Si King Confesses to Profound Guilt Filming Solo After Dave Myers' Passing
Television chef Simon 'Si' King has candidly revealed the harrowing guilt he experienced while filming his first solo television series following the death of his beloved Hairy Bikers partner Dave Myers. Myers, who became a household name alongside King through their popular BBC cooking and motorcycling programme, passed away at age 66 in 2024 after a cancer diagnosis.
An Odd Experience Without His Partner
King has since returned to television screens with Channel 4's Top of the Stops, but described the experience as profoundly "odd" without his dear friend and long-time collaborator by his side. During an emotional appearance on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs with host Lauren Laverne, the television personality shared his inner turmoil.
"The first year, I didn't want to do anything at all," King revealed. "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 when he wasn't there."
Finding Comfort in Production Team
King elaborated on the strange experience of filming without Myers, stating: "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'." He found some solace in his production team, sharing: "What was wonderful was that I had my lovely, lovely, gorgeous, talented crew, and the creative shorthand just came back like that."
Reflecting on the bittersweet nature of the experience, he added: "It was wonderful, it was just odd that he wasn't there."
Dave Myers' Determination and Shared Focus
King also spoke about Myers' remarkable determination following his cancer diagnosis, emphasizing their shared commitment to "keeping those motorcycle wheels turning." The phenomenal success of the Hairy Bikers brought with it significant professional pressures, including a gruelling schedule that involved approximately 200 working days annually.
The Personal Toll of Demanding Schedule
This relentless filming schedule ultimately contributed to the breakdown of King's marriage to ex-wife Jane. Reflecting on the profound impact of his career on personal relationships, he explained: "It just changes you." He added: "I'd seen so much I didn't know what to say anymore. I didn't know what to say to anybody."
The television chef went on to describe the emotional consequences: "Because I'm not there, I don't know the day-to-day of everybody's lives, and what the crack is. What then happens is that you become, as a person, very inconsistent emotionally because you don't know where to put it."
Impact on Family Relationships
King acknowledged the particular difficulty this created for his family: "And that's very difficult for Jane particularly, the mother of my children, and it's the most destructive thing because nobody ever knows where they are, and there's no sense of deep security there, which was the antithesis of what I wanted."
He candidly admitted: "I don't mind admitting that I completely lost myself. But that was a very private thing for me and my family and my friends. And it wasn't horrible. It was just well, he's away from home and living in this mad world."
The complete interview with Si King will be available on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds from Sunday March 29 at 10am, offering further insight into his emotional journey following the loss of his television partner and close friend.
