BBC Battle HarperCollins To Protect The Stig’s Identity
The BBC and HarperCollins appeared in London’s High Court yesterday to commence a legal battle over a publication that reveals the true identity of Top Gear’s The Stig.
The Stig is never seen without his helmet on the show and his identity is shrouded in secrecy. They say the book published by HarperCollins would breach contractual and confidentiality obligations.
Speculation is mounting that former Formula Three driver Ben Collins is The Stig, mainly based on financial reports from his company.
The BBC says it comes as “no surprise” that Collins’ company lists Top Gear in its accounts because the driver has “appeared numerous times on the programme and he often supplied other drivers for both the programme and Top Gear Live”.
A statement by HarperCollins said: “We are disappointed that the BBC has chosen to spend licence fee payers’ money to suppress this book and will vigorously defend the perfectly legitimate right of this individual to tell his story.”
A BBC statement added: “This situation has come about as a result of an attempt by an external party to profit from unauthorised use of the Top Gear brand, one of the BBC’s biggest and most watched shows in the UK and around the world.
“As a result, it is important that the BBC does all it can to uphold confidentiality clauses that have been agreed to in relation to the show.”
Posted by Editor
on Aug 24 2010. Filed under Entertainment, Latest News.
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