About the bikers Si and Dave aren't professional chefs but they are lifelong food lovers. They met through work on the set of a TV drama and ever since they've been heading off to far-flung corners of the globe in search of authentic culinary and cultural experiences.

Who are the Hairy Bikers?

In the previous series the boys crossed Southern India and enjoyed the finest vegetarian food on the planet, sampled the glories of Belgium (liquid and otherwise) and the rarefied gastronomy of Alsace, stormed through Argentina fuelled by the best beef and the newest great wines, and ate their way through Morocco, from Marrakesh to the Sahara.

With a film crew behind them, Dave and Si first set off on six quests: Namibia, Isle of Man and Ireland, and Transylvania in series one, followed by adventures in Turkey, Vietnam and Mexico for the second series. On Thursday 3 January, 8pm on BBC Two, in an hour-long special, watch them learn more about cuisine a bit closer to home. Find out more.

Simon King

Simon King is a big, blond-bearded biker from Newcastle, where he lives with his partner and three children. His infectious laugh and friendly charm have served him well for many years working as a first assistant director and locations manager for film and television, recently working on the Harry Potter films.

But it's his passion for food, encouraged from an early age by his father - who'd bring back exotic ingredients from his voyages with the Royal Navy - that really matters to Simon. Luckily his enthusiasm is matched by that of his children who are more than happy to try out new kinds of food.

David Myers

Dave Myers was born and bred in Barrow-in-Furness and his versatile skills have taken him to some unusual places. He worked as a furnaceman in a steelworks to finance his Master’s degree in fine arts before joining the BBC as a make-up artist, specialising in prosthetics. He has worked on many feature films and television series, including 'Lives and Loves of a She Devil', and the BBC One hit 'Spooks'.

His career has taken him from Hollywood to the African deserts and he’s travelled extensively away from work too. Dave currently lives on Roa Island, in Morecambe bay, where he's Club Champion of the boat club.

Portuguese recipes

For another taste of the lads' cooking, try these recipes from their pilot programme in Portugal:

• Caldo Verde - chorizo and potato soup
• Trout de Braganca with vinegared rice and beans
• Caldeirada - or the Portuguese monster fish stew