The Stig

[jono_01]

I honestly thought it was this bloke from work but guessing I was wrong...

Personally, I am not too bothered but I can understand why a few feathers have been ruffled at the beeb.

Anyone think there will be a Stig III - or will they have a 'new tame racing driver'?

Any one have any thoughts or ideas for the character?

[Halcyon]

the stig is stale as fuck. much like the rest of the show, but that's a different story.

He's obviously going to get replaced, but they should come up with something new, rather than just Stig III.

[eFestivals]

He's obviously going to get replaced

yep - what a stupid arse. Earn £20k from a book, and lose a job paying far more.

[Alcatraz]

I really couldn't care less who the Stig is. I don't get a boner over the fact he's apparently anonymous when hes driving cars really fast around the track despite what the f**kwit Top Gear producer may think

[t8yman]

top gear died on its arse years ago.

[pezzypops]

i thought it was common knowledge that it was ben collins before this whole hoo-ha blew up

yep - what a stupid arse. Earn £20k from a book, and lose a job paying far more.

Edited September 2, 2010 by pezzypops

[Alcatraz]

i thought it was common knowledge that it was ben collins before this whole hoo-ha blew up

[nightcrawler13]

i don't understand why there is so much stig merchandise aimed at kids??

if my kid watched top gear i would return them back to the womb

[eFestivals]

maybe he was thinking about leaving anyway - this way he leaves with his name on everyone's lips, it's been huge publicity for him and his company.

Possible I guess.

But I very much doubt that he'll shift many copies of the book - the only thing of any interest to joe public is who the Stig is, which we all now know via the court case to try and stop its publication. So no one needs to buy the book.

I suspect that side of things was in the BBC's mind with trying to stop publication - they get to shaft him win or lose, and why shouldn't they if he's breaking a confidentiality clause?

[sifi]

I don't think it's a simple as getting 20k from a book deal. Because Top Gear gets about 350 million viewers each week, the potential for him to earn as saying he is the Stig is huge. I'm not thinking specifically the chat show circuit, but things like appearances at tracks in the Middle East and things like that. He'd be able to rake it in.

[eFestivals]

I don't think it's a simple as getting 20k from a book deal. Because Top Gear gets about 350 million viewers each week, the potential for him to earn as saying he is the Stig is huge. I'm not thinking specifically the chat show circuit, but things like appearances at tracks in the Middle East and things like that. He'd be able to rake it in.

people with far greater fame than him write biogs, yet aside from the exceptions (such as Blair's book) they sell shite and the publisher looses shit loads of money cos they've paid a big advance - they're quite regularly detailed in Private Eye just how poorly they've sold.

I guess that he might have made far more than £20k because he might have got a sizable advance, but I still doubt the actual sales will be good. The only thing the vast majority of people really have an interest in for The Stig is who he is - and as that's now out in the open, who needs to buy the book?

[sifi]

people with far greater fame than him write biogs, yet aside from the exceptions (such as Blair's book) they sell shite and the publisher looses shit loads of money cos they've paid a big advance - they're quite regularly detailed in Private Eye just how poorly they've sold.

I guess that he might have made far more than £20k because he might have got a sizable advance, but I still doubt the actual sales will be good. The only thing the vast majority of people really have an interest in for The Stig is who he is - and as that's now out in the open, who needs to buy the book?

[ampersand]

I read the eye too, and agree with that - I'm thinking about the money he could make as The Stig doing personal appearances. At the Abu Dhabi race-track.

[llcoolphil]

I don't think it's a simple as getting 20k from a book deal. Because Top Gear gets about 350 million viewers each week, the potential for him to earn as saying he is the Stig is huge. I'm not thinking specifically the chat show circuit, but things like appearances at tracks in the Middle East and things like that. He'd be able to rake it in.

[Steve P]

How this is a story at all if baffling to me. Oh and for the record, Clarkson is a grade A c#nt.

[sifi]

Would he even be able to appear as The Stig? Like Ben says, people aren't arsed with who is in the costume so you'd fancy there is limited appeal to him appearing as himself and you'd fancy that the BBC would have some sort of restriction on who can use the character

[Pogues Mcgogues]

I'd imagine the name "The Stig" is copywrited. Dressing in white racing gear probably falls outside of that copywrite, I'd guess. And if he was The Stig, would there be anythingstopping him billing himself as formerly the Stig. With formerly written in really really small font.

[Alcatraz]

I'd imagine the name "The Stig" is copywrited. Dressing in white racing gear probably falls outside of that copywrite, I'd guess. And if he was The Stig, would there be anythingstopping him billing himself as formerly the Stig. With formerly written in really really small font.

[philipsteak]

20 years time he's going to be propping up a bar somewhere, demanding that people respect him cos "I was The Stig you know. Yer all bastards. Everyone of you"