HAIRY Biker Dave Myers has spoken about how one Barrow business helped him land a job as a makeup artist.

Dave, most known for being a TV chef, worked for 23 years as a makeup artist – and he was the first male makeup artist to be employed at Television Centre in London.

As a makeup artist he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Elton John.

Speaking on the How to be 60 with Kaye Adams podcast, Dave explained that he applied for ‘anything an art graduate could’.

Kaye said: “You come from a pretty blue collar background, I imagine being a TV makeup artist was pretty unusual for a boy from Barrow-in-Furness.”

Dave agreed that it was quite ‘bizarre’ but he believed that he made it in the industry thanks to a Barrow employer.

“When I applied for the job back in those days they wanted to have a reference from an employer,” said Dave. “I used to work in the Steelworks every summer in Barrow and one of my references was from British Steel.

“It was so funny sitting there on the sixth floor of Television Centre and they’re looking at my reference and the British Steel one went on about my time keeping and hard working abilities.

“It was a gentleman called Jack Elliott who was the boss in those days, there was a lot of sniffing around the room, and he said ‘look, if a lad can stand the steelworks he can stand working here’.

“I think that’s what got me the job really.

“It was odd coming from Barrow into that environment.”

Dave also spoke fondly of his parents, who he sadly lost at a young age.

His mum was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when Dave was just eight.

“From when I was eight it was her health that became the focus of attention for the family,” said Dave. “I suppose I grew up a carer really.

“I came home from school and my dad had had a stroke when I was 17.

“My mum went into hospital then and she never came out. I kinda looked after my dad but then I went to art school and that was it, I was on my own since then really. He died not long after.”

The chef was told by a doctor that one of his parents could go to hospital, and was asked which parent he was able to look after.

He said: “I knew my mum wouldn’t get better and my dad would, so I said well it will have to be my mum really.

“And that’s quite hard, quite big potatoes really for a kid.

“I still resent that. I think it’s really clumsy and cruel. But I had good friends and people around me for which I’m forever grateful.”