The Hairy Bikers Go West on BBC Two joins chefs Dave Myers and Si King for a seven-part travel and cookery series. After enduring 30 rounds of gruelling chemotherapy following his shock cancer diagnosis, Dave Myers thought he’d never ride a motorbike again. "There was a time when I couldn’t walk or balance," said Dave before the series aired. "I can’t tell you what this trip means to me. I’m drinking it in like a man who’s been in the desert!"
But after filming their 2023 festive special The Hairy Bikers: Coming Home for Christmas, Dave was back on the open road with his bearded best mate Si King for the seven-part BBC Two series, which follows the down-to-earth duo as they eat their way around Lancashire, Merseyside, North Wales, Devon and Dorset.
Sadly, Dave Myers died at the age of 66 in February. The news was announced by Si on Thursday, February 29, 2024, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) which read: "I'm afraid I bear some sad news. Most of you will know Dave has been fighting cancer for the past couple of years.
"Last night, on 28th February 2024, with Lili, Dave's wife, his family, close friend David and myself by his side, he passed away peacefully at home. All who knew Dave are devastated at his passing. His beloved wife brought him such happiness as did her children, Iza and Sergiu who Dave loved like his own."
Here's everything you need to know about The Hairy Bikers Go West...
The Hairy Bikers Go West release date
The Hairy Bikers Go West is a seven-part series that started on BBC Two on Tuesday, February 6 2024 at 7 pm with episodes running weekly at the same time and also becoming available on BBCiPlayer. Episode 5 airs on BBC Two at 7 pm on Tuesday 5 March.
The Hairy Bikers Go West — what happens, locations and episode guide
Here's the lowdown on each episode that takes them from Lancashire, Merseyside and North Wales to Devon and Dorset...
Episode 1
Dave and Si start their two-wheeled adventure on Scotland’s Isle of Bute where they meet Syrian refugees Tasnim and Mohamed, who have set up a patisserie and bakery called Helmi's in Rothesay. They also buy a haggis from a local family butcher and meet a couple determined to bring back truffles to the island by growing an orchard of beech and hazel trees. Inspired by the local people and produce, they also cook Middle Eastern flatbread topped with meat and spices, and Chicken Balmoral – chicken breast stuffed with haggis served with a truffle mash. The whole trip leaves Dave feeling emotional.
"The past 18 months made me think moments like this would be an unachievable dream," he says. "Nothing kicks you in the teeth like cancer, so being back doing what I love with my best mate means the world to me. I’m on my bike and I can enjoy the sunshine, the food and the camaraderie!"
Episode 2
The BBC teases: "The Hairy Bikers are back in Scotland, but this time, they're in the beautiful region of Dumfries and Galloway. It’s another place close to Dave and Si’s hearts, a rural paradise with a glorious coastline that stretches for more than 200 miles which they used to visit 30 years ago."
Episode 3
The BBC teases: "The Hairy Bikers explore Lancashire. For Dave, the trip is an emotional homecoming, as he was born in the county.
"They start their trip in the glorious beauty of Morecambe Bay and head to the kitchen to make a dish dedicated to both Lancashire old and Lancashire new.
"Later, they head to the market town of Ormskirk, where they tour a crisp-making potato farm and create a dish celebrating the local spuds, before meeting a family who make gingerbread according to an 18th-century recipe.
"Finally, they end their journey at the award-winning Moor Hall restaurant - but not before stopping off at one of the restaurant's suppliers in the village of Tarleton."
Episode 4
The BBC teases: "For their next adventure in the west of Britain, the Bikers are exploring Merseyside and the Wirral, a place that holds a lot of childhood memories for both Dave and Si. It’s also an area of the world renowned for its unbeatable musical heritage and cultural identity. And, as the boys quickly learn, it has a food scene to match."
Episode 5
Dave and Si are in north-west Wales, discovering a host of inspiring local producers who typify the area's rich diversify. They meet Maggie, a Nigerian kitchen goddess whose spicy West African dishes are heating up the village of Penygroes, and Steff, whose love of travel inspired him to open his own speciality coffee shop 10 years ago. There are also visits to farmers Matt and Jenny, who grow food by replicating the ecosystems found in the wild, and a bakery that produces Kurdish pasties.
Episode 6
Si and Dave arrive in the Newport and Bristol area in the penultimate episode of this mouth-watering series. First stop: Marchnad Casnewydd (Newton Market to English speakers) where the Bab Haus serves up tasty takes on Persian and Mexican cuisine. How about beef and cheese tacos with a house-made chilli sauce? “Good old-fashioned Welsh cooking, eh!? quips Dave. Then it’s on to meet the makers of the famous butter at Netherend Farm, the country’s only maker of Tewkesbury mustard balls (as enjoyed by Henry VIII) and an East African restaurant called Jikoni, where Si learns how to make ugali – give it some welly, Si!
Is there a trailer for The Hairy Bikers Go West?
At the moment there's no trailer for The Hairy Bikers Go West but when one arrives we'll post it here.
