The Stig could face legal issues with BBC over autobiography identity unveil

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By Brett Davis | August 20th, 2010

The Stig, also known as… um, The Stig, is apparently going through a few legal issue with the BBC over the release of his (or her) autobiography; and identity. The popular Top Gear TV mystery host has said ‘it’ is planning on releasing an autobiography which will unveil the human element of the popular character.

As apart of the Stig’s BBC contract though, he or she must not reveal its identity at any point inside the agreement, which has been going for over seven years. Still to this day the Stig’s identity has been kept under firm wraps, even inside the shelter of BBC grounds, the mystery person is said to work in the complete racing outfit, only opening the helmet visor during lunch breaks.

The autobiography is said to be brought about the character feeling ripped off compared to the other hosts on the show. Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond all earn well-over $100,000 per show whilst the Stig is upset with only receiving an alleged $10-20 thousand.

The Stig is also concerned that he (or she) is not able to fully exploit the potential of the highly-popular, integral character of the show. By writing an autobiography the person behind the helmet feels he or she would benefit the full extent of the fame associated.

If the Stig does indeed reveal its identity by releasing the book, the person behind the character is likely to face instant dismissal from BBC. The removal of the character would then upset the fans and also, reports say, Jeremy Clarkson, who is said to be quite a close friend.

JEKYL & HYDE

google “jeremy clarkson & ben collins” talk about b.s. …
MPS funjet

I am the stig, so now you know!

Radbloke

So funny AND original. 10 internet points for you.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1435885244 Yani Hendriawan

but they already revealed the stig…

MW

revealing Schumacher was just a joke…nobody took it seriously. The real stig is still out there

Arky

I know people who really believe it was Schumacher (when I mentioned he’s back in F1, they just change it to believing it was him up until the reveal, or up until he got back into F1). But hey, people believe in that Federer Youtube thing for Gilette. People are basically gullible.

Fenno

The michael Schumacher episode where he was the revealed as the Stig was only because the FXX driven in that episode was his own car.
Most evidence points towards Ben Collins
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1435885244 Yani Hendriawan

i thought they’d have a few drivers as the stig

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=648931591 Shane Finlayson

“The autobiography is said to be brought about the character feeling ripped off compared to the other hosts on the show. Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond all earn well-over $100,000 per show whilst the Stig is upset with only receiving an alleged $10-20 thousand.”

i’d be happy with earning $10-20 thousand per episode……thats a lot of money for a driving cars around a track……….?

nickdl

Exactly, the Stig doesn’t even have a speaking part…
nickdl

I would be extremely happy to earn $20k a week to drive the world’s best supercars and talk with some of the world’s most famous people…

Dave

How could you put a price on being the ‘Stig’?I am sure many people who dont follow the show still know who the Stig is.
George

“the mystery person is said to work in the complete racing outfit, only opening the helmet visor during lunch breaks.”

I quite don’t get how you can eat lunch with helmet on…

Simo

maybe he is sucking liquid lunch through straw? :p

Arky

There was even an episode where the Stig was visible in the background of a shot drinking something through a straw stuck under the visor. They read a viewer letter about it on the show later in the series and showed the footage again.

Mad Max

The first Stg made the same mistake and was dismissed immediately from the show.
axle

Same story all over again. It was through the release of his autobiography that the last Stig (Black racing suit) was fired. His character was killed off by driving a car off the end of an aircraft carrier.

The only really question is, what colour will the next one be? Or will they keep the Stig as being white?
Shak

Who cares what it/she/he really is? We only really like the Stig because the air of mystery presented by the cahracter. If it/she/he revealed it/she/he identity they would just find a new Stig and we would wtch them.
Homer

Maybe, just maybe, Top Gear is getting a little too repetitive with staged races that finish in near to dead heats every time and needs a little publicity. My opinion is it’s become overexposed and gone from being a car show with some guys having guys fun to stage managed entertainment. By the way what happen to the sedated Top Gear dog, did it get run over?

nickdl

One of Hammond’s dogs I think. They’re not covering up the staging as well as they used to I think, the main culprit is Hammond. May is still hilarious.

Homer

You’re right May is a class act.

ALP

Don’t reward incompetance – sack LABOR

nickdl

Jeez you’re getting desperate aren’t you. Has Tony got you and your colleagues on every Australian forum saying stuff like this?

As much as I’d like to keep the election out of this site, neither party has done anything in self-promotion in this campaign, they both just sling mud at each other’s leader.

ALP

Nah mate I vote for independants.
And yes after 3 years of bungle after bungle many people are desperate to see this incompetant bunch of fools kicked out of parliment.

nickdl

I agree but the Liberals have hardly proven to be a worthy opposition. This government has been one of the worst in decades, the Coalition should have had this election in the bag if they had one their job properly.

http://www.caradvice.com.au Jim Goose

Peter Brock passed away and came back as the Stig! He probably dosn’t get paid as much because he dosn’t do any talking,and hasn’t made himself known to the public. i personally would do his ‘job’ for free! I really don’t know why he’s complaining.
GTK

Worked with a fellow whose son drove with the stig at Bathurst. Stig has done well(apparently) at LeMans and other series but had big problems at the mount.