Hairy Biker Dave Myers’s wife shares tribute to ‘larger than life’ husband

Published

2 months ago

March 8, 2024

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The wife of Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers has paid tribute to her “exceptional husband” after his death aged 66.

Myers died “peacefully at home” on 28 February, fellow motorcycle-riding chef and co-star, Si King, announced last week.

King, together with Myers’s wife, “Lili” Liliana Myers, family members and close friend, David, were “by his side”, a statement said.

Myers had first shared his cancer diagnosis in May 2022.

Mrs Myers shared an emotional tribute to her “wonderful Dave” with the 354,000 followers of the Hairy Bikers Instagram account on Thursday evening, describing him as an “exceptional husband, wonderful stepdad and loyal friend”.

She said he was, “in his own words, a creator, never a follower”.

“My husband, David Myers, was a larger than life character and he did everything with passion, enthusiasm and generosity of spirit,” Mrs Myers wrote.

“His energy was endless when it came to cooking and talking recipes, or biking and talking bikes.”

She also described her late husband as an “amazing storyteller”, adding: “And through his stories and TV appearances he was constantly inspiring and encouraging people to cook, travel, to live their life to the fullest.”

Mrs Myers said she felt like she was “grieving with a whole nation… and this is something special” as she thanked fans for their “massive wave of love, compassion and care” shown to her, King and their families.

“I want you all to know that I have read every single message and comment that you sent… your stories about Dave, your feelings you shared with me, mean a lot – and my heart is filled with gratitude and love,” she wrote.

‘He touched so many hearts’

“It amazes me how many hearts he touched and how many people wanted to express their love for what Dave and Si have created for nearly 20 years,” Mrs Myers added in her tribute.

“I know the Hairy Bikers have been part of your living rooms for such a long time and I feel your loss as much as you feel mine!”

The post was shared with a picture of the couple, who met while Myers was filming Hairy Bikers in Romania.

It has so far been liked more than 55,000 times, with hundreds of people offering their sympathies and paying tribute to the much-loved television star in the comments.

In an Instagram post announcing Myers’s death last week, King revealed his co-star’s “beloved wife” Mrs Myers “brought him so much happiness”, as did stepchildren Iza and Sergiu, “who Dave loved like his own”.

King added: “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. See you on the other side. Love ya.”

Myers announced he had cancer on the Hairy Bikers – Agony Uncles podcast in May 2022, but did not specify what type he was suffering from.

He underwent chemotherapy, revealing how he had been too ill to walk and unable to ride his motorcycle due to being unsteady.

King and Myers’s latest series, The Hairy Bikers Go West, continues to air on BBC Two.

Myers also won over viewers while competing on Strictly Come Dancing with dance partner, Karen Hauer.

Hauer wrote on today’s Instagram post: “Love you Lil. Dave absolutely adored you. Sending all my love.”

Entertainment

‘Taylor Swift bill’ signed into Minnesota law

Published

5 hours ago

May 8, 2024

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'Taylor Swift bill' signed into Minnesota law

Legislation dubbed the “Taylor Swift bill” has passed in Minnesota in an effort to help people buy concert tickets.

The bill, officially called House File 1989 in reference to Taylor Swift’s hit album and the year she was born, was signed into Minnesota law on Tuesday.

It will require sellers offering tickets to people in the state or tickets for concerts being held there to disclose all fees up front and prohibit resellers from selling more than one copy of a ticket, among other measures.

Minnesota State Representative Kelly Moller, chief author of the bill, pushed for the legislation after she tried to get tickets to one of Swift’s concerts in 2022.

Ms Moller said she was among thousands of people who became stuck in ticket sales company Ticketmaster’s system after it crashed amid the huge demand for Swift concert tickets and attacks from bots, which tried to buy tickets for resale at inflated prices.

The situation led to congressional hearings but no federal legislation.

Governor Tim Walz, who signed the bill into law at First Avenue, a popular concert venue in downtown Minneapolis, said it was “protection so you don’t get a bad ticket, a fraudulent ticket, and resellers can’t snatch them all up before you get an opportunity”.

Two young girls – one wearing a shirt that said “A LOT going on at the moment” in a nod to Swift, and another wearing a shirt that said “Iowa 22” in reference to basketball star Caitlin Clark – attended the bill signing with their dad, Mike Dean, who testified in support of it.

Mr Dean said his daughter came to him in December and said she wanted to see Clark play. He said the website initially showed the tickets would cost $300 total, but they ended up costing over $500 because of hidden fees.

The timer had begun in the online checkout process, so he had just minutes to decide whether to buy the tickets for the higher price or lose them.

He ultimately bought them, but he told the Associated Press these practices mean customers can’t make informed decisions. The new law, he said, will bring transparency to the process.

Sky News contacted Ticketmaster for comment.

A spokesperson for fellow ticket sales giants StubHub said: “StubHub has long advocated for legislation that protects fans from anti-competitive and anti-consumer practices in the ticket buying process.

“We share the goals of HF1989 and look forward to continuing discussions with policymakers to advance policies that provide more transparency, more control, and more choice for ticket buyers.”

The law takes effect from 1 January 2025 and applies to tickets sold on or after that date.

Entertainment

Reality star Georgia Harrison says leaked sex video filmed without consent spread like ‘house fire’

Published

5 hours ago

May 8, 2024

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Reality star Georgia Harrison says leaked sex video filmed without consent spread like 'house fire'

Reality star Georgia Harrison has told MPs how the leaking of a video of herself having sex with Stephen Bear – filmed without her consent – spread like a “house fire”.

