The Hairy Bikers became one of Britain’s best-loved cooking duos, pairing hearty, practical recipes with a passion for motorcycle travel. Dave Myers and Si King first appeared together on television in 2004 and spent two decades building a brand centred on friendship, comfort food, and an everyman approach to cooking. Their partnership came to an end with Myers’ death on 28 February 2024, leaving King to carry the legacy alone.
Before their on-screen fame, both men worked behind the scenes in British entertainment. Myers was a BBC make-up artist specialising in prosthetics; King worked in film and TV production, including as an assistant director and locations manager. Their chemistry in front of the camera turned them into household names, with more than 30 TV series and specials and millions of books sold.
The duo’s full story spans more than two decades of television, cookbooks, and recipes that home cooks still turn to. Their final series aired in 2024, closing a chapter that began with a chance meeting on a drama set. For a broader look at how the partnership developed, Dave Myers and Si King: The Hairy Bikers story traces the journey in detail.
Who Are the Hairy Bikers?
Dave Myers and Si King: the motorcycle-riding chefs who became BBC stars.
Dave Myers died in February 2024 after a battle with cancer. Si King continues the legacy.
Famous for kedgeree, spag bol, shakshuka, and many comfort food recipes.
Over 20 TV series since 2004, including The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook and Best of British.
Key insights:
- The Hairy Bikers’ brand is built on the chemistry between Dave Myers and Si King, with a distinct “biker” persona.
- Dave Myers’ death has shifted the brand; Si King now carries the legacy alone.
- Their recipes are heavily searched, with specific dishes like kedgeree driving long-tail traffic.
- The official website and Instagram are the primary sources for current news and recipes.
- Their shows combined cooking and motorcycle travel, a format that became their signature.
- They published 33 books and sold millions of copies.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full names | Dave Myers (born 1957), Si King (born 1966) |
| Birthplaces | Barrow-in-Furness; Kibblesworth, County Durham |
| First TV show | The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook (2004) |
| TV series and specials | More than 30 |
| Books published | 33 |
| Dave Myers’ death | 28 February 2024, aged 66, after a cancer illness |
| Official website | hairybikers.com |
| Social media | Instagram: @hairybikers (390K followers) |
Who Are the Hairy Bikers?
Dave Myers (David James Myers) was born on 8 September 1957 in Barrow-in-Furness. He worked as a BBC make-up artist, specialising in prosthetics, before becoming famous on screen. His official biography on the Hairy Bikers website covers that early career and the move to television.
Si King (Simon James King) was born on 20 October 1966 in Kibblesworth, County Durham, and worked behind the scenes in film and television, including as an assistant director and locations manager. His early life and career path are outlined in his Wikipedia biography.
The pair met in 1995 on the set of a TV drama and first appeared together as the Hairy Bikers in The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook in 2004. Their shows combined cooking and motorcycle travel, which became their signature format. The Independent has examined the friendship that underpinned the duo’s on-screen success.
Where Are the Hairy Bikers Now?
The Hairy Bikers as a duo ended with Dave Myers’ death in February 2024. Si King has been open about the emotional impact, describing the months afterward as a “challenge” in recent BBC reporting. He has also said the loss remains deeply felt and that there is “no Hairy Bikers without my mate.”
What Is Si King Doing Now?
King told the BBC he is compiling a new collection of classic Hairy Bikers recipes and has “a few new endeavors on the horizon.” In a separate BBC interview, he said Myers remains his “closest friend” even after death.
He has continued to appear in media and post on social media. Reporting from mid-2024 suggested he views the Hairy Bikers chapter as finished, while leaving the door open for projects of his own.
What Happened to Dave Myers?
What Happened to Dave Myers?
Dave Myers died on 28 February 2024 at the age of 66 after a cancer illness. Si King announced the news, describing Myers as his best friend and partner. The announcement prompted a wave of public tributes from fans, colleagues, and broadcasters.
Myers had been diagnosed with cancer in 2022. He continued working through parts of his illness, including on the final series The Hairy Bikers Go West, which aired during the period around his death.
How Did Dave Myers Die?
The specific type of cancer was not publicly specified. Myers died on 28 February 2024, aged 66, after a period of illness. Si King’s announcement confirmed the loss but did not provide further medical detail. His Wikipedia biography records the same facts: date of death, age, and the cancer illness.
The exact type of cancer Dave Myers was diagnosed with was never publicly confirmed. Public reporting consistently describes his death as following a cancer illness, without specifying the form of the disease.
What Are the Latest Hairy Bikers News?
BBC News has reported that King continues to reflect publicly on his friendship with Myers and the emotional impact of losing him. He has described the months since Myers’ death as a “challenge” and said he is compiling classic Hairy Bikers recipes for a new collection.
Yahoo News also covered King’s emotional remarks about his late partner. BBC’s food coverage from the same period treated the duo’s story as a tribute to Myers and a closing chapter for the original partnership.
What Are the Best Hairy Bikers Recipes?
What Are the Best Hairy Bikers Recipes?
The Hairy Bikers published 33 books, according to their official website, including titles such as Fast & Fresh, Our Family Favourites, Eat Well Every Day, Brilliant Bakes, Ultimate Comfort Food, Simple Healthy Food, Veggie Feasts, One Pot Wonders, British Classics, and Mediterranean Adventure. Their food style was known for being generous, approachable, and practical — focused on comfort food, family favourites, and recipes adapted for home cooks.
A BBC Food feature on the duo celebrates that legacy, describing the 2024 period as a tribute to Myers and the end of the original partnership.
What Are the Hairy Bikers’ Most Famous Dishes?
