Veteran BBC broadcaster David Hamilton, fondly known as “Diddy”, has opened up about a deeply personal chapter of his life, revealing that he once fell in love with a s*x worker during a difficult period in his marriage.

Hamilton, now 87, was one of the most recognizable voices and faces on British radio and television in the 1970s, hosting shows such as BBC Radio 1 and Top of the Pops.

Speaking in a candid interview with Best magazine, Hamilton shared that although his first marriage to makeup artist Sheila Moore was “happy,” the arrival of their two children — Jane and David Jr. — shifted the dynamics in their relationship.

“I think if anything spoils a marriage, it’s children. Suddenly, the man is taking a back seat,” he reflected.

It was during this challenging period that Hamilton met Roz, a woman he later discovered was a s*x worker. Despite the revelation, the two grew close and embarked on a four-year affair.

“My wife found out because I talked about Roz a lot. I was head over heels. I left my wife and children, and we lived together for four years,” he admitted.

Hamilton revealed that he even supported Roz in starting her own business before realizing he was “getting in too deep.” The relationship eventually ended, and years later, he found love again.

In 1993, the veteran broadcaster married his second wife, Dreena, whom he had met a decade earlier on a blind date. Despite being warned that Hamilton had a reputation as a “womaniser,” Dreena chose to give him a chance — a decision that led to a lasting partnership.

“She’s the wind beneath my wings,” Hamilton said warmly.

In 2022, Hamilton revealed he had been diagnosed with polycythaemia vera, a rare blood cancer that causes an overproduction of red blood cells. Still, he maintains a positive outlook.

“Everybody who sees me says how well I look. Too many red blood cells give you a very rosy complexion, so it looks like you’ve got a sun tan,” he told The Daily Mail.