Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Hairy Bikers’ Dave Myers: Wife Lili Myers Shares Heartbreaking Final Months of His Cancer Battle
Lili Myers, the widow of beloved Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers, has opened up about the painful final months of her husband’s battle with cancer, revealing intimate details of his struggle, her continuing grief, and the lasting legacy of their relationship.
Dave Myers: A Culinary Icon and His Private Struggle
Dave Myers, widely celebrated as one half of the Hairy Bikers alongside Si King, was known for his infectious enthusiasm and the unique blend of food and adventure in the BBC’s popular cooking shows. Myers met his future wife, Lili, in Romania in 2005 while filming the duo’s first series, The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook. Their romance blossomed into a marriage in 2011, with Myers embracing life as a stepfather to Lili’s two children.
In May 2022, Dave Myers revealed to fans that he was battling cancer and had started chemotherapy. Despite periods of hope, his health continued to decline. Tragically, he passed away surrounded by loved ones in February 2024, aged 66.
Lili Myers’ Memoir: An Honest Look at Loss
For the first time since Dave’s passing, Lili has spoken candidly about her husband’s final months in her new memoir, Dave and Me, excerpts of which have been published in the Daily Mail. She describes moments of despair and helplessness as the couple confronted the harsh realities of terminal illness.
“We’d hold hands and cry, sometimes unable to move or talk, just despairing at the unfairness of it all. I knew so well the depth of Dave’s pain: the desperation, the helplessness, the anger,” Lili writes.
Lili recounts how chemotherapy took a devastating toll on Myers’ self-image. He confided in her how difficult it had become to love himself while looking in the mirror, feeling “reduced to being only a cancer patient, stripped of his image, identity, and personality, and with a face he didn’t recognise.”
Enduring Grief and the Search for Balance
The book details not just the immediate experience of loss, but the ongoing struggle Lili faces as she adjusts to life without Dave. She describes triggers that reignite waves of grief—such as a familiar smell or objects Dave touched—and admits that accepting such pain may take “an eternity, maybe.”
Lili’s grief extended to the difficult task of sharing the devastating news with Si King, Dave’s best friend and television partner. Si King, who has since paid his own public tributes on social media and in interviews, recently marked the one-year anniversary of Myers’ death with a heartfelt message, underlining the deep bond they shared.
Honouring Dave’s Legacy Through Story
Announcing her memoir on social media, Lili revealed that writing the book was both an act of remembrance and a therapeutic process. She stated, “This past year has been incredibly challenging for me on many levels… But guess what? I used all my creative side and honoured Dave by writing his story. Our story.” For Lili, revisiting their journey from that first meeting in Romania to their final days together was a way of focusing on the “wonderful 20 years Dave gave me.”
She acknowledged her wish that they’d met earlier, allowing more time to experience the happiness Dave brought into her life and the lives of so many fans.
Publication Date and Continued Tributes
Dave and Me by Lili Myers is set for release on June 19 via Ebury Spotlight. The memoir is expected to provide further insight into the couple’s life together and the emotional reality behind one of Britain’s most cherished TV personalities.
For those seeking a deeper look into Dave Myers’ career and personal journey, his life and legacy are explored in more detail on his Wikipedia page, while major outlets such as BBC News and the Daily Mail have provided ongoing tributes and news coverage.
The enduring impact Myers had on viewers, colleagues, and his family is palpable in the continued outpouring of love online. On Instagram, fans and friends alike have shared photos and stories, echoing the sentiment that Dave’s warmth and resilience touched many lives.
To read more about Dave Myers’ extraordinary life, visit the official Hairy Bikers site and follow further coverage on BBC News. You can also explore excerpts from Lili Myers’ memoir in the Daily Mail and heartfelt tributes from Si King in coverage from Express and ITV.
Read more about Dave Myers’ career and legacy on his Wikipedia page, and explore in-depth looks at his partnership with Si King through BBC Show pages. Discover Lili Myers’ candid reflections in the Daily Mail and see Si King’s heartfelt memorials on the Express. Full details on Lili Myers’ memoir are available from Ebury Spotlight.
