Top Gear -Who..

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#1 Post by **Kwackerz** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:06 pm

is the current Stig?

I know Perry McCarthy used to be the Black Stig, but who is the White one?

Damon Hill? Mark Webber? Nigel Mansell? Michael Schumacher? Julian Bailey?

And on the subject of TG..

Top Gear's future questioned by Clarkson
By Chris Hastings, Arts and Media Editor, Sunday Telegraph

Jeremy Clarkson, the presenter of the BBC's Top Gear, yesterday sparked speculation about the future of the popular motoring programme.

Jeremy Clarkson has built a career on the back of the show's success
In his weekly newspaper column, the 47-year-old broadcaster said that the show, watched by more than seven million viewers, would not be returning for a new series in the summer.

He wrote: "After last week's Top Gear, the continuity announcer said the show would be back in the summer. Can I just say, here and now, it won't be."

Yesterday, the BBC said that a special edition of the show would be broadcast this summer and there would be a new series in the autumn. However, it refused to discuss Clarkson's personal future.

A spokesman said: "Top Gear is coming back. There will be a special in the summer and a new series in the autumn."

Asked whether Clarkson would continue to appear on the programme alongside co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May, the spokesman said: "I cannot go beyond the fact that the show is coming back."

Clarkson's wife Francie was last night unable to clear up the mystery. At first she said that nothing had been finalised. She later said that she was not in a position to comment about her husband's future with the show.

Clarkson's opinionated and forthright views are an integral part of Top Gear's success. The Yorkshire-born father of three presented the programme for a decade after joining in 1989. He rejoined three years later when the show was relaunched. It has gone on to win a string of awards including an Emmy.

In January, more than eight million viewers tuned in to watch footage of a 280mph crash that almost cost Hammond his life. In its new format the show has proved a runaway hit for the BBC.

Its light-hearted and irreverent tone and its reliance on celebrity guests means that it even appeals to viewers who know next to nothing about motoring. However, it has attracted criticism from road safety campaigners, who claim that the programme glamorises speeding.

Ofcom received 20 complaints from viewers after the footage of Hammond's crash was broadcast, and during the show Clarkson at one point looked straight at the camera and said "remember - speed kills" in a tongue-in-cheek fashion.

Clarkson has built a successful career as an author and newspaper columnist on the back of the show's success.

BikerGran · #2 Post by **BikerGran** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 4:46 pm

Oh wow, 20 complaints.

That's like - well, almost none really.

#3 Post by **Kwackerz** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 4:48 pm

Yup! However I suppose it depends who complained..

D-Rider · #4 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:01 pm

BikerGran wrote:Oh wow, 20 complaints.

That's like - well, almost none really.

Yeah - but they know how apathetic we all are and 20 counts as a big deal.

Makes you think how easy it can be to have some fun or influence programming if you know a good number of like-minded people and organise yourselves to complain on something at the same time.

..... so which of us is going to monitor the TV for bikes or bikers being portrayed negatively so that we can have a group whinge ......... all completely independently, of course ......

Gio · #5 Post by **Gio** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:55 pm

Well I hope the show returns and I won't miss Clarkson one little bit, the fecking windbag, if he's missing.

I'd like to see that German girl take his place, seeing as she knows how to drive.

Tim, the driver called "The Stig" is from Touring Cars.

Can't see how anyone could think Damon Hill or any of then could be it, wrong shape.

#6 Post by **Kwackerz** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:56 pm

How do you get that? Is it from his cornering style?
Been looking at various websites about it, He's deffo not F1 cos of his cornering..

Gio · #7 Post by **Gio** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:06 pm

Kwackerz wrote:How do you get that? Is it from his cornering style?
Been looking at various websites about it, He's deffo not F1 cos of his cornering..

So why did you ask

Damon Hill? Mark Webber? Nigel Mansell? Michael Schumacher? Julian Bailey?

Look how he moves the wheel and those F1 drivers have floppy necks without the props.

He's got a bit of a paunch as well.

The bad thing is my youngest son knows who he is

#8 Post by **Kwackerz** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:10 pm

I asked as theyve all been linked to being the Stig at times.

Gio · #9 Post by **Gio** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:19 pm

Kwackerz wrote:I asked as theyve all been linked to being the Stig at times.

True.

Damon Hill is about 6 inches taller than the Stig tho

Samray · #10 Post by **Samray** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:22 pm

Keep going with the red herrings.

Don't want people to know I'm moonlighting.

D-Rider · #11 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:28 pm

Now I see why you used small text Samray!

Samray wrote: Don't want people to know I'm mooning.

#12 Post by **Kwackerz** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:30 pm

He's white with dark coloured hair.

"Some say, he sits at night shelling peas.

Others say he cuddles kittens.

We however just know him as The Stig..."

This little discussion is interesting, Gio!

http://www.askusstuff.com/?p=517

279 responses to 'Who is the Stig?'.
RSS feed for comments and Trackback URI for 'Who is the Stig?'.
1 James
Posted on April 5th, 2006 at 10:59 am. About 'Who is the Stig?'.

