The Hairy Bikers return to the North East for the final episode of their latest series, The Hairy Bikers Go Local.

Much-loved presenters Dave Myers and Si King visit Restaurant Hjem in the village of Wall near Hexham, Northumberland for the BBC2 series finale on Friday 13 January at 8pm, where they'll be hoping to bring local suppliers together with the Michelin-starred restaurant.

Restaurant Hjem has become a destination for fans of fine dining since being opened in May 2019 by Swedish chef Alex Nietosvuori and Northumberland-born Ally Thompson. The restaurant's tasting menu combines the best local and regional produce with Scandinavian values and cooking techniques.

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Si, who is originally from near Washington, returns to the North East with Dave to spend time at Hjem sampling their tasting menu before getting to work finding inspirational ingredients from local producers for Alex and Ally.

Ally said: “It was a real pleasure to welcome Si and Dave to Hjem and serve them in our dining room. Although it was obviously a bit nerve wracking to have a film crew around, we had a lovely time.

“They were both so easy to get along with and they certainly know their food, so we were delighted to hear that they appreciated what we’re doing at Hjem.”

Later in the programme, Dave and Si return the favour – inviting Ally and Alex to nearby Healey Hall for a three-course meal to showcase the local suppliers they’ve found.

The Northern Echo: Samples of some of the food on offer to The Hairy Bikers at Hjem near Hexham.Samples of some of the food on offer to The Hairy Bikers at Hjem near Hexham. (Image: Restaurant Hjem)

Wild Salmon caught off the coast of Berwick-upon Tweed; delights from a local fermented food company in Wallsend; and unique chocolate treats from Morpeth all feature, but it's up to Alex whether or not he'll introduce the new ingredients to his menu.

Alex said: “Using the very best local produce is at the heart of what we do in the kitchen at Hjem and we’re always looking for new ideas, so this series was a perfect match.

“It was a great to spend some time around a dining table with Dave and Si and we’re really looking forward to seeing the finished programme.”

The series was filmed before Hairy Biker Si King received a cancer diagnosis for which he's been receiving treatment since April 2022.

Talking recently to BBC Breakfast, he said "[The treatment] is still ongoing but I'm kinda doing all right, it's like many people, it's something one learns to live with."

Discussing the series, he added, "It was an idea that came together that a lot of chefs don't know what's on their own doorstep.

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"If you've got amazing suppliers that are there on your doorstep, then maybe they don't know about it.

"So it's a bit like speed dating, there's Michelin-star chefs, people who run pubs, and I would say 80% of the time, they don't know."