spelling of Diamond's forename. A bout of childhood pneumonia resulted in partial deafness in his right ear, an experience that later influenced his resilience. The local environment of , with its working-class ethos and proximity to the sea, contributed to Diamond's formative personality, blending humor and determination amid modest circumstances. As a child, he aspired to become a professional footballer, reflecting the town's sporting culture, but an injury or realization shifted his focus toward acting. He began participating in school performances, including a lead role as in Amadeus, which hinted at his future in . At age 10, Diamond secured a scholarship to in , marking a pivotal transition in his education and distancing him from potential pitfalls of his surroundings.

University and comedy beginnings

Diamond attended , a boarding school in Forgandenny, , for his secondary education, where he developed an early interest in performance. Following this, he pursued higher education at the , studying drama from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. There, he was a contemporary of future comedians and , both of whom were also enrolled in the drama program. His Scottish upbringing in provided material for his emerging comedic style, often drawing on regional quirks and personal anecdotes. During his university years, Diamond formed the comedy troupe "David Icke and the Orphans of Jesus" alongside Walliams, Pegg, and others including and Myfanwy Moore. The group, named in reference to the broadcaster 's controversial shift toward claiming divinity, performed sketches and stand-up routines at a weekly organized by Diamond. These sessions allowed early experimentation with and character work; for instance, Walliams and his future collaborator debuted a there. Diamond and his troupe mates took to local stages, sharing bills with emerging talents like Pegg in pubs and clubs around , honing skills in improvisation and audience interaction that would define their later careers. After graduating, Diamond transitioned to professional stand-up, securing his first paid comedy gigs on the circuit while navigating the competitive entertainment landscape. This period marked his shift from student performer to full-time entertainer, though it was complicated by a professional fallout with Walliams. The rift occurred after Walliams guested on Diamond's Paramount chat show Night O'Plenty alongside , performing a disruptive sketch as the double act that escalated into chaos, straining their friendship. Despite this, Diamond's persistence in gigging laid the groundwork for his entry into television presenting.

Television career

GamesMaster and early success

Dominik Diamond served as the host of the British television programme GamesMaster on Channel 4 from 1992 to 1998, presenting six out of the show's seven series and establishing himself as a key figure in early UK gaming media. At just 23 years old when the series began, Diamond's irreverent and humorous on-screen persona drew from his prior experience in stand-up comedy, which helped him navigate the rapid onset of fame and the demands of live television production. The show aired weekly in a prime-time slot on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm, running for 126 episodes across its original run and quickly becoming a staple for young audiences interested in video games. The format of centered on competitive challenges, where contestants—often teenagers or celebrities—competed head-to-head on popular consoles of the era, such as those featuring titles like , with winners receiving the iconic Golden Joystick trophy. Diamond introduced segments with banter and innuendo, while astronomer Sir provided narration as the disembodied, authoritative "GamesMaster" character—a floating head that delivered verdicts and tips in a stern, otherworldly tone. Production evolved annually, with sets themed around fantastical locations like a church or an oil rig to mimic levels, and episodes included game reviews, gameplay hints, and celebrity guests such as Vic Reeves, , and members of . Diamond temporarily exited after series 2 due to contract disputes, including his opposition to a two-year sponsorship deal with , which he felt compromised the show's edgy independence; he was replaced by actor for series 3 before returning for series 4 with greater creative input. GamesMaster achieved significant cultural impact as the first dedicated television programme to video gaming, helping to legitimize the medium as a mainstream entertainment form and shifting perceptions away from its "nerdy" during the 16-bit to 32-bit console transition. The series tripled the ratings of its predecessor in the time slot, drawing steady viewership that reflected the growing popularity of gaming among youth, and its blend of , humor, and insider knowledge influenced subsequent formats in gaming media and beyond, such as automotive shows like Top Gear. For Diamond, the early success brought personal challenges, including the pressure of sudden celebrity status and on-set tensions, such as a public feud with producer Dave in series 6, which led to Perry's departure after a heated segment. Although the show received no major broadcast awards, its pioneering role cemented Diamond's reputation as a trailblazer in gaming television.

