David Myers and Simon "Si" King collectively known as the Hairy Bikers,
are British television presenters who have fronted the series The Hairy
Bikers' Cookbook, The Hairy Bikers Ride Again, The Hairy Bakers, The Hairy
Bikers' Food Tour of Britain, The Hairy Bikers' Mums Know Best, Hairy Bikers'
Meals on Wheels, Hairy Bikers' Best of British, The Hairy Bikers' Bakeation,
Hairy Dieters: How to Love Food and Lose Weight, The Hairy Bikers' Asian
Adventure and The Hairy Bikers' Northern Exposure for BBC Two, and The Hairy
Bikers' Mississippi Adventure for Good Food.
Biographies Both Myers and King have a background in
TV and film production. Myers is a professional make-up artist,
specialising in prosthetics, while King served as locations manager on numerous
productions including the Harry Potter films and Byker Grove. They met in 1995
on the set of a TV drama entitled The Gambling Man which was based on a
Catherine Cookson novel. King was the second assistant director and Myers was
head of prosthetics, hair and make-up on the production. Both have a tattoo of
Che Guevara on their right arm. Simon King is a supporter of Newcastle United.
TV shows The duo appeared on the BBC's The Hairy
Bikers' Cookbook. Their TV shows are a mixture of cookery and travelogue, using
a similar format and style to that previously associated with Keith Floyd,
including the habit of frequently referring to the cameraman and other
crew. Most shows feature the pair riding motorbikes, including the BMW R1200GS,
F650GS and Triumph Rocket III. The show also features elements of the Two Fat
Ladies format, including regular banter between the two stars, use of various
unusual cooking locations and the use of motorbikes.
The pair have appeared on several episodes of Saturday Kitchen on the BBC,
as well as on Richard & Judy on Channel 4. They both appeared on a celebrity
chefs special of The Weakest Link and in the première episode of James Martin's
Brittany with Saturday Kitchen presenter James Martin.
In summer 2009 they filmed a 30-part daytime series for BBC Two, The Hairy
Bikers' Food Tour of Britain, which aired weekdays starting on 24 August
2009. The series saw them visit a different county each day and cook what
they considered to be that county's signature dish.
In October 2009, filming of a BBC Christmas show featuring the Hairy
Bikers was halted after King was injured in an accident on Tyneside. King came
off his bike when a car pulled out in front of him, while he was riding
through Gosforth during rush hour. His TV partner Dave Myers was riding some
distance behind him. King was taken to Newcastle General Hospital for treatment
to bruising to his right leg and ribs. The hour long Hairy Bikers' Twelve Days
of Christmas was shown on BBC2, 16 December 2009.
A new six part series titled The Hairy Bikers: Mums Know Best commenced
broadcast in early January 2010 on BBC2. On 25 October 2010 a new 40 episode
series, The Hairy Bikers' Cook Off, was launched on BBC2. The programme includes
a cook off between two families and celebrity guests.
From January to May 2010, the Hairy Bikers performed their "Big Night Out"
show in theatres throughout the UK. Directed by Bob Mortimer, the show was a
fun mixture of cooking and chat with a little song and dance thrown in. It
explored their youth, how they met and their love of food. In October 2010, the
Hairy Bikers were guests on the BBC TV series Genius hosted by comedian Dave
Gorman. In June 2011, the Bikers appeared in the
second series of Mum Knows Best. The series, made up of eight episodes,
featured three 'Star Mums' whose recipes were tested and shared with the public.
October 2011 saw a new series, Meals on Wheels, air on BBC2. The series fronted
a campaign to save local 'meals on wheels' services around the UK.
From November to December 2011, the Bikers appeared in a 30-part BBC series
called Hairy Bikers: Best of British, airing at 3:45pm on BBC2. The series
celebrated British recipes and championed local produce. In January
2012, continuing into February, BBC2 showed hour long re-versions including
recipes from various episodes of the series.
After they had signed new contracts with the BBC in 2011, a new series was
commissioned. The Hairy Bikers' Bakeation sees Si and Dave doing what
they love best – a gastronomic road trip, uncovering the best baking on
offer across Europe, from Norway, the Low Countries, Germany, Eastern Europe,
Austria, Italy and France to Spain. In March 2012, Good Food commissioned
The Hairy Bikers' Mississippi Adventure, the duo's first series for the channel.
UKTV gave a description of the series: "In this ultimate food and music
pilgrimage, the perennially popular Hairy Bikers are getting back in the
saddle as they explore the length of the iconic Mississippi River in America in
pursuit of the delicious roots of soul food and Southern music." The series
will be produced by Mentorn Media and the Bikers' first interactive iOS app,
also produced by Mentorn, will be released to accompany the series.
In August 2012, Hairy Dieters: How to Love Food and Lose Weight showed how the
Hairy Bikers' radically changed lifestyles, but stayed true to their
love of great food, as they embarked on a campaign to lose two-and-a-half
stones) in three months, and comfortably passed their target weights.
In August 2012, Myers appeared on Channel 4's Countdown in dictionary
corner, and again in January 2013. Myers took part in the eleventh series
of Strictly Come Dancing, partnering Karen Hauer. On 10 November, he was the
sixth celebrity to be eliminated from the contest.
American version History Channel released an American
version of the show starring Paul Patranella and Bill Allen. The show
aired for 10 episodes and was spoofed in an episode of South Park entitled "A
History Channel Thanksgiving". Awards and honours
2012 National Book Award, "Food & Drink Book of the Year" for The Hairy Dieters
References External links
Official Hairy Bikers website Hairy Bikers on the Good Food Channel
Hairy Bikers on the BBC