'Just because Dave's passed doesn't stop us being mates'

Hairy Biker Si's tribute

- Mark Jefferies

SI KING has said his much-missed Hairy Bikers co-star Dave Myers will "always be his best mate".

Si, 58, says he has made the last ever Hairy Bikers show and will now move on to other projects because he cannot continue without his pal, who died of cancer aged 66 in February.

He said: "Look, just because Dave's passed, it doesn't stop him being my best mate. It's not how that works. You're mates for life and death." Later this month BBC Two airs You'll Never Ride Alone, Si's tribute to Dave and their much-loved cooking show.

In it he leads a motorcycle convoy totalling 46,000 by the time it reaches Dave's home town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Speaking ahead of its release, Si added: "Dave was a joyous man.

"He embraced and loved the life that he led, and that was enormously important to him. That was the essence of my best mate.