The Stig reveals identity and gets sacked from Top Gear
September 9, 2010
According to Top Gear’s star Jeremy Clarkson, the man who plays the Stig was ’sacked’ from the popular TV show.
The identity of the white suited-man who wore only a helmet for seven years has been revealed to be Ben Collins. Collins was sacked by BBC after the broadcast network lost an injunction to prevent Collins from showing the world is identity. In a statement, Clarkson told viewers that he felt ‘hurt’ that Collins had chosen to betray the show in this way. Adding that the show will most likely have thousands lining up to replace the Stig.
Many are speculating that Collins chose to betray the network and reveal his identity after HarperCollins offered him £250,000 in advance to pen a book. Collins is married and has three young children with his wife in Bristol. The Stig officially unmasked himself after the High Court denied BBC’s application for a temporary injunction that would prevent the Top Gear racing driver from revealing himself.
The identity of the Stig had formerly been one of TV’s best kept secrets, but the mystery was unravelled when the BBC took action to block the illicit autobiography propositioned by HarperCollins, which would have revealed the Stig to be Ben Collins. A spokesman for Top Gear declined to comment saying that the show would not issue a statement surrounding speculation on who or what the Stig.
Ben Collins is a former American NASCAR, Formula 3 driver and also worked as a stunt double for James Bond actor Daniel Craig. Famed for years for his impeccable driving style, the Stig’s appeal for the show was his mystery and intrigue generated by his refusal to ever remove his trademark white racing suit and helmet. According to media sources, it has been long known by the press who the figure was but not revealed to keep the spirit of the show alive.
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