Later television projects

Following the success of GamesMaster, which served as a launchpad for further opportunities, Diamond hosted the comedy Caledonia MacBrains on in 2002. Originally hosted by Rob McLean, Diamond took over as presenter after the show's initial run for the second series of 8 episodes, aiming to inject a more adult-oriented tone; the program, produced by The Comedy Unit, featured Scottish comedians and celebrities in satirical discussions on national topics and ran for two series totaling 18 episodes, though it received mixed reviews for its lackluster execution. During his residence in Brighton from 2002 to 2004, Diamond trained and briefly worked as a for & Hove Buses, an experience documented for a Channel 5 program exploring career transitions. This unconventional stint reflected his efforts to diversify beyond television amid shifting professional demands. In 2004 and 2005, Diamond presented When Games Attack on Bravo, a series he co-created with Jonny that examined humorous and disastrous moments in video gaming history. The show revisited infamous glitches, cheats, and player fails from classic titles, blending archival footage with commentary to highlight the chaotic side of gaming culture. Diamond's television work continued with the 2006 Channel 5 documentary Crucify Me, in which he explored themes of faith and spirituality as a seeking to rediscover his religious identity. Filmed partly in the during , the program followed his participation in a crucifixion reenactment at San Pedro Cutud, though he ultimately withdrew from being nailed to the cross, citing emotional overwhelm. The documentary aired in September 2006, prompting discussions on the ethics of such stunts. In 2006, Diamond made guest appearances in programs such as Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive on , where he featured as himself in an episode satirizing television production. These minor roles marked sporadic returns to the screen amid a broader slowdown in major hosting gigs. Diamond faced significant challenges in maintaining television prominence after GamesMaster, including severe insomnia that began around 2002 and led him to turn down lucrative work, resulting in substantial lost income. He later revealed periods of depression exacerbated by career pressures and the "laddism" of media, which he hid for years before quitting in 2009 due to burnout and financial strain. These struggles contributed to intermittent and a shift away from full-time TV, though he occasionally resurfaced in niche projects.

Radio career

United Kingdom broadcasts

Diamond's radio career in the began in the early 1990s alongside his television work, initially focusing on sports broadcasting. From 1993 to 1999, he hosted Sportscall, a popular sports show on , as well as contributing to 606, the station's flagship soccer program. These roles established his reputation for irreverent humor and audience interaction in live sports discussions. In 2004, he hosted the Saturday Jukebox on Real Radio , a comedy show airing Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., blending music, listener chats, and satirical segments. In the mid-2000s, expanded into music and talk formats. In January , he debuted with The Dominik Breakfast Show on the newly launched XFM , airing weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. and focusing on interspersed with humorous sketches and listener interactions. This program marked the station's inaugural broadcast, replacing the former Beat 106, and quickly established as a prominent voice in Scottish radio through its energetic, entertainment-driven style. Diamond's tenure at XFM Scotland saw notable audience engagement, culminating in his recognition as the XTrax Scottish Radio Presenter of the Year in 2007 for the show's innovative blend of comedy roots and topical discussions. The format emphasized interactive elements, such as caller segments and satirical commentary on current events, which resonated with listeners and contributed to steady growth in the station's early listenership. No major controversies arose during this period, though Diamond's irreverent humor occasionally sparked lively debates on air. In October 2007, Diamond transitioned to Talk 107 in Edinburgh, initially hosting the Dominik Diamond Breakfast Club as a guest presenter before securing a more permanent role. By January 2008, he co-hosted the drive-time slot with Marisa de Andrade, shifting toward a talk-oriented format that maintained his signature humorous and interactive approach while incorporating phone-ins on local issues and celebrity interviews. The partnership emphasized witty banter and audience participation, aligning with Talk 107's phone-in focus, though specific high-profile interviews from this era remain less documented. Diamond departed the station in July 2008 after approximately one year, citing a desire for new opportunities.

