I was born in Arbroath, a fishing town on the east coast of Scotland of such high repute it is almost mythical. In a desperate attempt to better myself I got a scholarship to the lovely posh Strathallan School for secondary education highjinks, then the even posher Bristol University for a degree in a proper subject, but I dropped English and did Drama instead. It was fun! We did plays and explored our sexuality.
I became a stand up comedian then a TV star. Seriously. It literally went like that. In the space of a year. Lucky me.
I used my position as host of the 90s UK TV phenomenon Gamesmaster to insert myself into assorted TV/Radio sports shows for the BBC and Channel 5 (Sportscall, 606, Live and Dangerous, Turnstyle, Diamond Sport) and a 10 year stint as Chief Columnist on The Daily Star then left London in fit of pique into exile in the Lake District.
I emerged in Scotland for Career Part 2 which involved more work for the BBC and ITV (Caledonia McBrains, Time of Your Life, Boiling Point) and then my crowning glory: Launching The Dominik Diamond Show on XFM Scotland heralding in a new era of Scottish Indie Music and winning Scottish Radio Presenter of the Year and nominated for Sony UK Music Radio Personality 2006, followed by the PM Drive show Diamond and de Andrade for Talk 107.
In 2009 I emigrated to Canada to run a small farm and sing folk music. I quickly ran out of money so started Career Part 3 as an unknown on the tiniest radio station in Canada (CKBW Bridgewater). I clawed my way up the greasy radio poll with successful stints in Toronto (Q107), Halifax (Q104, Radio 96.5) and finally Calgary where I took Jack FM Mornings from #11 to #2 in the ratings.
I left Jack FM in November 2018 when Jack Mornings With Dominik and Donnie was #3 in the ratings and spent a year climbing mountains and FINALLY looking after my kids properly.
In 2020 I wrote two comedy shows for The Edinburgh Fringe Festival but COVID put paid to that so I started to write another book instead. In 2021 Gamesmaster The Oral History became one of the most successful books in the history of Kickstarter.
Buoyed by this success I wrote my first novel which is repped by the lovely Phil Patterson at the Marjaq Agency in London, England.
I host The Rock of the Atlantic an evening radio show chock full of rock music, callers and funny chat that goes out on assorted radio stations in Canada.
I write and host The Vinyl Vault a weekly nationally syndicated radio show in Canada, which replays the greatest rock albums ever in full to compare what they did back then and how they make us feel today.
I am a columnist for The Guardian newspaper which is gloriously upmarket and a weekly 30 min comedy podcast on Substack because everyone has to have a podcast.
