Hairy Bikers star Si King has revealed he has found love again with a new partner, years after his 27-year marriage to Jane Dodd ended. The TV chef, 59, married Jane in 1989, and together they welcomed children Alex, James and Dylan before splitting in 2016.
A marriage that 'lost each other'
Speaking at the time of the split, Si gave an emotional interview about how he and Jane "lost each other" when he put work first. "Jane was focused on the family, and I was focused on work," he admitted. "The reality is the industry we work in is incredibly brutal. There are timelines and deadlines. You have to be on form. Some people can do it. I find it quite difficult."
After finding huge fame as a Hairy Biker, Si said he no longer recognised himself, and often found himself wondering "What have I become?". The star said he accepted he wasn't "present" for many years and that it had affected his home life.
A 'very special' new partner
A decade later, Si seems to be in better spirits and has revealed he has a "very special" new girlfriend. Speaking to The Sunday Times magazine, he also shared that his ex-wife and sons were happy too. He said: "It's been wonderful and continues to be wonderful. And you know, I think the lads [his sons] are really happy, as is my ex-wife Jane, actually."
Si's new lease of life comes two years after he lost his much-loved best friend and TV partner Dave Myers. TV favourite Dave died aged 66 in 2024 after a two-year battle with cancer. His friend's death left Si feeling lost, and he admitted he had considered "riding into the sunset" as he wanted to be left alone and cut off.
Grief and moving forward
The death is still affecting him though, as Si admitted earlier this month that he was continuing to process the loss of his friend and "doesn't know what else to do" with his grief. He added that he was continuing to work, despite not being able to do it with his friend anymore. Si confessed that it was "challenging" and that he was "probably working too hard" but he had to do something with himself.
And he previously admitted he felt somewhat guilty for a year after Dave's death. Speaking to Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, he said: "The first year, I didn't want to do anything at all. I just didn't have it in me and then when I was shooting the show, I felt a sense of guilt that I was doing something that when he wasn't there. It was a very odd experience, because I was having to remember and deliver pieces to camera that I'd go 'ah you can do this'."
