Dave Myers, who is known as one half of The Hairy Bikers, has died at the age of 66.
The devastating news was broken by Si King, Dave’s best friend and co-star from the popular cookery duo. After fighting cancer for the past two years, Dave passed away peacefully at home surrounded by those closest to him including Si and his wife Lili.
In a post made on social media, Si told his followers, ‘My best friend is on a journey that for now, I can’t follow. I will miss him every day and the bond and friendship we shared over half a lifetime’.
Myers first announced that he had cancer in May 2022, although chose not to disclose the type of cancer he’d been diagnosed with. When previously asked why, he explained ‘because everybody then goes Googling, everybody becomes an amateur doctor... And I don't want to be judged – yet’. Dave had been undertaking chemotherapy since finding out the news.
The pair had returned to TV in early February 2024 in their latest series ‘Hairy Bikers Go West’ which sees Si and Dave travelling from Scotland to Devon discovering the best local cuisine and producers.
Si King had previously praised his co-star for going ahead with the series despite still struggling with his health, saying: ‘It's a series that we will always remember - not that we won't remember others.’
‘We are very privileged to do what we do and I think this one was particularly special in general because of Dave’s health and his sheer and utter determination and love for what he does.’
![Co stars si king and dave myers]()
The Hairy Bikers first met in 1995 whilst working on a TV drama called The Gambling Man, where Myers was working as a make-up artist and specialising in prosthetics.
The pair then made their first TV appearance together in 2004 for The Hairy Bikers Cookbook, accruing more than 25 cookbooks across their 30-year career and friendship.
Many have paid tribute to the chef and TV star, with food critic Jay Rayner calling him 'a brilliant cook, a superb communicator and most of all a seriously lovely man'.
Andi Oliver said she was 'so so sad [...] My heart goes out to you all xx.'
While Saturday Kitchen's Matt Tebutt wrote in an Instagram post: 'One of the good guys, seriously funny, genuinely nice and always a joy to have him and Si on the show. It goes without saying that he will be sorely missed.'
You can read Si King's message to the public on Instagram here.