Si King reaffirms end of The Hairy Bikers as he grieves late Dave Myers: “There’s no Hairy Bikers without my mate”

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Si King announced, “It’s finished.” He explained that ‘The Bikers’ referred to the two of them, and there wouldn’t be ‘Hairy Bikers’ without his friend.

It’s easy to understand why Si King is so devoted to the memory of his late co-star, Dave Myers, and why his career is now heading in a new direction because of it, when you learn about their long friendship. They were close friends for thirty years before Myers sadly passed away from cancer in 2024. As King explains, ‘Just because someone dies doesn’t mean they stop being your best friend.’ He describes their relationship as a brotherhood – full of both playful annoyance and deep affection, despite their very different personalities.

I always loved how the Hairy Bikers seemed like such genuine mates, and I recently learned how they became that way! It all started back in 1992 when they were both working on a TV show – Si King was an assistant director, and Dave Myers did make-up. They bonded over a love of good food and bikes, and that connection led to over 30 TV series together. It’s amazing how a shared passion can create a lasting partnership, isn’t it?

Honestly, nobody could ever replace him. I can’t imagine looking over my shoulder while riding and seeing anyone else leading the pack. It was always Dave, and I’ll always remember driving for miles, just watching his taillight. That’s my lasting image, that’s what I cherish. That’s what it all meant to me.

Si King is currently focused on his new More4 show, ‘Britain’s Favourite Railway Stations,’ but he also seems to be reflecting on his past experiences.

It’s important to keep looking ahead, but it’s equally important to hold onto good memories. My friend Dave and I traveled an incredible 650,000 miles together – that’s further than a round trip to the Moon!

We always joked that we were the most easily excited middle-aged guys around. I remember once, we were on motorcycles at the top of a mountain with an amazing view, waiting for a drone to start filming. Someone would come on the radio and tell us to get ready, and we’d just exchange a look, look up at the sky, and marvel at how lucky we were. We’d say, ‘I don’t know what we did to deserve this, but we’re grateful!’

At 59, he’s clearly thankful for the support of his fans from The Hairy Bikers. He says it’s their encouragement that’s helped him move forward after the loss of his friend and start a new project. He finds their interest and anticipation incredibly moving, describing it as a loving and energizing force.

Surprisingly, he completely switched gears, giving up cycling and cooking to create a four-part documentary series about train stations. It’s amusing, because most people never pictured this tall, leather-clad, and larger-than-life personality as someone interested in trains. Is he seriously suggesting he’ll be getting a Senior Railcard as soon as he’s eligible, on his next birthday?

He says he travels by train all the time. Despite what people might think, he has a family – three grown sons and a dog – so when he can’t cycle, he takes the train. He still lives in the North East and frequently travels to London. He enjoys train journeys because he likes watching the scenery.

My Uncle George always said people had lost the habit of simply relaxing and being still, and I really enjoyed having the time to do that, instead of constantly rushing around. He wasn’t thrilled, though, about having to film a long video segment while also dealing with train announcements.

When I’m on a bike, I’m always worried about traffic. I prefer taking the train to visit my brother and sister in Italy – it gives me time to relax and enjoy the journey. Flying feels rushed and impersonal. I really appreciate the slower, more comfortable experience of train travel, and I love the atmosphere of train stations.

Next season, will he praise other aspects of Britain’s transportation system with the same enthusiasm? Perhaps motorway service stations or hotels near roundabouts? He’d certainly be open to it! He enjoys staying at those hotels when visiting his grandchildren because the staff don’t recognize him – he’s completely anonymous and can simply grab a snack like a Picnic bar from the vending machine.

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He doesn’t have a single favorite railway station in Britain, but he’s particularly fond of the historic rack-and-pinion line up Mount Snowdon, for both professional and personal reasons. He explains the railway originally served coal and slate industries, but later became a leisure attraction. Wealthy industrialists realized the potential of a railway up the thousand-meter mountain and commissioned its construction, which took the workers 14 months to complete using only basic tools like picks, shovels, and dynamite.

His connection to the Snowdon Mountain Railway is deeply personal, stemming from a childhood memory after his father’s death. When he was around 12 years old, he stayed with his Uncle Gordon near Snowdon and often hiked up the mountain. He always begged to ride the train, hoping to get cakes on board, but never got the chance. For years, he resigned himself to never experiencing it. Now, nearing 60, he’s finally fulfilled that childhood wish thanks to a television appearance.

Authors

Ed GrenbyAssociate Editor, TopMob

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2026-01-05 21:24