Hairy Bikers Books in Order

The Hairy Bikers were Si King and Dave Myers, the motorcycle-riding cooking duo whose books grew out of a long friendship, a shared love of good food, and a willingness to get flour on their leathers. Their recipes are built for home kitchens, with hearty meals, practical methods, and plenty of room for a proper pudding.

Dave Myers was born and raised in Barrow-in-Furness, in northwest England. As a boy, he learned to cook while helping care for his mother, who had multiple sclerosis. He later studied fine art at Goldsmiths in London, supporting himself with work in a steelworks before moving into television as a make-up artist who specialised in prosthetics.

Si King grew up in northeast England and made his own start behind the camera. He worked as an assistant director and locations manager in film and television, including on the Harry Potter films. Before the cookbooks and television fame, both men knew the long hours and unpredictable jobs of production work.

They met in 1995 on the set of the television drama The Gambling Man, where Dave worked in make-up and Si was an assistant director.

Food and motorbikes gave them plenty to talk about. When the chance came to make a travel-and-cooking show, they took it. The Hairy Bikers' Cookbook arrived on television in 2006, sending the pair on the road through places including Namibia, Ireland, Romania, Vietnam, Turkey, Mexico, India, Argentina, Belgium, and Morocco. The format was simple and warm: travel, meet people, learn about local food, then get cooking.

That same mix carried into their books. The Hairy Bikers' Food Tour of Britain looks closer to home, celebrating regional dishes and local ingredients. Mums Know Best and Mums Still Know Best collect family recipes and the stories behind them, while Perfect Pies, Great Curries, Meat Feasts, and The Big Book of Baking focus on the kind of food people like to make and share.

They also had a practical answer for readers who wanted lighter meals without giving up flavour. In 2012, Si and Dave lost more than six stone between them and turned that experience into The Hairy Dieters. Follow-up books such as Good Eating, Fast Food, Go Veggie, and Simple Healthy Food keep the focus on filling, lower-calorie recipes rather than strict rules or tiny portions.

Their later books show how broad their cooking interests remained. The Hairy Bikers' Asian Adventure and Mediterranean Adventure bring travel back into the kitchen. One Pot Wonders, Everyday Winners, and Ultimate Comfort Food are especially useful for everyday cooks looking for uncomplicated meals with familiar ingredients.

Dave died from cancer on February 28, 2024, aged 66. Si completed Our Family Favourites as a tribute to his friend and cooking partner, bringing their shared memories and favorite food back to the table. It is a fitting final chapter for a partnership that always made cooking feel sociable, generous, and within reach.