Canadian and online work

Diamond moved to , , in January 2009, initially focusing on family life before resuming his broadcasting career. He began his Canadian radio work in 2011, hosting The Dominik Diamond Show on Q107 in from 6 to 11 p.m. weekdays, drawing on his foundational UK radio experience to build a following with humorous commentary and music segments. In 2014, Diamond transitioned to mornings on 102.1 in , co-hosting the breakfast show with Josie Dye and Greg Beharrell, where he emphasized and engaging listener interactions tailored to the city's diverse audience. By 2015, he relocated to to host the morning show on , which featured coast-to-coast syndication elements and helped elevate the program's ratings from 11th to 2nd place during his tenure until November 2018. From 2019 to 2024, Diamond hosted evenings on Q104 (CFRQ-FM) in Halifax, presenting programming from 7 p.m. to midnight weekdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., incorporating personal anecdotes, music retrospectives, and listener engagement. As of July 2024, he transitioned to hosting Get Up! with Dominik Diamond on 89.9 The Wave (CHNS-FM) in Halifax, airing weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Atlantic Time, where he incorporates local influences such as regional news, community events, and Canadian cultural references to connect with listeners. In April 2020, amid the , he launched a Twitch channel, streaming live content five days a week that blends gaming retrospectives, personal anecdotes, talk segments, and , adapting his broadcast style for an online global audience while maintaining ties to his Canadian base.

Publications

Books

Dominik Diamond's literary output includes several works that draw on his experiences in media and personal passions, with a focus on his television career and lifelong fandom of . His debut book, Gamesmaster: The Official Book: The Insider's Guide to the Gamesmaster Universe, published in 1993 by Virgin Publishing, served as a companion to the early seasons of the video game show he hosted, offering behind-the-scenes insights, episode recaps, and tips for viewers on featured games. This slim hardcover volume captured the show's anarchic spirit and helped solidify Diamond's role as a key figure in early gaming culture, though it received limited formal reviews at the time due to the niche market for such tie-ins. In 1995, Diamond published Dominik Diamond's Guide to Video Games and How to Survive Them through Lions, a humorous 134-page guide offering tips on gaming etiquette, attire, and survival in the video game world, reflecting his early expertise in the medium. In 2010 (hardcover edition), Diamond released his autobiography Celtic & Me: Confessions from the Jungle, published by Black & White Publishing, which intertwines his professional journey in television and comedy with his fervent support for Celtic Football Club. The book humorously recounts his transition from a childhood Rangers fan to a devoted Celtic supporter, blending anecdotes from his media career—such as high-profile hosting gigs—with vivid accounts of match-day experiences and the emotional highs and lows of fandom. It achieved commercial success, topping Amazon's bestseller list in its category and earning praise for its candid, entertaining tone that resonated with Scottish football enthusiasts. Readers and reviewers highlighted its originality and wit, with Amazon users noting it as a "good read" full of "personal back-end stories" that kept interest high without becoming overly sentimental. The memoir contributed to the genre of football fan literature by offering a celebrity perspective on club loyalty amid professional pressures. Diamond's most recent major publication, GamesMaster: The Oral History, appeared in 2022 from Thames & Hudson, providing a comprehensive retrospective on the enduring legacy of the GamesMaster series through interviews with over 40 contributors, including production crew, celebrity guests, and fellow presenters like Sir Patrick Moore. Guided by Diamond's firsthand recollections, the book explores the show's creation, cultural impact, and behind-the-scenes challenges from 1992 to 1998 and its revivals, emphasizing its role in popularizing video games on mainstream television. Funded through a highly successful Kickstarter campaign that exceeded its goal by more than double and fully backed on the first day, the project stemmed from Diamond's desire to reflect on his career milestones and preserve the collaborative history of a formative media endeavor. Critically acclaimed for its pace and accessibility, it has been described as a "definitive retelling" that weaves autobiography with oral narratives, appealing to nostalgic gamers and media historians alike. With a 4.6 rating on Goodreads from dozens of reviews praising its engaging format and avoidance of dullness, the book has bolstered discussions in gaming literature about the evolution of interactive entertainment on TV. These works highlight Diamond's shift toward reflective writing, leveraging his television background—particularly from —as rich source material for narrative depth, while achieving notable sales and positive reception in their respective niches of football and gaming history.

