TV cook Si King has praised his best friend Dave Myers for "living life to the full" a year on from his death - and revealed new solo projects which he thinks would have the approval of his late pal.
The duo were The Hairy Bikers on screen for more than two decades, winning over millions of fans with their BBC cooking and travel shows.
But sadly Dave died from cancer in February last year. Looking back on their time together, Si said: "There are only two things certain in life. You come into it and you leave it. It's up to you, what you do in the middle, Dave loved his life and lived it to the full.
"Dave and I came together over our love of food. We were keen cooks when we met, but having been lucky enough to travel five times around the world for work - and having had the chance to savour some of the most wonderful culinary experiences our beautiful planet has to offer - we became so much more knowledgeable in the kitchen."
Speaking to My Weekly magazine, Si also told how he is putting that expert knowledge to good use and has returned to TV without Dave. He has been seen on ITV's This Morning and confirmed it is a permanent gig.
He added poignantly: "I'm super excited to be cooking on This Morning in a regular slot. I go in once a month, and it's great. I know Dave would have wanted me to keep pushing on."
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BBC)And Si is also taking to the road for a solo tour this year, where he will give cooking tips and no doubt share stories and laughs about his career alongside beloved friend Dave.
Si said: "I'm very excited about going on tour in the spring, it will be an evening of memories, music and laughs, and I'll be chatting about the people and moments in my life that have had an impact.
"We'll be taking a walk through the sounds, flavours and stories that have had a special place in my heart. So if you fancy a crack on, a bit of a laugh and a bit of a sing along, I'm your man, it should be great fun."
Hairy Bikers Si and Dave met in 1992 on a drama TV set when Dave was head of prosthetics and make up, and Si an Assistant Director. They would then properly get chatting in a legendary pub called The Egypt Cottage in Newcastle, bonding over curry and pints of lager.
The pair then bonded over fishing trips to Scotland which made them much closer, dining on bread, butter and as many trout as they managed to camp cooked on a small camp stove.
Fast forward a few years and they filmed their own TV pilot which would then see them begin two decades of cooking and travelling shows from around the world.
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BBC)Speaking in December, Si said Dave will "always be his best mate" - even though the pair can no longer travel the world together on two wheels.
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."
He 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. Now it's incumbent on me to look after the legacy of the Hairy Bikers."
* For more details of An Evening With Si King go to www.fane.co.uk/si-king
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