The last series of The Hairy Bikers to feature Dave Myers, who passed away last year, has been honoured with the Best Food Show award at the TV Choice Awards.
The BBC series Hairy Bikers Go West, which followed Myers and his longtime friend Si King as they journeyed down the west coast of the UK from Scotland, was celebrated at the London ceremony.
In an emotional acceptance speech, King—joined on stage by Myers’ widow, Liliana Orzac, and stepdaughter, Izabelle—acknowledged the difficulty of making their final series, knowing it would be Myers’ last.
“This show was a difficult show to make because we knew it was Dave's last show,” he told the audience. “Everybody that you see on the stage this evening had a massive part to play in that, with their help and support and kindness and downright hard work.
“These people we love dearly because they've worked with us for years and years.”
Reflecting on Myers’ love for recognition, King added: “And this award is particularly special because Dave loved that people liked awards, he loved it.”
The latest installment of the BBC show is expected to be the final series of The Hairy Bikers. In an interview with The Observer, King, 58, confirmed, “There is no Hairy Bikers without Dave.”
Since Myers’ passing aged 66 last February following a cancer diagnosis, King has paid tribute to his close friend on multiple occasions, including organising Dave Day, a 30-mile motorcycle ride in his honour.
The event was filmed for the BBC Two documentary The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone, which aired during the festive season last year.
Elsewhere, Brenda Blethyn, 78, was presented with an outstanding contribution award, in recognition of her 14 series as no-nonsense Northumberland detective Vera Stanhope, in ITV’s Vera.
There were two wins for ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. It took best new drama and Toby Jones, who played Sir Alan Bates, won best drama performance.
ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! won its 19th TV Choice award at the ceremony for best reality show, while BBC medical drama Call The Midwife scooped another award for best family drama, and the cast of Channel 4’s Gogglebox took home best entertainment show.
Emmerdale won best soap for the second time in a row, and the ITV show’s Beth Cordingly won best soap newcomer for her role as Ruby Fox-Miligan.
Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel won its first TV Choice award for best game show. The BBC programme beat the likes of ITV’s The Chase, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and The 1% Club.
BBC’s Escape To The Country was named best daytime show, ITV’s Long Lost Family scooped best lifestyle show, and the BBC’s Ghosts took best comedy show.
Best talent show went to the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, while Channel 5’s All Creatures Great And Small won best drama series, and the channel’s Springtime, Harvest and Winter On The Farm won best factual show.
Channel 5 was also named favourite channel/streaming site.
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan won best comedy performance for her role as Maggie in Channel 4’s Big Mood, while Peter Ash, who plays Paul Foreman in ITV soap Coronation Street, won best soap performance.
The awards were presented in a ceremony on Monday, after the winners were voted for by the TV magazine’s readers.