Columns and essays

Diamond began his as a in the during the 2000s, contributing twice-weekly opinion pieces to the Daily Star for approximately a decade until 2008. These columns covered a broad range of topics, including politics, , football, and , often infused with his signature humorous and irreverent style. Additionally, he wrote a weekly column on football for 90 Minutes, the UK's leading soccer magazine of the era, where he analyzed matches, players, and the sport's cultural impact with wit and passion. In recent years, Diamond has revived his column-writing tradition through digital platforms, launching "Dominik's Little Old Purple Column" on in 2022, with regular installments beginning prominently in 2023. This series features stream-of-consciousness essays blending personal anecdotes, media commentary, and humor, often reflecting on everyday absurdities and his experiences in . Themes frequently include sketches drawn from life, reflections on football (such as his support for ), family dynamics, and career milestones, echoing the eclectic mix of his earlier print work but adapted for an online audience. Diamond has also contributed essays to established outlets like The Guardian, where his pieces in the Games section—as of 2025—explore gaming as a bonding tool with his son and other personal reflections on video games, such as articles on Super Bomberman (2023), Candy Crush (May 2025), and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (September 2025). Another essay details their final gaming session with a prison-break title before the son heads to uni, highlighting themes of family transitions through interactive entertainment. These writings maintain his focus on personal growth amid technological and generational shifts. The series has evolved into a paid subscriber model since mid-2023, offering exclusive content like extended podcasts and insights to foster deeper , now boasting hundreds of subscribers who interact via comments and shares. This shift underscores Diamond's adaptation to digital while preserving the conversational intimacy of his columns. His can be seen as extended narratives building on this column-style brevity and humor.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Diamond has been married to his wife Phoebe since before their relocation to in 2009, a move primarily motivated by his desire to spend more time with his after years of demanding work schedules that limited his involvement in his children's early years. The couple has three children, and Diamond has often reflected on balancing his media career with life, noting in 2008 that his professional commitments had caused him to miss significant portions of their formative experiences. In his writings, Diamond describes the challenges and joys of parenthood, including a 2023 column where he mentioned his then-18-year-old son preparing for his first away from home, highlighting the emotional transitions in family dynamics as his children grew older. Now based in , the family shares interests in video gaming, which Diamond credits as a key bonding activity; he frequently recounts multiplayer sessions with his wife and children, such as tournaments and cooperative play in titles like It Takes Two, which mirror their real-life relational efforts. Beyond his immediate family, Diamond maintains a longstanding friendship with actor , stemming from their time as contemporaries at the , where they performed together in the comedy troupe "David Icke and the Orphans of Jesus" alongside and others. In contrast, his early collaboration with Walliams soured into a personal fallout following Walliams's appearance as a guest on Diamond's 1990s Paramount Comedy Channel show Dom 'n' Kirk.

Relocation and interests

In 2008, Dominik Diamond announced his decision to relocate from to , , citing exhaustion from the relentless pace and interpersonal conflicts of the media landscape as key factors in seeking a fresh start. By early 2009, he had emigrated with his family, initially aiming for a simpler life on a small while prioritizing time with his children and achieving better work-life balance away from high-pressure broadcasting. This move was also motivated by emerging opportunities in Canadian radio, where he soon began building a new career after settling in the region. Diamond's lifelong passion for has remained a cornerstone of his personal identity, influencing his writings and public commentary even after relocation. A devoted supporter since youth, he has attended numerous matches at and channeled his fandom into the 2010 book Celtic & Me: Confessions from the Jungle, which humorously chronicles his experiences as a fan amid the club's cultural significance in Scottish life. From , he continues to engage with the club through advocacy and local football involvement, such as coaching and playing in community leagues since 2009, blending his Scottish roots with Canadian community sports. Beyond football, Diamond's interests reflect his early career roots and evolving personal reflections. His heritage in gaming, stemming from hosting the 1990s television show GamesMaster, persists through ongoing contributions to The Guardian's games section, where he explores nostalgic and familial aspects of the medium. For instance, in a 2023 piece, he described using Super Bomberman to create lasting Christmas memories with his son, highlighting middle-aged perspectives on gaming as a bridge across generations. Similarly, his persistence in comedy—evident from stand-up performances in the late 1980s alongside figures like Simon Pegg and a current weekly podcast—underscores a creative outlet that complements his broadcasting and writing. As of 2025, Diamond resides in , where he has fully integrated into Canadian culture, evidenced by his perfect score on the citizenship test upon arrival and active participation in local media and community events. This coastal city serves as a base for his balanced lifestyle, allowing sustained pursuit of these passions while fostering a sense of belonging in his adopted home.

References

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