December 7th 2024.
Si King, one half of the beloved duo The Hairy Bikers, is determined to carry on his television career in honor of his late collaborator and best friend, Dave Myers. Dave, who tragically passed away at the age of 66 earlier this year after battling cancer, had made it clear to Si that he wanted their legacy to be celebrated on screen.
In June, Si organized a special event called Dave Day, where 46,000 motorcyclists rode 30 miles in tribute to their dear friend. The emotional procession will be featured in the upcoming BBC Two documentary, The Hairy Bikers: You'll Never Ride Alone, set to air later this month. In the one-hour program, Si also discusses the future of his career and the importance of keeping Dave's memory alive through their work together.
"It's important that I honor the Bikers' legacy, and it's important that I continue to do things that I am passionate about, because Dave was very clear and adamant about that," Si shared with Daily Mail. "As I would have wanted for him if the roles were reversed."
Si also clarifies that while their shows may have a different tone without Dave by his side, it is crucial to maintain the authenticity and spirit of The Hairy Bikers, which was founded on their strong friendship and love for good food and motorcycles.
"It's my duty to look after his memory, to look after the legacy that he built, to look after the legacy of the Hairy Bikers," Si expressed. "Dave was a joyous man who embraced and loved the life he led, and that was enormously important to him. That was the essence of my best mate."
Throughout the documentary, Si reflects on the strength and bravery Dave showed in the face of his illness, and the special bond they shared as brothers.
For almost 30 years, Si and Dave worked together on numerous TV series and specials, creating their own unique brand of cooking and biking content. During the premiere of the documentary, Si proudly shared, "I'm incredibly proud of the program because it's a tribute to my best mate. Dave Day wasn't so much cathartic, it just felt so celebratory of Dave's life. It's not often I'm lost for words, but that day I seemed to be."
Si also opens up about the immense support and turnout for Dave Day, with tens of thousands of bikers showing up to pay their respects. He admits that it was both overwhelming and heartwarming to see the impact his friend had on so many people.
The loss of Dave has been a difficult and ongoing grieving process for Si, who has been open about the challenges he has faced since his passing. In an interview with This Morning in October, Si shared, "He was my best mate, and still is. That never goes, does it? It's all a bit odd. The grieving process started a long time ago when he was diagnosed. It was all about the fight, and that's what we concentrated on, and that was easier in a way."
Si also revealed that their joint cookbook, released shortly after Dave's passing, was one of their final projects together. He admits to still having moments where he forgets that Dave is no longer with him, but he cherishes the memories they shared and the joy his friend brought to his life.
In the midst of his grief, Si has also been candid about the temptation to leave everything behind and just ride off into the sunset on his bike. "Other times, I was raging. Raging at that bloody disease, at God, and anything else I could think of," Si shared in a previous interview with The Sunday Times. "People were asking what I was going to do next."
Dave publicly announced his cancer diagnosis in May 2022, and despite taking a brief break from work, he and Si filmed their final Hairy Bikers series together, traveling from Scotland to Devon. The Hairy Bikers: You'll Never Ride Alone will be a beautiful tribute to their friendship and the impact they had on each other's lives.
The documentary will air on BBC Two on December 23 at 9pm and will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer. Si and Dave's legacy will live on through their incredible work and the memories they have left behind.
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