Hairy Bikers star Si King says it’s been a ‘struggle’ since Dave Myers’ death

Si King, one of the Hairy Bikers, has shared that the last few months have been challenging for him following the loss of his longtime friend and co-star, Dave Myers, who passed away after 30 years of friendship.

Myers, who gained recognition alongside King as a motorcycle-riding cooking pair, passed away at the age of 66 in February.

In 2022, Myers disclosed that he had been diagnosed with cancer and mentioned that he was receiving chemotherapy treatment.

In a personal piece for the Sunday Times, King admitted, “To be truthful, the last several months have been quite challenging for me.”

There have been several times when I felt like hopping on my bike and riding off into the sunset, leaving without telling anyone my destination. I often imagined just disappearing and never returning.

At other moments, I was filled with anger. Furious at that awful illness, at God, and at everything else that came to mind. People kept asking what my next steps would be.

“I plan to spend some time considering the life I shared with my best friend, and focus on what comes next. That’s precisely what Dave would have wanted—to look ahead and not get stuck in the past.”

King shared that he’s been working on a new collection of classic recipes from the Hairy Bikers. He also mentioned that there are several exciting new projects coming up.

"Honestly, if all I end up doing is making bacon sandwiches and playing a few shows with my band, I’m completely okay with that. I'm happy!" he remarked.

I often get questioned about the impact the Hairy Bikers have made. I like to believe we’ve made a small contribution in our own way. Just two ordinary guys trying our hand at dishes like beef rendang or apple pie. I hope we attracted the interest of those who usually don’t tune into fancy cooking shows on television.

People like me—overweight, unkempt, everyday folks from the north—rarely get chances like the Hairy Bikers offered. It was truly something special, and I’ll miss it dearly. I’ll miss him too. However, I believe there’s a bright future ahead for me, and I’m looking forward to what lies ahead.

The couple first crossed paths in 1992, and according to King, their bond was formed over a meal that included tandoori chicken masala, four poppadoms, and three pints of lager.

The duo made their TV debut in 2004 with "The Hairy Bikers' Cookbook," a show that blended cooking and travel. In the inaugural episode, they journeyed across Portugal on their bikes.

In June, a large number of motorcyclists rode from London to Barrow-in-Furness, the hometown of chef Dave Myers, for the inaugural Dave Day, a memorial event celebrating his life.