The Stig is Fired

BBC’s Top Gear co-host Jeremy Clarkson says that he has been hurt by the Stig, who unmasked himself as racing driver Ben Collins. He confirmed that the driver is sacked, but the show isn’t out of the picture. He’s been working on what to do now for the last 3 weeks, he added.

This whole situation started when Collins revealed that he is publishing an autobiography, which tells readers that he has been playing the part of the Stig since 2003. The BBC took him to court to get an injunction that would keep the book from being published, but last week the injunction was denied. Now the new book is set to be released on September 16.

Because of this, Collins has been fired. It kind of comes without saying, as the Stig won’t have the same mysteriousness now that viewers know whose behind the mask.

Clarkson said in an interview that he feels hurt, as he really liked Collins. He visited his home and had drinks with him, he continued, noting that he was writing a book all this time. Collins is history, sacked, as far as he’s concerned, he confirmed. Gordon Gekko said in Wall Street that greed is good and greed works, but greed is bad, he added.

The Stig has been played by 2 people so far. Perry McCarthy, another driver, was put in the role but revealed his identity in a book as well. He was then replaced by Collins, who is simply repeating history. Clarkson was asked who the new Stig will be, but he doesn’t know yet. He said that the show will still go on, as they will get someone. He would love to have Prime Minister David Cameron, he joked.