After being diagnosed with cancer, Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers gave fans regular updates about his health as he sought treatment.
However, there was one detail he chose to keep private before his untimely death earlier this week at the age of 66.
Friend and co-star Si King was the one to confirm the news of Myers’ passing, saying that he had been surrounded by loved ones at home.
"All who knew Dave are devastated at his passing,” King said in a poignant tribute.
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"His beloved wife brought him such happiness as did her children, Iza and Sergiu who Dave loved like his own.
"Personally, I am not sure I can put into words on how I feel at the moment.
"My best friend is on a journey that for now, I can’t follow. I will miss him every day and the bond and friendship we shared over half a lifetime.
"I wish you God’s speed brother; you are and will remain a beacon in this world.”
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He added: “See you on the other side. Love ya.”
Myers publicly shared his cancer diagnosis in May 2022, going on to speak about his journey in a number of interviews and TV shows – including a one-off special in December, The Hairy Bikers: Coming Home for Christmas.
Serving as a ‘glorious celebration of life’, the episode saw the Hairy Bikers host a banquet to thank those who cared for Myers, with unseen footage showing his treatment as he spoke candidly about his experience.
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“When I first got the call, what went through my mind was disbelief, and a refusal to believe it in a way,” he said.
“It's the word, isn't it, the word that everybody fears.”
Myers said he chose not to share the specific type of cancer he had, in order to avoid people speculating about his outcome.
“I feel like that’s my business,” he said.
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“I don’t want newspapers to run a lottery on how long I’ve got to live. That’s not what I want. I felt so guilty because of the effects it’s having on my wife.”
In a previous interview with the Guardian in 2022, he also said he didn’t want to be ‘judged’ by revealing more detailed information about his diagnosis.
"Everybody then goes Googling, everybody becomes an amateur doctor,” Myers said.
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“And I don’t want to be judged – yet.”
He added: "A huge inconvenience is the best way to describe it."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Jess Hardiman