Si King, one half of the beloved Hairy Bikers duo, has made his first major television appearance since the death of his friend and co-star, Dave Myers. The new series, Britain's Favourite Railway Stations on More4, marks a carefully chosen and poignant return for the presenter.
A Solo Journey After a Profound Loss
The absence of Dave Myers, who died in 2024 at the age of 66 following a battle with cancer, is deeply felt. King led moving tributes, including a memorial motorcycle ride from London to Barrow-in-Furness joined by 20,000 bikers. Since then, the question of how Si would continue his TV career has loomed large. Teaming with a new partner risked seeming opportunistic, given the genuine friendship at the heart of the Bikers' success.
The show sidesteps this dilemma by focusing on Si's personal passion for transport, while moving away from motorbikes. "To see him in his leathers, roaring down the M1 on his own, would have been too lonely," the original article noted. Instead, he explores the history and character of Britain's rail network.
Exploring York's Historic Station
The first episode featured York's railway station, which was the largest in the world during its construction 150 years ago. Dressed in a denim shirt and green silk scarf, Si adopted the role of a curious and genial tourist, quizzing experts and marvelling at historical details.
His visit was emotionally charged. He was seen running his fingers over stonework scars from German air raid shrapnel and was visibly moved by a plaque commemorating station foreman William Milner, who was killed by a bomb in 1942.
From Victorian Excursions to Modern Gripes
The history lesson took a lighter turn with tales of the first Victorian awayday excursions. Holidaymakers, crammed into open carriages without toilets or heating, protested their cattle-like conditions by mooing and bleating loudly.
Si contrasted this with modern rail travel, noting that while a day-return ticket then cost just 1d (less than half a penny today), millions now stand on journeys at a cost thousands of times higher. He wryly observed that making animal noises in complaint today would likely be considered a micro-aggression.
Britain's Favourite Railway Stations represents an unspectacular but thoughtful new chapter for Si King. It allows him to reconnect with audiences through a shared national interest, honouring his past while cautiously navigating a future without his iconic screen partner.
