Hairy Bikers stars Si King and Dave Myers travelled the world together after bonding over their love of cooking and motorcycles, but tragedy struck when Dave was diagnosed with cancer in 2022
Hairy Bikers star Si King had a heartbreaking realisation almost two years after the death of close friend Dave Myers. The pair met in 1995 when they were both working on the set of The Gambling Man in 1995.
They struck up a close friendship before making their name as television chefs thanks to their programmes that combined their love of food and motorcycles. Tragedy struck however in 2022 when Dave was diagnosed with cancer.
He subsequently underwent chemotherapy. However in February 2024, Dave died aged 66. Last June thousands of riders travelled from London to his hometown of Barrow-in-Furnes as a tribute to Dave.
Now, speaking to The Times magazine, Si admits he still misses his close friend. He said: “When I was riding a bike the other day, I automatically looked behind me to see if Dave was there.
“I thought, ‘Where the bloody hell is he? Has he gone around that bend?’ Then I realised, ‘Oh no, of course he hasn’t.’”
Si admits he finds grief “very odd” and says he experienced a “huge mix of emotions” after losing Dave. He added: “It’s anger, frustration, sadness, disappointment. They come when you least expect them.”
Si, 59, describes the two as “great friends” and revealed he was “so close” to both his diagnosis and subsequent treatment. He believes the pair had a “fruitful and fulfilling time together” and prefers concentrating on highs of their friendship “rather than the loss”.
The TV presenter has also faced his own health battles during his life. In 2014 he suffered a brain aneurysm that he says left him needing to “lie down after making a cup of tea”.
Si admits he would find himself feeling “exhausted” after making a brew and would end up “sedentary” for the rest of the day. He however decided he needed to “crack on” despite acknowledging that he faced an “uphill struggle” during his recovery.
The star candidly admits that his gruelling filming schedule, which he says takes up 200 days a year, has had an impact on his family throughout his career. Si split from ex-wife Jane in 2016, after 27 years.
He says there is “no blueprint” for overnight success and admits children at school “took the mickey” out of his sons when he became famous. He recalls one moment where his sons were taken aback after he jumped into a pool in Africa while completely naked.
And while he fondly reminisces about the Hairy Bikers, Si also faced some “scary” moments with Dave.
