Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers has revealed doctors diagnosed him with anorexia as he struggled to gain weight during his treatment for cancer.
The TV chef, 66, who has not specified what type of cancer he has, announced he was receiving treatment in May 2022.
Speaking to his Hairy Bikers co-star Si King in their new BBC2 series The Hairy Bikers Go West, which aired on Tuesday night, the TV chef explained how his weight has now stabilised.
In the first episode the two shared a meal together with Si asking Dave about his ‘eating habits’ since his cancer diagnosis, pointing out: ‘You’ve had it pretty rough…’
Dave explained: ‘You lose weight, a lot of it, and you’re desperately trying to get the calories in and it’s hard. It’s really hard.
Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers has revealed doctors diagnosed him with anorexia as he struggled to gain weight during his treatment for cancer
‘At one point I was diagnosed as anorexic. Can you believe it after all the dieting we’ve done?
‘But yeah, I’m doing alright now, I’m living with it. My weight’s stable so whatever I’m doing, I’ll carry on with it.’
One of the other symptoms during Dave’s gruelling chemotherapy treatment has been his loss of balance, and the TV star feared his job on hit his hit show could be in jeopardy if he was unable to ride a motorcycle again.
‘When I was told I was ill, I never thought I’d ride a motorcycle again. But we’re doing it!’ Dave exclaimed to his friend during an emotional moment in the first episode of the new series.
‘There was a time when I couldn’t balance, I couldn’t walk. I didn’t think I’d be getting on a bike. But I’m sound as a pound mate.’
Si asked: ‘How did you get that back? Bloody hard work?’ Dave replied: ‘Hard work and physiotherapy.
‘I’ve still got my foot in a splint to change gear but it works. It’s joyous. I love the whole paraphernalia with the bike, the smell of the bike. It’s a dream come true, Kingy. I appreciate it so much.’
Dave briefly took a break from work before filming the latest show, which sees them travel west across Britain from Scotland to Devon.
Speaking to his Hairy Bikers co-star Si King in their new BBC2 series The Hairy Bikers Go West, the TV chef explained how his weight has now stabilised
Last week Si paid an emotional tribute to Dave for making their latest series special, after being able to return to filming.
Si said: ‘It’s a series that we will always remember, not that we won’t remember others.
‘We are very privileged to do what we do and I think this one was particularly special in general because of Dave’s health and his sheer and utter determination and love for what he does.
‘Especially to continue to do it while he was having treatment took remarkable courage and energy – and adds to why Dave and I will not forget it.’
One of the other symptoms during Dave’s gruelling chemotherapy treatment has been his loss of balance, and the TV star feared his job on hit his hit show could be in jeopardy if he was unable to ride a motorcycle again
The 57-year-old presenter said the new travelogue was ‘a celebration of a joyous and creative friendship’ and was happy they returned to Myers’ original home of Lancashire during the series.
‘Dave is a west coast lad and we had a blast visiting some of his old haunts and our favourite places,’ he added.
‘Our focus, and particularly Dave’s focus, was to get out on the bike, to start the process of filming and to bring a level of normality back for him, his family, for me, for the crew, and that’s what he worked towards, and that’s what got him through that particular portion of his treatment.’
The motorcycle-riding cooking duo are back for BBC Two series The Hairy Bikers Go West, which Si (right) said brought back ‘a level of normality’ for Dave (left)
County Durham-born Si also said there is a ‘lovely moment on the first day of filming where Dave overtook me on the road on the bikes’, showing that it was ‘just like old times’.
He added: ‘Over the comms he was going, “Kingy, are you sure we’re going left here?”. That sort of dialogue was great and it’s what we’ve done over the last 20 years. It was really quite emotional.’
Through the seven-part series, Si and Dave cover more than 600 miles and also stop in Merseyside, North Wales and Bristol.
These visits inspired them to cook up Chicken Balmoral with truffle mash and a poached lobster served with Scottish Bucatini pasta, Lamb chop pakoras with traditional Persian rice and a Lancashire Butter and Potato Pie.
