You can read all about David Dickisnon told in his own words in his best selling autobiography 'What a Bobby Dazzler'

David Dickisnon reveals all and he speaks with warmth and humour about his upbringing and his personal life as well as giving us an insight to his exciting working life and TV career. David Dickinson is a household name, the king of the catchphrase. He's a respected antiques expert and exudes a taste for the finer things in life. But the road to his success has not been as smooth as his patter and he's learnt a lot at the school of hard knocks. In his autobiography David tells how he grew up in a working class district of Manchester, and reveals how he discovered at age 12 that he was adopted. David also describes his early foray into wheeling and dealing in the garment industry in Manchester, as well as his stint in Manchester's notorious prison, Strangeways. David was first introduced to showbiz when he travelled the world as the manager of his international cabaret star wife, Lorne. In his book David describes some of the remarkable people they met on their travels, and discloses the dark and dangerous side of showbiz he had no idea existed. Finally, after building himself a reputation as an antiques dealer to the rich and famous with an eye for treasures, a chance meeting with a TV executive at a barbecue began David's journey to primetime TV on "Bargain Hunt", and in his autobiography David shares some of his experiences of sudden celebrity.
It's a rivetting read and you buy it now

David Dickinson featured in the popular BBC series 'Who Do You Think You Are?' David's episode recieved the highest viewing figures for the series and viewers shared with David a very emotional journey on his search for his biological family.
You can now buy the dvd of Series 3 featuring David Dickinson's story on Who Do You Think You Are buy it here

Here's our potted biography

Provenance
David was born in 1941 and lodged at Barnado's orphanage for waifs and strays as it was then called. He was quickly adopted by Joyce and Jim Dickinson and welcomed into a warm extended family in Cheadle Heath, Manchester. His Father died when he was twelve and his Mother had to work long hours to support them. David says "I had a wonderful, happy childhood" and he recalls that at school he was always swopping marbles and generally trading small things. From a young age he had an eye for the finer things in life. He remembers 'running alongside particularly flash cars....saying "Mister it's magnificent! Can I have a look at it?"
David didn't learn of his adoption until he was twelve years old by which time he had formed strong bonds with his Nanny and his beloved Auntie Ethel.

"Aren't Genetics Peculiar?"
His Grandmother taught him good principles. David says "When I left school at fourteen-and-a-half my granny sent me to a factory to learn engineering. After six months as an apprentice I left and got a job in the textile trade; then I went on my own as a commission agent. I would dash from one importer to another with samples and sell them on commission." In his early twenties, he decided to contact his birth Mother, who was then living in Jersey. They communicated by letter for som years but never met. Interestingly he discovered that his Grandfather was an Armenian silk trader who had moved to Manchester in 1910 and sold suiting material in the very same streets David began trading! David remarks "Aren't genetics peculiar?". And so it's his Armenian Grandfather to whom he attributes his passion for the flamboyant and for trading.

Love and Marriage
In the mid nineteen sixties David Dickinson met his wife-to-be in a nightclub. She is the international cabaret artist Lorne Lesley, and they've now been married for over forty years. Lorne is half African and half Welsh and hails from Tiger Bay,  "just like Shirley Bassey" says David, "She is very glamorous, a lovely striking lady." "When my wife was famous, it was great fun, Lorne has more talent in her little finger than I have in my whole body".

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