Navigating Grief and the Camera Lens: Si King’s Solo Journey After Dave Myers’ Passing
The enduring friendship and on-screen chemistry of the Hairy Bikers, Si King and Dave Myers, was a cornerstone of British television for two decades. For many, their adventures, fuelled by a shared passion for food and motorbikes, became a comforting constant. However, the tragic passing of Dave Myers in 2024 from cancer left an undeniable void, not just for fans, but profoundly for his lifelong friend and co-presenter, Si King.
King, 59, has recently opened up about the immense grief and sense of guilt he experienced when he first returned to filming a new television series without his beloved mate. The year following Myers’ death was a period of deep introspection and a complete absence of desire to engage with work. The thought of stepping back in front of the cameras, especially for a project that involved traversing Britain’s railway stations, felt like an insurmountable challenge.
The Weight of Absence
Speaking on an upcoming episode of Desert Island Discs, King candidly shared the emotional toll of his first solo television venture. “The first year I didn’t want to do anything at all,” he admitted. “I just didn’t have it in me.” The experience of filming was fraught with a pervasive sense of guilt. “When I was shooting the show, I felt a sense of guilt that I was doing something when he wasn’t there,” he explained.
The very act of delivering lines to the camera, a familiar ritual for the Hairy Bikers, became “very odd.” King described the strangeness of having to perform these segments alone, recalling how he would have previously turned to Myers, perhaps with a comforting “you can do it, mate.” The absence of his partner was palpable, a constant reminder of the irreversible change in their professional and personal lives.
A Friendship Forged in Passion
King and Myers’ professional journey began in the realm of TV production. They first crossed paths in 1992, working together on a Catherine Cookson adaptation. It was their shared enthusiasm for all things culinary, however, that truly ignited their collaboration. This mutual passion led to the creation of the Hairy Bikers, a show that would go on to captivate audiences for twenty years, starting in 2006.
Their unique brand of culinary exploration saw them embark on epic motorbike journeys, traversing over 650,000 miles. Along the way, they introduced viewers to a world of flavours, cultures, and the sheer joy of good food.
The Lingering Shadow of Loss
Even two years after Dave Myers’ passing at the age of 66, King maintains that Myers remains his best friend. The pain of his absence is a constant companion. “It never leaves you. There is always that sense of loss,” King stated, underscoring the profound and lasting impact of their bond.
King also spoke about Dave Myers’ incredible resilience and determination in the face of his cancer diagnosis in 2022. The pair made the difficult decision to continue filming, a choice driven by Myers’ desire to maintain a sense of normalcy amidst his health battle. King explained that he felt he had no other option but to support his friend’s wishes.
“It’s not for me to say anything different,” King reflected. “It’s for me to fall into line and kind of go, ‘OK, this is what we are doing’. That is what we did. It was all about the fight and keeping it going, keeping the wheels on as far as we could because clearly, they had come off.” This shared commitment to their work, even in the darkest of times, speaks volumes about their unwavering dedication to each other and their craft.
The Personal Cost of the Road
Beyond the shared grief and the challenges of solo filming, King also touched upon the personal sacrifices that came with the demanding Hairy Bikers schedule. The long periods spent away from home, while pursuing their culinary adventures, created a distance from his family and friends. This relentless schedule ultimately contributed to the collapse of his marriage to his first wife, Jane.
The presenter admitted that for a period, he felt he had “completely lost” himself in the whirlwind of his career. “I am not there so I didn’t know the day-to-day of everybody’s lives,” he confessed, highlighting the profound personal cost of his dedication.
Si King’s journey is a testament to the enduring power of friendship, the complexities of grief, and the courage it takes to navigate life’s most challenging transitions. His willingness to share his vulnerability offers a poignant insight into the man behind the beloved Hairy Bikers persona.
Desert Island Discs airs on BBC Radio 4 today at 10 am and is also available on BBC Sounds.
