Hairy Bikers' Si King reveals heart-wrenching exchange with Dave Myers after cancer diagnosis

The Hairy Bikers stars Si King and Dave Myers found fame together 20 years ago, but Dave tragically lost his battle with cancer earlier this year

Hairy Bikers star Si King has opened up in an emotional interview about the words his late friend shared with him after being diagnosed with cancer.

In a candid chat with The Sunday Times Magazine, the 57 year old TV chef reflected on how he's been coping since the loss of his friend and co-star earlier this year.

He recounted the moment Dave broke the news of his cancer diagnosis in May 2022, saying: "When he called and told me about the cancer diagnosis in May 2022, it was a real body blow. I was struggling to know what to say, but then it dawned on me: I had to take my lead from Dave."

Si recalled Dave's determined approach to his illness: "He didn't want people feeling sorry for him. He wanted to roll up his sleeves and get stuck in. It was all about the fight. He was a naturally optimistic character and always looking for the positives. You can't lose hope, can you? If you lose that, what have you got left? We even had a laugh about it. A touch of black humour - in a suitably mild and appropriate fashion."

During their heartfelt conversation, Si remembered his friend's poignant request: "Almost immediately, he said: 'I want to get back to work. I don't want to just be someone with cancer. I'm still me'."

The duo went on to film their last series together, The Hairy Bikers Go West, following Dave's diagnosis.

He reflected: "And he wanted to travel up and down the west coast of the UK - an area he loved and where he'd been born. Oh God, that last series was by the far the most difficult thing I've ever had to do in my entire life. The crew felt it too; some of whom had been with us since the start. All of us trying to carry on as normal, trying not to lose it. But that paled into insignificance compared with what Dave must have been going through."

Dave, who hailed from Barrow-in-Furness, passed away in February this year, two years after he went public with his cancer diagnosis.

The duo became household names 20 years ago, showcasing their culinary talents as they roamed the UK and beyond on their motorbikes, exploring and preparing dishes from various locales.

In a candid discussion with The Sunday Times Magazine, Si shared that he still senses Dave's presence, particularly hearing his voice when he's cooking.

He confessed: "I'll be honest with you, the past few months have been a struggle. More than once I was on the verge of jumping on my bike and heading into the sunset. Not tell anyone where I was going. Just clear off and never come back. Other times I was raging. Raging at that bloody disease, at God and anything else I could think of."

"People were asking what I was going to do next. The answer is I am going to take some time to reflect on the life I had with my best mate, and think about moving forwards. Which is exactly what Dave would have wanted. Move forward, don't dwell on the past."