Among the most searched recipes are their kedgeree, spaghetti bolognese (“spag bol”), and shakshuka. These dishes reflect the duo’s broad range, from British classics to Mediterranean and North African-inspired cooking. For a full list of their published output, Hairy Bikers cookbooks and TV series covers both in one place.
What Is the Hairy Bikers Kedgeree Recipe?
The Hairy Bikers’ kedgeree is one of their most searched recipes. It is a classic British dish made with smoked fish, rice, and eggs, adapted with their signature practical approach. The full recipe is available on the official Hairy Bikers website and on BBC Food.
Hairy Bikers recipes are available at hairybikers.com and on BBC Food. The official website also lists all 33 books published by the duo, making it the most complete source for their dishes. Kedgeree, spag bol and shakshuka are among the most searched dishes on those platforms.
What TV Shows Have the Hairy Bikers Done?
What TV Shows Have the Hairy Bikers Done?
Their first TV series was The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook (2004). Their final series was The Hairy Bikers Go West (2024), which aired during the period around Myers’ death. Over the years, they made more than 30 TV series and specials for BBC One, BBC Two, Channel 5, and Good Food. BBC News has covered that television career in detail.
They also launched The Hairy Bikers Diet Club in 2014, an online weight-loss programme with recipes and practical advice. The story of how the pair first met on a TV drama set in 1995 is recounted in a retrospective on their meeting.
Are the Hairy Bikers Still Together?
No. The duo ended with Dave Myers’ death in February 2024. Si King has described the Hairy Bikers chapter as finished, while continuing to work on recipe collections and hinting at new projects of his own. The BBC’s food feature on the duo frames the 2024 period as a tribute to Myers and the end of the original partnership.
The Hairy Bikers Go West (2024) was the duo’s last project together. It aired during the period around Myers’ death, and BBC coverage has since treated it as part of the tribute to him.
How Did the Hairy Bikers’ Story Unfold?
The following timeline draws on the official Hairy Bikers biography, BBC reporting, and news coverage of the duo’s career.
- : Dave Myers is born in Barrow-in-Furness.
- : Si King is born in Kibblesworth, County Durham.
- : The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook, their first TV series, airs.
- : Multiple series air, including Hairy Bikers’ Food Tour of Britain.
- : Hairy Bikers’ Best of British airs.
- : Hairy Bikers’ Routes of the World airs.
- : Dave Myers is diagnosed with cancer.
- : Dave Myers dies; Si King announces his death.
- : Si King continues with solo projects and tributes.
What Is Confirmed About the Hairy Bikers — and What Remains Unclear?
Most facts about the Hairy Bikers’ career are well documented. Some details, however, have not been made public.
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Dave Myers died on 28 February 2024 after a cancer illness. | Whether Si King will continue the “Hairy Bikers” brand solo or rebrand. |
| Si King is alive and continues to post on social media and appear in media. | Future TV series featuring Si King alone. |
| The duo’s TV shows are available on BBC iPlayer and other platforms. | The exact type of cancer Myers had was not publicly specified. |
| The official website remains active with recipes and updates. | The long-term status of the official website after Myers’ death. |
Why Did the Hairy Bikers Matter?
The Hairy Bikers rose to fame in the early 2000s by combining cooking with a motorcycle-riding image, appealing to a broad audience that went beyond traditional food television. Their partnership was central to their success: Myers and King played off each other with a warmth and humour that felt unscripted.
Dave Myers’ death marked a significant turning point in that story. Si King’s mourning and his subsequent solo appearances point to a continuation of the brand, but with a more somber tone. The high search volume for recipes like kedgeree and spag bol suggests a strong legacy audience that continues to cook from their books and shows.
The Guardian’s June 2024 interview with Si King captures that transition, as King reflects on TV, cooking, and life without his best friend.
What Have the Hairy Bikers Said?
“I am heartbroken to share the news that my best friend and partner Dave Myers has passed away.”
Si King, official statement, February 2024
“Cooking is about sharing and enjoying good food with people you love.”
Dave Myers, from various interviews
“There is no Hairy Bikers without my mate.”
Si King, via Yahoo News
What Is the Legacy of the Hairy Bikers?
The Hairy Bikers left behind a large body of work: more than 30 TV series and specials, 33 cookbooks, and a library of approachable recipes that remain popular with home cooks. The partnership itself was the heart of the brand, and Dave Myers’ death ended that chapter. Si King continues to honour it through new recipe collections and public reflections on their friendship.
What Do People Ask About the Hairy Bikers?
What is the Hairy Bikers’ spag bol recipe?
The Hairy Bikers’ spaghetti bolognese recipe is a classic comfort dish available on their official website and BBC Food. It features beef mince, tomatoes, and herbs.
What is the Hairy Bikers’ shakshuka recipe?
Their shakshuka recipe is a North African-style egg dish with tomatoes, peppers, and spices. It can be found on their website or BBC Food.
How old was Dave Myers when he died?
Dave Myers was 66 years old when he died on 28 February 2024.
Are the Hairy Bikers brothers?
No, they are not related. Dave Myers and Si King are friends and professional partners who met in 1995.
What is the Hairy Bikers’ most popular recipe?
Their kedgeree is one of the most searched recipes, along with spag bol and shakshuka.
What was the Hairy Bikers’ first TV show?
The Hairy Bikers’ first TV series was The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook, which aired in 2004.
How many books did the Hairy Bikers publish?
The Hairy Bikers published 33 books, according to their official website.
Where can I find Hairy Bikers recipes?
Recipes are available on the official website at hairybikers.com and on BBC Food. The official site also carries news and updates on Si King’s current projects.
Eleanor Reeves is Managing Editor at readingwire.co.uk, running the daily news list, the publishing schedule and newsroom workflow.