Former Celebrity Big Brother winner Bear left prison in January, having served 10-and-a-half months of his 21-month sentence for sharing a film of him having sex with Harrison on his OnlyFans site.

Harrison told MPs on the Women And Equalities Committee the video – recorded without her knowledge – “went viral to a point I can’t explain” as it spread round multiple sites and was circulated on WhatsApp.

She added: “It absolutely horrified me that an individual had done this to me but what most horrified me was that these platforms were hosting these videos that were unconsented.

“For many that I tried to reach out to I got an automated response saying we will get back to you within four to six days.

“When something like this is happening it really is like a house fire and the quicker you can put it out, the quicker you can stop it.

“Unfortunately, in four to six days your house has burnt down, everyone knows about this video – your family, your workplace, your peers, it’s too late.”

Discussing her ordeal, Harrison added: “I feel like one of the biggest challenges in general is these big social media companies who are hosting pornographic images and videos, they don’t have any way of us getting through to them to report it when there is something unconsented there.

“It shouldn’t be robots that you get through to when it’s this important a situation, it shouldn’t be that hard to get through to someone.

“I’m not saying delete it, I’m not saying take this person’s account down, I’m just saying can we pause it and then review it in a few weeks and I think that is the biggest issue we are dealing with at the moment.”

Harrison added: “But I think if something gets to the level where you say this is me in a sexually explicit act and I have not given permission, it should be paused that day, not in four to six days.”

‘I ended up being physically ill’

On discovering the video was online, she said: “For the first few days, I was really just going through waves of complete sorrow and shock.

“It got to the point where I was so emotionally affected by what happened to me that I ended up being physically ill as well to the point where I was in hospital for five days over Christmas a little bit after the incident because the stress took such an effect on my body.

“I ended up having a cyst burst and I got an infection and literally it was just like my body deteriorated with my emotions.”

Harrison said the footage should be made illegal – and admitted it had given her “a lot of fear” over starting a family.

She said: “I know whenever I’m dating, meeting new people going into any sort of a new work opportunity, I am known as the person who has this sex tape which I never ever filmed and never consented to be out there.

“So it changed a lot for me and it definitely gives me a lot of fear for one day, if I do have a family, which is something that was always my intention, are my children going to be able to stumble across this footage?”

Entertainment

Eurovision facing controversy over contestants and political statements – as protests around event expected

Published

5 hours ago

May 8, 2024

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Eurovision facing controversy over contestants and political statements - as protests around event expected

The Eurovision Song Contest is already facing controversy over performers making political statements ahead of the big event in Sweden at the weekend.

Bambie Thug, who will represent Ireland, has criticised organisers for asking the performer to alter a pro-Palestinian message before their performance in the first semi-final last night.

Meanwhile, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has put out a statement expressing “regret” that former Swedish contestant Eric Saade, who is reportedly of Palestinian origin, was wearing a keffiyeh – a traditional scarf that has become a symbol of support – tied around his wrist as he sang.

He is not competing this year, but opened the first Eurovision semi-final show in his home country ahead of the finalists being chosen.

Eurovision bills itself as a non-political event and organisers have resisted calls to boycott Israel, sparking protests.

Israel’s Eden Golan will perform her song Hurricane in the second semi-final on Thursday, with bookmakers placing her among the top 10 most likely to win the competition.

Security is being ramped up in the Swedish host city of Malmo, which expects to welcome some 100,000 Eurovision fans – along with thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters, with demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war planned on Thursday and Saturday.

After making it through to the final with their song Doomsday Blue, Ireland’s Bambie Thug told reporters at a news conference that they had been forced to change writing painted on their body ahead of the semi-final performance.

The 31-year-old singer said the painted script in Ogham – an early Medieval alphabet – had translated to ‘ceasefire and freedom’.

“It was very important for me because I’m pro justice and pro peace,” they said. “Unfortunately, I had to change those messages today to ‘crown the witch’ only (which was an) order from the EBU.”

A spokesperson for the EBU said: “The writing seen on Bambie Thug’s body during dress rehearsals contravened contest rules that are designed to protect the non-political nature of the event.

“After discussions with the Irish delegation, they agreed to change the text for the live show.”

In a separate statement about Saade’s opening performance, an EBU spokesperson said the organisation “regrets” that he chose to wear the keffiyeh pattern material and “chose to compromise the non-political nature of the event”.

Elsewhere, UK entrant Olly Alexander also performed at the event to showcase his song, Dizzy, although he is already through to the final as the UK is one of the “big five” Eurovision donors.

The Years & Years singer has found himself facing criticism from some who called for him to withdraw over Israel’s inclusion amid the ongoing war.

He addressed the controversy in a documentary following him as he prepares for the show, describing some comments he and other contestants have received as “very extreme”.

In April, Eurovision organisers condemned the abuse and harassment of contestants over Israel’s inclusion in the competition as “unacceptable and totally unfair”.

Speaking on Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, EBU deputy director general Jean Philip De Tender defended Israel’s inclusion.

“We do understand the concerns and deeply held views around the war in the Middle East,” he said.

“The song contest is a music event organised and co-produced by 37 public broadcasters, it’s not a competition between nations or governments.

“Our governing bodies reviewed the participation of Kan [Israel’s public broadcasting corporation] and found that they met all of the competing rules.”