Top Gear Stig’s identity has been revealed. What a kak vibe.

The identity of The Stig has long been a well-kept mystery on popular BBC show Top Gear. The silent, anonymous tame race driver has been a mainstay character whose fame was largely propelled by the mystery of his actually identity. The strange and unusual nature of The Stig was often used in humorous introductions on the show before he drove stupendous laps in one of the many super-powered (and not so super-powered) cars that were reviewed on the show. They even played on the mystery of The Stig when they recently revealed The Stig to be Michael Schumacher. Most of the show’s fans accepted it to be a hoax.

His identity has, however, been blown out of the water after BBC lost a legal battle to keep his name secret. Ben Collins, a former Formula 3 level race driver, was named as The Stig after London’s High Court refused to grant a temporary injunction preventing Mister Collins from revealing The Stig’s identity in his upcoming autobiography.

BBC argued in their application to the High Court that The Stig was bound by a confidentiality agreement and that revealing who he is would spoil viewers’ enjoyment of the popular programme. He is not the first driver to have been used in the role on the programme. The original Stig (‘Black Stig’) was axed from the show after British racing-car driver Perry McCarthy revealed his identity in an autobiography in 2002. Black Stig was shortly ejected from the show by being shunted out of an old aircraft carrier in a Jag.

Despite the argument that BBC should support free speech and open media and that Collins should be allowed to disclose his identity, I actually back the BBC here. This has nothing to do with abiding by legal agreements over disclosure, nor am I opposing free speech. I just believe that the mystery behind the Stig’s identity needs to remain, as it is such a significant part of the Top Gear brand which drives fan interest. According to the Top Gear site, The Stig’s popularity has grown so much that his be-helmeted head is often all that’s needed to identify a genuine piece of Top Gear merchandise. There is an aura around The Stig that needs to be kept, and I sure hope that Collins no longer has the role of our favourite tame racing driver going forward.

What I also don’t understand is why Collins would really want to claim to be The Stig. Over the seasons, Jeremy Clarkson has said that The Stig had a small brain, worthless opinions, upside-down genitals and that he once had an affair with John Prescott. Surely that’s going to give you more cringe than cred.

Mirror UK is already running a betting ring as to who will be the next Stig. There won’t be much point if Top Gear follows the tradition they have set for the show and keep it hush.

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