Smooth Blog

The Stig has never taken his helmet off

The BBC has lost a legal fight to stop publication of a book which reveals the identity of Top Gear’s driver The Stig.

The High Court in London refused to grant the BBC an injunction blocking the publication by HarperCollins of an autobiography of former Formula Three driver Ben Collins.

The book, called The Man In The White Suit, claims Mr Collins is the mystery driver on the BBC Two show.

The BBC began legal action against HarperCollins last week.
It says it won’t confirm or deny that Ben Collins either was or remains The Stig.

But Top Gear presenter James May, who was a studio guest on BBC London when High Court’s decision was announced, made light of the situation.

He said: “Obviously I’m now going to have to take some legal action of my own, because I have been the Stig for the past seven years, and I don’t know who this bloke is, who’s mincing around in the High Court pretending it’s him.”

The Stig is famous for his racing overalls and dark-visored helmet. His identity has long been a closely-guarded secret on Top Gear – one of the BBC’s most popular shows in the UK and around the world.

Several racing drivers have been linked to the role, including former Formula One world champions Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher.

Mr Collins, 33, from Redland, Bristol, was in court for part of Wednesday’s hearing.

The first Stig, Perry McCarthy, was dropped in 2003 after his identity was uncovered.

News and photo from BBC News