Book reveals The Stig's identity. Top Gear not happy.

Weebull said:
I love the way the producers have tried to criticise Collins and the book publishers as being shameless cash-in merchants. Right yeah, because you guys weren't appreciating the easy merchandising all those Stig-related toys were getting you, eh boys?

If the rumours that Collins was receiving a pittance in comparison to the presenters, I can't say I really blame him for this move.
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er .. Every penny that that BBC made from the stig merchandising, all the top gear episodes they sold abroad partially on the back on the fun that was 'the stig', goes straight back into BBC programmes or comes off the license fee.

This private company just decided they'd effectively rather have the money than the license payer.

As for how much collins got paid and him not being happy about it, frankly, either do the job for the money you're offered, with its benefits and cons - or bugger off and do something else. I'm afraid that's called 'real life'. Breaking a confidentiality agreement made in trust between you and another party, because you want money, is called 'being a scumbag'.
 
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britboy4321 said:
As for how much collins got paid and him not being happy about it, frankly, either do the job for the money you're offered, with its benefits and cons - or bugger off and do something else. I'm afraid that's called 'real life'. Breaking a confidentiality agreement made in trust between you and another party, because you want money, is called 'being a scumbag'.
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ohmigosh britboy4321 in sensible post shocker!
 
uvarvu said:
I think they should just let Ben continue without his disguise and perhaps give him a spot on the show where he provides feedback for each car after he does the power laps.
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That's exactly the reason Clarkson and Wilman wanted the Stig anonymous. They didn't want the opinion of a racing driver.
 
Captain_Slick said:
You couldn't really be further from the truth. You really couldn't replace any of them and achieve the same standard of programme or entertainment. Look at when they had Jason Dawe on the show... he was awful.
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I didn't say you could replace them with any old bloke, just that they're really going through the motions these days. Do stupid tests, be a bit rubbish, bicker a bit, generally act a bit immature for comedy value, rinse and repeat.

This autobiography will probably kill Ben Collins career, if anything. If it's true that the Beeb have replaced him, he's simply a Stig, not THE Stig.
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I've no doubt that they have replaced him, as that's the beauty of keeping the character masked: you can simply replace them with little fuss. But I just don't see why simply putting a helmet on someone's head suddenly makes them a completely irrelevant part of the cast. He still turned up and did his job.

britboy4321 said:
er .. Every penny that that BBC made from the stig merchandising, all the top gear episodes they sold abroad partially on the back on the fun that was 'the stig', goes straight back into BBC programmes or comes off the license fee.
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...which in turn allows them to pay Clarkson, Hammond and May so much!

This private company just decided they'd effectively rather have the money than the license payer.
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I have to say I'm fairly sure that this isn't going to affect Top Gear's viewing figures or merchandise sales very much. So quite how he's screwing the license fee payer I'm not sure.

As for how much collins got paid and him not being happy about it, frankly, either do the job for the money you're offered, with its benefits and cons - or bugger off and do something else. I'm afraid that's called 'real life'. Breaking a confidentiality agreement made in trust between you and another party, because you want money, is called 'being a scumbag'.
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I'm not saying breaking a confidentiality agreement is fine, but it's hardly national security is it? It's a bloke in a mask who drives cars very fast. Big deal.

As for "do it or bugger off", well that's not really exactly how it is, is it? Normal TV presenters can argue their pay packets based on their on-screen characters. Adrian Chiles can bugger off to ITV if he wants more money. Collins can't, because the Stig is a BBC-owned creation.
 
I dunno how they lost in court... its no different from any other trade secret - I assume they made him sign a NDA...

Ruins the fun of the show even if it was a bit silly.
 
Legalities aside, as a viewer I don't really care that I now know who the stig is. I don't see how it will affect my enjoyment of the programme but perhaps i'm in the minority.
 
TangoSixteen said:
**** him, that's all I can say.

Hopefully the book will be a total flop. Let's be honest.. all the people who care about it are Top Gear fans.

What top gear fans are going to want to give this guy and his greedy publishers any money?

NO ONE I hope.

I hope he can't live with himself for all the millions of children's christmases he has ruined, and he goes on to lead a lonely and isolated life, culminating in several suicide attempts due to his inability to live with the guilt.
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Aren't you due a rant about how this isn't "British"?
 
simulatorman said:
I'll be waiting to scream with laughter.
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They'll just do it the same as last time

Clarkson .. 'I have some bad news .. at the end of the season the stig died (cue mock shock from audience), his reason for death? [insert funny - ideally with passing indirect reference to what actually happened]'. However, a little known fact was due to a [insert funny] he was actually one of a set of identical brothers. The other brother has decided to gloriously take the reigns. We will, of course, just call him 'THE STIG'

Applause - New bloke walks on wearing silver suit. Nods, shakes head, and is anonymous for whole interview. Clarkson rattles off some more mild [funnies] at him, then they quickly flip to him hammering the new Austin Martin.

Job done. Easy peesy. Just like last time. The whole 'secret' thing is so silly the audience will allow them to get away with such things ..
 
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what does it matter, they will just get a new stig again like they did last time when this happened
 
TangoSixteen said:
Hows he gonna sell a shed load of books though?

No one really cares WHO Ben Collins is.... just who the Stig is..

Now everyone knows, who wants to read his book?

This is what I dont get
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It will sell because it's a controversial title, the court case and results have been splashed all over the media and the internet.

Not to mention, you are also getting to learn about what 'The Stig' actually got up to behind the scenes on Top Gear, I'm sure plenty of fans would like to learn something about that. Also bare in mind we are only talking a few pounds for a book, so it's not like people would be shelling out a fortune for it.
 
How much tax money have the BBC wasted this time? Can't believe people actually care about this, it's like a child crying after they find out the real identity of father christmas.
 
I hadn't realised, until today, that it was an autobiography being published, I thought it was a 3rd party book about The Stig.
If he had a 'permanent anonymity' clause in the contract he signed, as has been reported, how did they lose this case?
 
simulatorman said:
I've not seen anything to say it has come from Worldwide.
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Half is from Worldwide, per Wilman's blog post:

Some of you will say we’re also trying to protect a brand the BBC makes money out of. You’re right there too. The Stig does make money for BBC Worldwide, which is a business, and some of it is invested back into the business, some of it is paid out in dividends, and crucially, some of it goes back into funding the TV show. And the show needs that money, ‘cos this ain’t a cheap piece of telly. And actually, while I’m on the money point, BBC Worldwide are also picking up half the tab for this case, so it’s by no means just licence fee payers’ money being spent.
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http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2010/08/27/the-stig-he-is-ours/
 
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