Si King announced on Sunday that the Hairy Bikers brand is over following the tragic passing of Dave Myers.
Best pals Si, 57, and Dave worked very closely together for two decades creating a number of much-loved cooking TV shows as well as books and live appearances.
Dave passed away aged 66 in February with Si by his side following a lengthy battle with cancer.
Si has now said it wouldn’t be ‘respectful’ for him to continue as the Hairy Bikers on his own.
Speaking to The Guardian about his next career move, Si said: ‘It can’t be the Hairy Bikers 2.0. That’s not going to happen. It wouldn’t be respectful.’
Si King announced on Sunday that the Hairy Bikers brand is over following the tragic passing of Dave Myers
Best pals Si, 57, and Dave worked very closely together for two decades creating a number of much-loved cooking TV shows
Dave passed away aged 66 in February with pal Si by his side following a lengthy battle with cancer
The TV chef continued: ‘It’s definitely a time of change and change comes at a cost and that cost has been my best friend.’
‘What was wonderful about my mate Dave was that he absolutely embraced the moment. He used to drive me mad. I’d tell him to say something negative for a bit, but he just loved being a Hairy Biker.’
‘Dave and I were two very different people with different agendas and priorities, but we adored each other. The only strategy we had was that if one was vociferously against doing something, then we wouldn’t do it.
‘But Dave was always ready to say yes, much more than me. More times than not he’d win by being relentlessly positive.’
Si went onto admit that being a Hairy Biker ‘was exhausting’ and the pair had to ‘hang on a minute’ and listen to their bodies.
The news that Si will not continue as Hairy Bikers comes after he revealed their last ever cookbook together will be out in October.
Si said he had wanted to finish Our Family Favourites in honour of ‘my best friend’ and had written it ‘with love’.
In a video posted to Facebook, the chef said he had frequently discussed Our Family Favourites with his friend and felt it was only right to get it published.
Si has now said it wouldn’t be ‘respectful’ for him to continue as the Hairy Bikers on his own, he said: ‘It can’t be the Hairy Bikers 2.0. That’s not going to happen. It wouldn’t be respectful’
The TV chef continued: ‘It’s definitely a time of change and change comes at a cost and that cost has been my best friend’
The TV star also revealed that he was in complete ‘disbelief’ and ‘couldn’t get his head around the news’ when Dave first told him of his shock cancer diagnosis in May 2022
‘We have a new book called Our Family Favourites and I just wanted to talk about it a little bit,’ he said.
‘It’s a book that Dave and I discussed at length and I want to finish to honour my best friend.
‘It’s full of recipes that have remained favourites over the years and stay close to our hearts.
‘It’s out in October but you can preorder now.’
Si added, with his voice breaking: ‘It’s a really special book written with love and in memory of my lovely mate.’
Earlier this month thousands of motorcyclists travelled from the world famous Ace Cafe in London to Cumbria to celebrate Dave’s life.
An accompanying GoFundMe page to raise donations for NSPCC Childline and the Institute for Cancer Research has already seen well-wishers give nearly £100,000.
Dave’s passing in February was announced by Si in a heart-wrenching statement.
As well as his cooking adventures, Myers was well known for his warm-hearted appearance on Strictly in 2013, where he partnered with Karen Hauer.
The news after Si revealed the duo’s last ever cookbook together will be out in October
Dave met Si when they were both working in the film industry and bonded over their love of food and motorbikes.
Over their career the best friends built up a reputation as the friendly faces of TV cooking, with 31 separate projects since they first debuted on the BBC in 2006.
Following his diagnosis in 2022, Dave briefly took a break from work before filming his last show with Si.
The programme, The Hairy Bikers Go West, saw the pair travel across Britain from Scotland to Devon and Si previously said it would be one they would ‘always remember’.
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