This photo combo shows an undated file photo of the driver
for the BBC motoring programme Top Gear "The Stig" left,
and Ben Collins. (AP Photo/ PA)
British racing driver Ben Collins has been "sacked" from
his role on Top Gear after revealing he is the mystery driver
known as the Stig, presenter Jeremy Clarkson has revealed.
Clarkson, who co-hosts the popular British motoring
television show, said in a video interview with community
news service WitneyTV that he was "hurt" Collins decided to
unmask himself as the show's anonymous white-suited driver,
the Guardian reported.
The BBC failed last week to have an injunction granted to
stop Collins from publishing his autobiography, which claims
he has been The Stig for seven years.
"He's just decided he'd rather be ... put it this way he's
history as far as we are concerned. He's sacked," Clarkson
told WitneyTV, in the interview published online yesterday.
Clarkson said he felt "a bit hurt really".
"It was such a shock. It was horrible actually because I
liked him and he came round to my house and had drinks and
all that time he was writing a book," he said.
Clarkson hinted that the Stig as a character may no longer
continue on Top Gear, saying: "Trust me, we have many, many
thousands of people queuing up to be whatever it is we
create."
The BBC took legal action last Wednesday to block publication
by HarperCollins of Collins' autobiography.
The BBC had argued that Collins' book, which will be
published on September 16, would breach confidentiality
obligations.
Top Gear, which airs on Prime TV in New Zealand, has a
reported worldwide audience of about 350 million people,
drawn in by its mix of fast cars, crazy stunts and boyish
banter between the three male presenters.
The Stig, with his trademark white race overalls, white
helmet and dark visor, tests all the cars on the show but his
identity is a closely guarded secret.
Collins, 35, has worked as a James Bond stunt double and made
his first foray into the high-octane motor sports world in
1994.
He is the second person to play the Stig who has revealed his
identity.
Previously another racing driver, Perry McCarthy, played a
black-suited Stig but was replaced by Collins as the white
Stig in 2003 after McCarthy also revealed his identity in a
book.
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