Si King was born as Simon James King on 20 October 1966 in Kibblesworth, a small village in County Durham, England, and was raised in a traditional working-class household. His mother was an excellent home cook who helped spark his love for cooking, while his father’s interest in machinery and motorbikes influenced another lifelong passion. His father served in World War II as a member of the Royal Navy and later worked as a motorcycle dispatch rider.

Aged 16, Si worked laying paving stones for a construction firm. He then worked in film and television production, serving as assistant location manager on Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and location manager on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. He met Dave Myers in 1995 on the set of the TV drama The Gambling Man, on which he was the second assistant director.

As a presenter, King has fronted numerous acclaimed television series. Most recently, he led The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone, a tribute to his late friend and co-host Dave Myers. During the programme, Si picks out key moments of Dave and Si’s TV careers over 25 years, commemorating a special friendship that changed cookery shows forever. It follows the 45,000-plus bikes that joined Si on a memorial journey from London to Dave’s hometown of Barrow-in-Furness in June 2024.

King lives near Newcastle and has three children. He is known to frequent Durham Cathedral for communion on Saturdays. Beyond television, King is a strong advocate for food provenance and small-scale farmers, emphasising the importance of reducing food waste and embracing seasonal cooking.