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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Daniel Middleton
Daniel Robert Middleton (born 8 November 1991), known professionally as DanTDM (formerly TheDiamondMinecart), is an English YouTuber and author known for his video game commentaries. His output has covered many video games including Minecraft, Roblox, Pokémon and Sonic the Hedgehog, along with other content.

His channel has been listed among the top YouTube channels in the United Kingdom. In July 2015, he was listed as one of the most popular YouTubers in the world by viewership. He has won several Kids' Choice Awards and set Guinness World Records for his gaming and presenting. In 2017, Middleton topped the Forbes list of Highest-Paid YouTube Stars, earning £12.2 million (about $16.5 million) in one year. As of September 2023, his YouTube channel has reached over 28.6 million subscribers, 19.7 billion video views, and has posted over 3,600 videos.

Personal life

Daniel Robert Middleton was born on 8 November 1991 in Aldershot, England, as the elder of two siblings. His parents divorced when he was a child. He attended the University of Northampton where he studied music production.

Middleton married his girlfriend, Jemma (b. 9 April 1992), in March 2013. Their first son, Asher, was born at 10:33 am on 5 January 2020, and their second son, Miles, was born on 22 November 2022.

On 6 September 2023, Middleton posted on his Twitter and Instagram about the unexpected death of his dog, Ellie. On 7 September 2023, he posted on YouTube a video titled "goodbye ellie."

Career

Middleton at Web Summit in 2014

In 2012, Middleton first created TheDiamondMinecart, a gaming channel. He decided to change his channel's name to TheDiamondMinecart // DanTDM later on, and on 12 December 2016, to DanTDM. He currently produces videos out of his home studio in Wellingborough. Middleton's content is largely targeted at children, though many teens and adults watch it as well.

He released a graphic novel titled "Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal" on 6 October 2016, which remained at the number one spot on The New York Times Best Seller list for hardcover graphic books for eleven weeks. He was a featured guest at the Cheltenham Literature Festival and went on a book tour that included parts of the UK and a visit to New York City. He then embarked on a tour through the United States and Australia in 2017.

In 2017, he starred in a web series called DanTDM Creates a Big Scene starring himself and featuring other social media entertainers and actors. The series premiered on 7 April 2017 exclusively for YouTube Red, YouTube's subscription service (now called YouTube Premium). The show "follows DanTDM and his group of animated friends as they battle to keep their live show on the road".

In 2019, Middleton was ranked 41 in UK's Top 100 Influencer List by The Sunday Times, which also estimated Middleton's net worth to be £25 million.

Middleton in a straitjacket at the TommyInnit & Friends live show at the Brighton Dome in 2022

Middleton appeared at TommyInnit's TommyInnit & Friends live show at the Brighton Dome on 1 July 2022, with other online content creators, including jacksepticeye, JackManifoldTV, and Nihachu.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Refs
2018 Ralph Breaks the Internet eBoy Voice role; UK theatrical version
2019 DanTDM Presents: The Contest Himself Interactive cinema event
2021 Free Guy Himself Cameo

Television

Year Title Role Notes Refs
2016–2017 Skylanders Academy Cy Voice role; 2 episodes
2017 DanTDM Creates a Big Scene Himself YouTube Original mini-series; 6 episodes
2017 YouTube Rewind Himself Only in 2017

Video games

Year Title Role Notes Refs
2016 Minecraft: Story Mode Himself Episode 6: "A Portal to Mystery"

Awards and nominations

Publications

  • DanTDM (6 October 2016). Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-1409168393.
  • DanTDM (17 November 2016). Official DanTDM 2017 Diary and Activity Book: Lots of Things to Make and Do. Trapeze. ISBN 978-1409171188.