Hairy Bikers' Si King says new series 'special' after Dave Myers' cancer treatment
Hairy Bikersstar Si King has said it was “particularly special” getting back on the road for a new series after co-star Dave Myers had cancer treatment.
Chef Myers announced in 2022 that he had been diagnosed with the illness, joking that he would be a “baldy biker” while undergoing treatment. He later shared that the chemotherapy he underwent made him lose his appetite and left him having to learn to walk properly again.
However, he and King – his TV co-star and close friend - have now got back on their bikes for a seven-part series for BBC Two. Entitled The Hairy Bikers Go West, the programme will follow the pair on their adventures as they travel from Scotland to Devon.
New series was 'emotional'
King has said it was “emotional” to be back out there together after everything his pal had been through, calling the entire series “a celebration of a joyous and creative friendship”.
“It’s a series that we will always remember, not that we won’t remember others,” he said. “We are very privileged to do what we do and I think this one was particularly special in general because of Dave’s health and his sheer and utter determination and love for what he does.
“Especially to continue to do it while he was having treatment took remarkable courage and energy - and adds to why Dave and I will not forget it.”
Myers is from the west coast and during their journey the Hairy Bikers visit some of his old haunts as well as places they have visited with each other in the 20 or so years that they have been making TV together.
“Our focus, and particularly Dave’s focus, was to get out on the bike, to start the process of filming and to bring a level of normality back for him, his family, for me, for the crew, and that’s what he worked towards and that’s what got him through that particular portion of his treatment,” King said.
“It was so joyous because it’s Dave’s neck of the woods, it was great to visit some old haunts that we’d frequented both prior to the Bikers as well as during the numerous series we’ve produced together.”
He went on: “There was a lovely moment on the first day of filming where Dave overtook me on the road on the bikes and it was great, it was like, ‘Aw he’s back.’ It was just like old times and over the comms he was going, ‘Kingy, are you sure we’re going left here?’ That sort of dialogue was great and it’s what we’ve done over the last 20 years. It was really quite emotional.”
Dave Myers’ cancer battle
The TV star announced in May 2022 that he had been diagnosed with cancer, opening up as he talked to King on the Agony Uncles podcast. "Anyway Kingy, I’ve got to come clean now, I haven’t been too well recently and basically, I’ve got to have some chemo, you know all this anyway,” he said.
"So this year is going to be a bit quiet for me, I’m not going to be filming, some of the festivals I’m not going to be able to go to, some may be OK but this year’s a bit of a write off for us."
Myers later told The Guardian that he hadn’t shared which type of cancer he had “because everybody then goes Googling, everybody becomes an amateur doctor”. “And I don’t want to be judged – yet,” he added.
He has also been candid about chemo, saying on White Wine Question Time: “I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.” Myers added that when his battle was over, he wanted to “embrace life and everything it's got to offer”.
The Hairy Bikers Go West is on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Tuesday 6 February at 7pm.
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