02 February 2024 , 16:18
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Hairy Bikers star David “Dave” Myers has been praised by co-presenter Simon “Si” King for making the latest series special after being able to return to filming following treatment for cancer.
The motorcycle-riding cooking duo are back for BBC Two series The Hairy Bikers Go West, which King said brought back “a level of normality” for Myers.
Myers, born in Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, has not specified what type of cancer he has following the announcement he was receiving treatment in May 2022. The 66-year-old presenter briefly took a break from work before filming the latest show, which sees them travel west across Britain from Scotland to Devon.
King said: “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. Especially to continue to do it while he was having treatment took remarkable courage and energy – and adds to why Dave and I will not forget it.”
Hairy Biker Dave has continued to work despite his cancer treatment (BBC/South Shore Productions)The 57-year-old presenter said the new travelogue was “a celebration of a joyous and creative friendship” and was happy they returned to Myers’ original home of Lancashire during the series.
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“Dave is a west coast lad and we had a blast visiting some of his old haunts and our favourite places,” he added. “Our focus, and particularly Dave’s focus, was to get out on the bike, to start the process of filming and to bring a level of normality back for him, his family, for me, for the crew, and that’s what he worked towards, and that’s what got him through that particular portion of his treatment.”
County Durham-born King also said there is a “lovely moment on the first day of filming where Dave overtook me on the road on the bikes”, showing that it was “just like old times”.
He added: “Over the comms he was going ‘Kingy, are you sure we’re going left here?’. That sort of dialogue was great and it’s what we’ve done over the last 20 years. It was really quite emotional.”
Through the seven-part series, King and Myers cover more than 600 miles and also stop in Merseyside, North Wales and Bristol. These visits inspired them to cook up Chicken Balmoral with truffle mash and a poached lobster served with Scottish Bucatini pasta, Lamb chop pakoras with traditional Persian rice and a Lancashire Butter and Potato Pie.
*The Hairy Bikers Go West starts Tuesday February 6 at 7pm on BBC Two