Dominik Diamond Confirmed for PLAY Expo Blackpool 2026

Dominik Diamond, the unmistakable former host of GamesMaster, is set to appear at PLAY Expo Blackpool 2026. The television personality will bring a particularly busy schedule to the retro-focused event: a live stage conversation, an audience Q&A, a meet-and-greet signing session, and a closing performance of his game-inspired music show, Dominik Diamond Sings the Video Games.

PLAY Expo Blackpool takes place at the Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre in Blackpool, UK, on October 3 and 4. The event is described as the UK's biggest retro gaming show, bringing together classic-game players, collectors, arcade enthusiasts, developers, special guests and fans of gaming culture from across several generations. Diamond's inclusion is a major draw for attendees whose formative gaming years were shaped by the chaotic, challenge-driven television format of GamesMaster.

During the expo, Diamond is scheduled to take to the stage for a talk before opening the floor to questions from the audience. He will then move to the meet-and-greet area, giving visitors an opportunity to meet him and bring along memorabilia for signing. That could include old copies of GamesMaster magazine, books, programmes, or other pieces of gaming history associated with the show and its era.

A reunion point for the GamesMaster generation

For many UK players of the 1990s, GamesMaster was much more than a conventional games programme. It offered game challenges, reviews, previews, competition and a theatrical sense of unpredictability at a time when video games were still commonly treated as a niche interest. Diamond's fast, confrontational and witty presenting style was central to that identity, while the show's mixture of contestants, celebrities and the imposing GamesMaster character made it feel unlike other television coverage of the medium.

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Replay Events boss Andy Brown said securing Diamond had been a long-held ambition for PLAY Expo Blackpool. Brown described the presenter as one of the event's most requested guests across its 16-year history, reflecting the lasting affection for a programme that helped take gaming "out of the bedroom and into the mainstream."

"For many people who grew up watching GamesMaster in the 90s it was so much more than a TV show," Brown said. "Chaotic, iconic even anarchic at times, it transitioned video games out of the bedroom and into the mainstream."

That legacy makes the planned Q&A especially promising for fans. The programme's original run has remained a point of fascination for retro gaming communities, both for its place in British TV history and its unusually direct connection to the games and hardware of its day. The series did not simply discuss releases; it turned difficult games into spectator events and gave an emerging hobby a loud, unconventional public face.

For another perspective on this story, read Dominik Diamond Joins PLAY Expo Blackpool for GamesMaster Talk, Signing and Video Game Song Show.

Diamond himself expects the weekend to bring together people who still hold vivid memories of the programme. With his characteristic humour, he suggested he is anticipating "multiple memories from moist-eyed individuals" who watched the show before growing into adults with a wide variety of careers and responsibilities.

"Who knows with the GamesMaster generation, eh?" Diamond said, adding that he also looks forward to meeting readers of his newspaper columns. "Because I like the company of intellectuals. That's why we had Mr Motivator on GamesMaster."

Dominik Diamond Sings the Video Games closes the expo

The appearance is not restricted to stories from television production, game challenges and autograph signing. Diamond will also perform Dominik Diamond Sings the Video Games at the close of PLAY Expo Blackpool. The show follows the recent announcement of a special event built around songs inspired by famous video games.

Diamond has described the performance as a collection of self-written songs separated by comic material about beloved games. His summary promises an intentionally dramatic but playful tone, calling it "heart-rippingly poignant yet funny too" and comparing the experience to Les Misérables, albeit "without the French stuff."

For a retro gaming convention, that format is an unusual fit in the best possible sense. Live talks and autograph sessions have long been staples of game expos, but a musical finale rooted in personal memories of games gives the weekend a more theatrical conclusion. It also matches Diamond's reputation for treating gaming as a subject with room for comedy, performance and nostalgia rather than limiting it to technical discussion.

Exactly which games will be represented in the songs has not been detailed. That leaves room for speculation among attendees, particularly given Diamond's association with the 1990s and the broad range of titles, platforms and arcade experiences that defined the GamesMaster period. The focus, however, is firmly on shared memories: songs and stories about games that audiences have loved over the years.

Arcade pioneer Eugene Jarvis also joins the guest lineup

Diamond is not the only high-profile name scheduled for PLAY Expo Blackpool. Arcade design legend Eugene Jarvis will also attend the October event. Jarvis is celebrated for creating landmark coin-op games including Defender and Robotron: 2084, titles whose speed, intensity and distinctive design continue to be influential decades after their release.

Jarvis will be interviewed live on stage by Paul Drury, a prominent figure in retro gaming who has recently written a book about arcade gaming. Visitors will have the chance to obtain a copy signed by both Drury and Jarvis, making the session an attractive prospect for arcade historians and collectors as well as players who grew up chasing high scores.

The presence of Jarvis and Drury underlines the range PLAY Expo is aiming for. Diamond represents the cultural and broadcast side of the hobby: a presenter who helped make games appointment television. Jarvis represents the development and arcade lineage that helped establish many of the mechanical ideas, visual identities and high-score obsessions still celebrated at retro events. Drury's participation adds a historical angle, connecting the live stage programme to documented arcade history.

Why Blackpool remains a natural home for a retro celebration

Blackpool is an appropriate setting for an event built around arcade and video game nostalgia. The resort city has a longstanding relationship with amusements, arcades and family entertainment, and its seafront culture gives a large-scale retro gathering a setting that feels distinct from a standard convention hall. The Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre will host the show across the October weekend, with Diamond's appearance forming one of the headline attractions.

For fans planning to attend, the practical appeal is straightforward. The weekend offers the chance to hear Diamond discuss a programme that remains important to British gaming culture, ask questions directly, and potentially have cherished GamesMaster memorabilia signed. The Sunday-ending performance adds an event-exclusive dimension that cannot be recreated through a conventional panel recording or autograph table.

It is also a reminder that retro gaming events increasingly serve several roles at once. They are places to play older games, hunt for collectables and celebrate particular machines, but they can also preserve the people and personalities who made gaming visible to a wider public. A host, designer, writer or arcade creator can prompt memories that are every bit as specific as a favourite cartridge or cabinet.

PLAY Expo Blackpool runs on October 3 and 4, 2026. With Dominik Diamond's talk, Q&A, signing appearance and video game song show now on the programme, alongside Eugene Jarvis's live interview with Paul Drury, the event is shaping up to offer a broad celebration of arcade history, television nostalgia and the enduring social side of classic gaming.