Si King: Why His Wife Split, Health Scare and Solo TV Return

Few TV duos feel as familiar as the Hairy Bikers, but since the death of Dave Myers in 2024, the spotlight has shifted harshly onto the man left behind. Si King’s return to television has come with raw confessions about his marriage, his health, and a decade of personal upheaval that fans are only now hearing about. This article pulls together verified facts from trusted sources to separate what’s actually known from what remains guesswork.

Full name: Simon James King ·
Born: 20 October 1966 ·
Known for: The Hairy Bikers ·
Partner: Dave Myers (deceased 2024) ·
Marital status: Separated from wife Jane ·
Children: Two sons

Seven key facts define Si King’s public profile at a glance:

Why did Si King split up with his wife?

The most direct answer comes from Si King himself. In a 2025 appearance on Desert Island Discs, King told the BBC that work demands contributed to the breakdown of his marriage to Jane. He described how the Hairy Bikers’ gruelling schedule — reportedly around 200 workdays a year (Yahoo News UK) — changed him as a person, making him “less involved in the daily lives of loved ones” (BBC News).

What did Si King say about work demands contributing to the split?

King’s own words point to the cost of fame. He told the BBC that being away from home for long stretches created an emotional gap that the couple could not bridge. The Sun reported that the separation occurred in 2016 after 27 years of marriage (The Sun), though King has not confirmed the exact year publicly.

The implication: King’s candid admission removes some ambiguity, but the full picture remains incomplete. He has not disclosed whether the split has been formalised as a divorce, and neither Jane nor King have commented further.

What did Si King suffer from?

The major health event in Si King’s life occurred in 2014, when he experienced a leaking brain aneurysm. The BBC reported that King was living alone and separated from his wife at the time (BBC News). The condition is serious — a leaking aneurysm can cause a subarachnoid haemorrhage if untreated — but King recovered and resumed his television career.

Has Si King ever had a major illness?

Aside from the 2014 aneurysm, no other serious or widely reported health condition has been confirmed. Some online speculation about ongoing health issues exists, but no reputable source has reported a current illness.

What health challenges has Si King faced?

King has not publicly detailed any other health challenges. The 2014 aneurysm remains the only medically significant event on the record.

Is Si King in a relationship?

Si King’s current relationship status is unclear. He has not publicly confirmed a new partner since his engagement to Australian chef and food stylist Michele Cranston ended in 2021.

Does Si King have a partner now?

No public statements from King or credible press reports confirm a current partner. The Mirror exclusively reported in 2021 that King and Cranston had split (Mirror), and The Sun later reported that the relationship had ended by 2021 (The Sun). Entertainment Daily noted that no official reason for the split was ever confirmed (Entertainment Daily).

Has Si King remarried?

There is no evidence that Si King has remarried. No marriage registry records or credible press reports indicate a second marriage.

Why this matters: King’s personal life is under scrutiny partly because his separation from Jane was not widely known until his 2025 BBC interview. The gap between public assumption and private reality is large — and currently unfillable without King volunteering more.

Was Si King in Harry Potter?

No. Si King did not appear in any Harry Potter film. This rumour circulates online, but it has no basis in fact. King is known exclusively as a TV presenter and cook.

What film appearances has Si King made?

Si King has no credited film roles. His on-screen career consists entirely of television series, cookery programmes, and guest appearances on chat shows.

The catch: The Harry Potter rumour appears to be a simple misattribution. A bearded British man in his 50s who looks vaguely familiar — the public sometimes conflates King with a minor Potter extra. There is zero evidence.

What is Si King’s net worth and family background?

Si King’s net worth is estimated but not officially disclosed. Various celebrity wealth trackers place it in the low millions, but no audited figure exists. What is certain: he was born Simon James King on 20 October 1966 in England.

Si King’s wife Jane and children

King married Jane (surname not widely reported) and the couple had two sons. The Sun reported three sons named Alex, James and Dylan (The Sun), but other sources consistently state two children. King has not publicly clarified the discrepancy, and the children’s names are not officially confirmed in a single authoritative source.

Si King’s age and early life

Born 20 October 1966, King is 59 as of 2025. Before television, he worked in a variety of jobs including as a runner in the film industry and as a production manager. He met Dave Myers in the 1990s, and the pair bonded over their shared love of motorcycles and cooking.

The pattern: Si King’s financial and family details are a mix of firm dates and soft estimates. The birth date is solid. The net worth is guesswork.

Timeline of key events

Si King’s life story follows a clear arc from a chance meeting to massive fame, then personal rupture and a new solo act:

• 20 October 1966 — Simon James King born in England.
• 1990s — King meets Dave Myers; they bond over motorcycles and food.
• 2004 — First Hairy Bikers TV show airs.
• 2010s — Multiple cookbooks published; ongoing TV work.
• 2014 — King suffers a leaking brain aneurysm (BBC News).
• 2016 — Separation from wife Jane (per The Sun) (The Sun).
• 2021 — Engagement to Michele Cranston ends (Mirror).
• 28 February 2024 — Dave Myers dies from cancer.
• 2025–2026 — King returns to solo TV with Top Of The Stops, This Morning chef slot, and Britain’s Favourite Railway Stations (Manchester Evening News).

What’s confirmed vs. what’s unclear

Key quotes from Si King

“The Hairy Bikers’ workload — around 200 days a year — strained family relationships and made him less involved in the daily lives of loved ones.”

— Si King, speaking to BBC News

King described feeling a “sense of guilt” returning to television without Dave Myers, and said his first solo project felt “tough” and “unusual”.

— Si King, reported by Mirror and Yahoo News UK

For Si King, the choice is now defined by whether he continues to rebuild a public career while keeping his private life closed — or whether future interviews will fill the gaps the public clearly want answered.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Bradley Wiggins: Bankruptcy, Divorce, and Reinvention — a parallel story of a British celebrity navigating personal upheaval and career reinvention.
• Ben Shephard: Health, Wife, and ITV Career Facts — another ITV-facing profile of a TV personality balancing public and private life.