DAVE Myers' best friend tells motorcyclists he 'would have loved it' as thousands gathered in honour of Hairy Biker legend.
Myers, who was part of the motorcycle-riding cooking duo with co-presenter Si King, died in February at the age of 66 following a battle with cancer.
In memory of the late TV star, motorcyclists from across the country are meeting up on Sunday morning to ride in a convoy together to pay tribute and raise funds for cancer research.
A message from King was posted on the Hairy Bikers Instagram account on Sunday ahead of the ride, alongside a photo of the motorcyclists stationed at the initial meeting point.
The statement said: "I hope the ride out goes well for you all. Many many thanks for remembering Dave in this way.
"He would have loved it. Dave's family, friends and I are really touched.
"Love to you all, be safe."
The ride, organised by Biker Escorts East Yorkshire, will begin in Beverley Market Place in Yorkshire before moving through various north Yorkshire towns including Scagglethorpe and Pickering.
After two and half hours, the route is planned to end in the seaside town of Scarborough in the afternoon.
A Facebook page for the event notes the ride is due to be marshalled and local police have been informed.
It also says they are expecting possibly up to 3,000 bikes to take part due to the interest expressed on the event page.
Born in Barrow-in-Furness, Myers' earned himself a loyal following alongside King with their combination of riding their motorcycles to locations across the world and cooking up a storm as they went.
The pair also won over viewers with their cheeky northern humour and enthusiasm.
The bearded duo filmed many cooking series and specials for the BBC, seeking out new dishes in countries such as India, Vietnam, Argentina and Mexico.
King and Myers' last series, The Hairy Bikers Go West, continued to air on BBC Two following his death.
Outside of their travelogue series, Myers also competed on Strictly Come Dancing and they published more than 25 cookery books.
Dave Myers passed away on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 after being diagnosed with cancer.
His Hairy Bikers co-star Si King announced the tragic news in a statement.
Posting on Twitter, Si said: "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 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.
"Personally, I am not sure I can put into words on how I feel at the moment.
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"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.
Dave Myers' top moments
DAVE MYERS often showcased his other hidden talents
Singing Bat Out of Hell for Children In Need
In 2010, Dave and Si performed a rendition of the Meat Loaf track for charity.
Wearing black and white suits as well as dirty white aprons, they sang Bat Out Of Hell in a café to raise funds for Children In Need.
Making an entrance
Renowned for their love for motorbikes, the duo frequently made memorable entrances onto the sets of TV studios by riding in.
In 2016, they delighted the then-hosts of This Morning, Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, by surprising them with bikes in the studio hallway.
Afterwards, they casually left their helmets and jackets scattered around the sofa of the ITV daytime programme.
Murder on the dance floor
During his stint on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013, Dave performed a cha-cha routine to the Maroon 5 song Moves Like Jagger.
Sporting a flamboyant silver shirt, he executed exaggerated moves and even playfully dragged professional dancer Karen Hauer along the dance floor by her leg.
His energetic performances left a lasting impression, with then-judge Bruno Tonioli commending him for his entertainment value.
However, Dave's journey on the show was cut short when he was eliminated midway through the series while dancing a tango to I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers.
All locked up with nowhere to go
During an episode of the BBC comedy panel show Would I Lie To You?, Dave disclosed an anecdote about being inadvertently trapped inside a merchant bank while working as a security guard at the age of 22.
He apparently found himself locked inside the bank from Christmas Eve until Boxing Day evening in 1980 due to a lack of relief staff and not being provided with the keys to exit the premises.
Just desserts
During their appearance on the BBC's Saturday Kitchen, Dave and Si encountered difficulty removing a fruit pudding from its dish.
Despite Dave's attempts to dislodge it by slamming the bowl on the table and Si stepping in to assist, the pudding emerged from the dish in a collapsed state.
In jest, Dave quipped, "Generally it just relaxes, a bit like when my wife takes her Spanx off."
They attempted to salvage the situation by adorning the pudding with berries and herbs for decoration.