Viewers have been left “in tears” as the emotional final episode of Hairy Bikers featuring Dave Myers aired last night.
Dave Myers – who was most well-known for being one half of the famous Hairy Bikers duo that starred in the BBC cookery and travel show of the same name, alongside Si King – sadly died late last month (28 February 2024) after revealing back in May 2022 that he had been diagnosed with cancer, and was undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
Hi everyone, 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… pic.twitter.com/VwoZkm8TJI
Prior to his death, Myers appeared on BBC Breakfast in January 2023, and as well as giving an update on his continuing treatment during the interview, he also announced that new series of The Hairy Bikers TV show would air in 2023 and 2024, with the final episode airing some time in early 2024.
And last night, that finale finally came.
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Viewers tuned in in their tens of thousands to watch the final episode of the beloved show that has been entertaining the masses for countless series and one-off specials for close to two decades.
Airing on BBC Two, with the episode also now available to watch on BBC iPlayer, the last episode of the seven-part Hairy Bikers Go West series – which has followed Dave and Si on a 650-mile road trip down the West Coast, of which Dave was receiving chemotherapy treatment throughout the duration of filming – saw the pair visit Lympstone Manor in Devon, which is run by Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines, before drawing to a close in Dorset.
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The last-ever episode of the Hairy Bikers aired on BBC Two last night / Credit: BBC
In what was a truly candid moment at the end of the episode, Dave told the camera: “It’s been tough at times. I’ve had chemotherapy all the time we’ve been filming, it hasn’t been easy, but we’ve got there and it’s a wonderful feeling.”
Si then said: “We’ve done it, but more importantly, he’s done it”.
Then, after starting to well-up and become visibly emotional, he added: “He’s my mate, but I love him like family, like a brother, and I’m lost for words. It’s quite remarkable what he’s done,” before addressing Dave directly and saying it’s a “pay-off to your hard work, to your will, and to your effort.”
A beaming Myers then responded: “It’s a dream come true Kingy”, and as the episode drew to a close, the pair of best buds are seen sitting together on a bench, reflecting on the trip they’ve just taken together.
“Well, we’ve made it,” a visibly-moved Si said as the final words before the credits rolled.
After the final credits had finished, an image of Myers was shared with the message: “In loving memory of our friend, Dave Myers, 1957-2022”.
Fans of the show have been taking to social media in their hundreds to share their emotional reactions to the final episode, with many admitting they’d been left “in tears”.
Just watched that last @HairyBikers episode and it was extremely moving and very beautiful x
I never thought I would get emotional about a cookery programme, but watching the last episode of @HairyBikers reduced me to tears. What a lovely friendship and so sad that the wonderful Dave Myers is no longer with us 💔
On X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan wrote: “I never thought I would get emotional about a cookery programme, but watching the last episode of Hairy Bikers has reduced me to tears. What a lovely friendship and so sad that the wonderful Dave Myers is no longer with us”, while another added: “I cried my eyes out. What a special friendship they share on screen, I’m so happy they got to do this”.
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Another equally-emotional viewer wrote on X: “Just watched that last Hairy Bikers episode, and it was extremely moving and very beautiful.”
One fan summed it all up perfectly, by writing: “If you missed last night’s Hairy Bikers, then you missed one of the best demonstrations of true friendship.
“Grief is the price we pay for love.”
Featured Image – BBC
TV & Showbiz
Benson Boone has announced a headline gig in Manchester – and it’s a big one
Danny Jones
American pop sensation and unrivalled king of unnecessary front flips, Benson Boone, has just announced his first-ever headline Manchester arena gig as part of a new arena tour.
The solo artist and acrobatic chart-topper has seen a meteoric rise in the US and, as is usually the case across the Atlantic, he’s become increasingly popular over here too.
Benson may have performed here in Manchester before as part of the 2024 MTV EMAs and for a small show at The Deaf Institute, but now big fans have the added Boone of getting to watch a standalone show at one of Europe’s leading indoor entertainment venues.
Announced on Friday, 30 May, the 22-year-old will be making his way across the pond from Washington for a limited run of UK concerts, with a date at Co-op Live arena being one of just five dates.
Extending his ‘American Heart Tour’ ahead of the release of his eponymous sophomore record, with this autumn leg, Co-op Live will mark his individual visit to 0161.
The Grammy-nominated artist has earned several nods of recognition already for his first album, Fireworks & Rollerblades, which was released just last spring.
He has been described as among the current trend of male singers who fit into the American Idol and ‘Voice audition pop’ genre (a term recently coined online), along with the likes of Teddy Swims, Shawn Mendes, Alex Warren and others.
Regardless of the slightly tongue-in-cheek term, he’s become a huge hit around the world and landing him is still a big coup for the venue that has already welcomed similarly massive pop contemporaries like Swims, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and more.
In case you’re wondering just how big a deal he is over in the States, even this early in his career, his domestic headline dates sold out in seconds, quite literally…
The last time he visited Co-op Live was to perform at the most recent MTV EMAs
Benson Boone is coming to Manchester on Monday, 27 October and will be playing just two other British venues: The O2 in London (two nights) and the Utilita Arena in Birmingham.
Safe to say you don’t want to miss this one if you like soaring vocals and lots of flipping.
General admission tickets go live at 10am on Thursday, 5 June, but Co-op Members can gain access via the arena’s official pre-sale window from the same time on Tuesday (3 Jun).
More adult virgins needed for next series of Channel 4’s hit reality show Virgin Island
Emily Sergeant
Channel 4 is back looking for more adult virgins to take part in the potential next series of its hit reality show Virgin Island.
You may remember that early last year, we brought you the breaking highly-important news that Channel 4 was currently in the process of producing a new reality TV series that, at the time, had the working title of ‘The Intimacy Retreat’ and was looking for a group of adult virgins to apply to take part, if they were brave enough.
But now, well over a year on, we all know that show turned out to be the hit show Virgin Island – which has just finished airing its first series this week.
Channel 4 needs more adult virgins for the potential next series of its hit reality TV show Virgin Island / Credit: Channel 4
If you’re unfamiliar with Virgin Island, it’s unlike anything ever seen on TV before, as it follows the journey of a group of adult virgins who are whisked off to a Mediterranean island retreat to learn life-changing skills in the art of intimacy.
Working with leading international therapists, the aim is to help the young people overcome their fears and insecurities when it comes to intimacy and sex.
Channel 4 said it chose to commission the show after a recent study into intimacy found out that one in eight British 26-year-olds is, apparently, still a virgin.
Virgin Island aims to help young people overcome their insecurities around intimacy and sex / Credit: Channel 4
A casting call for the new series on the Channel 4 website reads: “Are you a virgin and do you need help and guidance with your fears and insecurities around intimacy and sex? Double Act Productions is casting adults for a potential second series of Virgin Island.”
You just need to be over 21 years of age to take part in the show.
Fancy it then? Or know someone who may be up for the ride? Applications for the potential next series of Virgin Island are now open, and there’s still plenty of time left to put your name down.