One half of The Hairy BikersDave Myers has died, aged 66, following a two-year cancer battle.
Co-star of the hit cooking series Si King announced the news on social media with a heartfelt tribute to his friend of 20 years, who died surrounded by family and friends on Wednesday.
“All who knew Dave are devastated at his passing,” King wrote in the statement.
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“His beloved wife brought him such happiness as did her children, Iza and Sergiu who Dave loved like his own.
“Personally, I am not sure I can put into words on how I feel at the moment. 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.
“I wish you god’s speed brother; you are and will remain a beacon in this world. See you on the other side. Love ya.”
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King thanked fans who sent messages of support during Myers’ health battle.
“It meant the world to him, his family and all The Hairy Bikers team,” King wrote.
“I am sending you all much love and gratitude for those simple acts of kindness, generosity and spirit. We are eternally grateful for them.”
The pair met in 1992 on the set of the BBC adaptation of Catherine Cookson’s The Gambling Man – Myers was working as a make-up artist, specializing in prosthetics and visual effects, while King was the second assistant director.
Myers and King then made their debut together as presenters on The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook on the BBC in 2004.
The show ran for four seasons before making a series of breakout shows including The Hairy Bikers’ Food Tour of Britain and The Hairy Bikers’ Pubs That Built Britain.
The most recent in the series was The Hairy Bikers Go Westwhich started on-air in the UK earlier this month.
It saw the duo traveling down the UK’s west coast – a tribute and treat to Myers, who is “a west coast lad”.
During the first episode, Myers confessed to viewers he “wasn’t sure I’d ever get back in the saddle again”, making it “a dream come true” to be back on his motorbike.
“There was a time I couldn’t balance, I couldn’t walk, I didn’t think I’d be getting on a bike,” he said of his cancer battle.
During an interview to mark the start of the series, King praised his co-star for filming the show while undergoing treatment.
“This one was particularly special in general because of Dave’s health and his sheer and utter determination and love for what he does,” King said.
“Especially to continue to do it while he was having treatment took remarkable courage and energy.”
The pair put out more than 30 The Hairy Bikers books, which have sold almost 6 million copies worldwide.
In addition to their cooking-travelling hybrid series, Myers appeared as a contestant on the UK reality TV show Strictly Come Dancing (aka Dancing with the Stars) in 2013.
It was through the show that Myers met his future wife Liliana Orzac.
She was the manager of the hotel they were staying at while filming The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook in Romania in 2005.
“For many years my biggest regret in life was the fact I didn’t have children,” Myers previously told. Mirror,
“But when I married Lil I had this ready-made family with two stepchildren and it brought me such joy.”
The couple wed in 2011 in Cumbria, England, with King as his best man. It was Myers’ second marriage.
Myers was also engaged in 1998 but lost his fiancée to cancer.