David Gulesserian, known professionally as David Dickinson, began his professional life in a Manchester aircraft factory before pivoting into the antiques trade. Born in 1941 in Cheadle Heath, he eventually transitioned from a local dealer to a recognizable face on British daytime television, leveraging his distinctive persona to front programs for the BBC and ITV.
Early Background
Born on 16 August 1941, Dickinson was the son of Eugenie Gulesserian. His maternal grandfather, Hrant Gulesserian, was an Armenian merchant who relocated from Istanbul to Manchester in 1904. Placed for adoption as an infant, he was raised by a local couple, the Dickinsons. His adoptive father died when the boy was twelve, leaving him to be raised partly by his grandmother, Sarah. By age 14, he began an apprenticeship in an aircraft factory, though he quickly transitioned to the cloth trade in Central Manchester. At age 19, he served three years of a four-year sentence at HM Prison Manchester following a conviction for mail-order fraud.
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Dickinson established himself as an antiques expert on the BBC program The Antiques Show and the ITV series This Morning. He reached national prominence hosting Bargain Hunt on BBC One from 2000 until 2004, when he was succeeded by Tim Wonnacott. Following his departure from the BBC in 2005, he fronted the reality series Dealing With Dickinson. In 2006, he moved to ITV to launch Dickinson's Real Deal. His subsequent television work included The David Dickinson Show in 2010 and David Dickinson's Name Your Price in 2017.
Personal Life and Wider Media Appearances
In 1968, he married cabaret performer Lorne Lesley. The couple resides in Prestbury, Cheshire, and they share two children and four grandchildren. Throughout his career, Dickinson participated in various entertainment formats, appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 and I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2005. He has also explored his personal history through the genealogical series Who Do You Think You Are? and appeared as a guest on programmes ranging from Shooting Stars to Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.
Fast facts
- Born: 16 August 1941, Cheadle Heath
- Professional name: David Dickinson
- Marriage: Lorne Lesley, 1968
- Notable BBC role: Bargain Hunt host (2000–2004)
- Notable ITV role: Dickinson's Real Deal host
- Residence: Prestbury, Cheshire
- Autobiography title: What a Bobby Dazzler
Questions readers ask
What was David Dickinson's first career step after leaving school?
At age 14, he started an apprenticeship at an aircraft factory, though he soon moved into the Manchester cloth trade.
Who are the family members Dickinson has appeared with on television?
His grandson, Finley, appeared with him on Big Star's Little Star, and his son, Miles, featured on the BBC's Dragons' Den.
Achievements
- Affiliated with ITV plc and British Broadcasting Corporation
