Hairy Biker Dave has to drop festival

Celebrity chef Dave Myers of The Hairy Bikers will no longer be able to attend Taste of Grampian due to poor health.

Myers, 64, announced he was having to cancel a series of events and filming this year because has been battling ill health for some time and undergoing chemotherapy.

The news broke on the duo’s latest episode of their podcast Hairy Bikers: Agony Uncles... A Right Pair Of Aunts.

He said his prognosis is “OK” and “he is going to be fine”, but needs to take a step back from most of his commitments this year to help his recovery.

His broadcasting partner Si King will still be in attendance at their soldout cookery demonstrations at the festival on Saturday June 4.

Myers, who lived in the Huntly area for 15 years, said on the podcast: “I haven’t been too well recently and I’ve basically got to have some chemo, you know all of this anyway.

“This year is going to be a little bit quiet for me, I’m not going to be filming, and some of the festivals I’m not going to be able to go to, some I may be OK. But this year is a bit of a write-off for us.

“I’ve had to speak up about this because I don’t want to hide under a rock, but I’d love it if people respected my privacy and just let me get on with it and give Si and all our team all the support they need. That would be great.

“The prognosis is OK, I’m going to be fine but I’ve just got to tuck in, look after myself, eat sensibly and get over this mess, flog books and be a happy person.”

He added: “I may be a baldy biker for a while so it is just a warning. I don’t want to make a fuss about it.”

King, 55, said he is looking forward to getting out into the crowds and sampling some of the best produce from across the north-east and wider Scotland.

As a result of the shows at 10.45am, 1.15pm and 3.45pm being sold out, more celebrity demonstration tickets are also planned, with additional tickets going on sale to see James Martin too.

Frank O’Donnell, editor of The Press and Journal, one of the arms of DCT Media which is putting on the show, added: “We are disappointed to hear that Dave Myers won’t be able to make the trip north for Taste of Grampian.

“However, his health absolutely is the most important thing.”

For any queries regarding tickets, email jillian. burns@ajl.co.uk

SOLO: Si King, left, won’t have Dave Myers next to him.