The Stig was indeed Perry McCarthy, however at the end of one of the seasons they “killed him off” and he came back dressed in white… Now I believe the BBC then changed the Stig to someone who clearly doesnt know how to drive 4wd cars or front wheel drive cars quickly… Im guessing it’s Jamie Green now but I dont know for sure.
2 Gareth
Posted on April 5th, 2006 at 1:01 pm. About 'Who is the Stig?'.

Yes indeed Mr Perry is the old stig, does ask us stuff have any clue to the new stig? His style is similar to Tiff Nedell, but unlikely due to him working for 5th gear. My money is on Damon Hill.
3 Sharpy
Posted on April 5th, 2006 at 2:33 pm. About 'Who is the Stig?'.

Okey dokey, done a little bit more research (it appears we were a little hasty with publishing this answer) and Perry McCarthy retired as the original stig in 2003. There have been many claims as to who the new stig is. The News of the World claimed it was Ben Collins, the Daily Express claimed it was Julian Bailey and many fans claimed it was Damon Hill. In an interview in March of this year the ex-Stig (McCarthy) actually claimed that there was not one single stig anymore. In fact, different people play him in different weeks. For example, in the Winter Olympics episode (where he jumps a snow mobile of a ski jump) the stig was Dan Lang, a Swedish snowmobile cross driver and when the stig drove the Renault R24 F1 car around the track in the 2004 series, it was actually Heikki Kovalainin - a Renault F1 test driver. 4 Gareth
Posted on April 5th, 2006 at 2:54 pm. About 'Who is the Stig?'.

Yes, i agree that the snow mobile and F1 cars were prob driven by different stigs, due to them needing specific skills, however I still believe there is one usual Stig for the normal test track days - and look how slow Damon Hill was in the Susuki Liana - say no more.
5 Secret
Posted on April 5th, 2006 at 5:39 pm. About 'Who is the Stig?'.

Unless he was lying to me i know who the stig is and how it works. The stig is changed yearly (dont know which month) and the stig in 02-03 was Malcolm Foskett, a talented amateur racing driver also driving arctic lorries as a main job. He told me the current Stig is in fact Ben Collins!
6 Anonymous
Posted on August 6th, 2006 at 8:24 pm. About 'Who is the Stig?'.

he’s finally been sussed.. it is Ben Collins
7 sam
Posted on August 15th, 2006 at 10:01 pm. About 'Who is the Stig?'.

The stig is probably a f1 car driver but i dont know for sure however it may be jenson button.
8 Anonymous
Posted on August 30th, 2006 at 10:52 am. About 'Who is the Stig?'.

It is mainly Ben Collins. others do stuff when he isn’t available but i know for defanate its him.
9 Chris
Posted on August 30th, 2006 at 10:53 am. About 'Who is the Stig?'.

Can’t be Jenson Button he’s a little to busy racing!
I’ve thought for a while that it might be Damon Hill.
Could pretty much be anybody though realy!
10 The stig
Posted on September 17th, 2006 at 9:49 am. About 'Who is the Stig?'.

Your all wrong
hahaha youll never guess my identity
11 Sambo
Posted on September 17th, 2006 at 7:47 pm. About 'Who is the Stig?'.

Damon Hill cannot be the stig, he is too tall. Damon Hill is 6 foot 2inches. The stig is definately not that tall.
12 jon glock
Posted on September 18th, 2006 at 1:44 pm. About 'Who is the Stig?'.

after Perry McCarthy,and before the current Stig,it was a complete unknown who was discovered by accident,whilst on holiday, after doing the fastest lap time ever,seen at the dunsfold airport track,but he only did 3 shows before returning home to the blue mountains of Australia, his name was Steven Wright, (not the british well known one)

jon

Gio · #13 Post by **Gio** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 12:00 am

Ben Collins

Some of those comments are a real laugh.

BikerGran · #14 Post by **BikerGran** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 12:57 pm

D-Rider wrote:
BikerGran wrote:Oh wow, 20 complaints.

That's like - well, almost none really.
Yeah - but they know how apathetic we all are and 20 counts as a big deal.

Makes you think how easy it can be to have some fun or influence programming if you know a good number of like-minded people and organise yourselves to complain on something at the same time.

..... so which of us is going to monitor the TV for bikes or bikers being portrayed negatively so that we can have a group whinge ......... all completely independently, of course ......

There were an awful lot more complaints than 20 when Clarkson made his stupid remarks about stringing a wire across the road to fetch people off motorbikes but they had no effect whatsoever!

I'm not at all sure that Top Gear could survive without Clarkson, it's partly the fact that he's such an idiot that makes it so entertaining! I reckon he's chosen to move on cos he's started presenting other kinds of programme now. Maybe he's realised that he can't carry on behaving like a kid for ever!