At the age of 35, Ben spent seven years driving as the anonymous Stig on Top Gear—becoming a symbol for countless fans unaware of his true identity.
Deciding to share his story from the iconic BBC motoring show, he grew concerned about being let go after too many people began to uncover his secret.
Ben claims that upon informing the producers of his writing endeavor, he faced “bullying” and “threats,” with management cautioning that he could “lose everything” if he spoke out.
Earlier this month, the BBC faced a High Court defeat while trying to prevent the release of his memoir, The Man In The White Suit, which disclosed his role as The Stig.
Strikingly, the Bristol native insists that the BBC had already contributed to his “outing” in one of their OWN publications.
Ben, who gained notoriety by coaching celebrity drivers in Top Gear’s “reasonably-priced car,” remembers: “It was in November 2008 when a builder slapped a Radio Times in front of me on the breakfast table.
“‘Could you sign this for me?’ he asked. I glanced at the cover. The headline read, Who Is The Stig?
“The front featured a large image of The Stig, the character I had embodied for five years.
“That figure in the suit wasn’t me. I was unaware of this release. ‘But I’m not The Stig,’ I told him. ‘Sure you are—you’re inside,’ the builder replied.
“I flipped the page, and along with one unexpected candidate, there was a photo of me. I was taken aback. I was being exposed by the very organization I had worked for. Yet, I had no foreknowledge of it.
“Numerous individuals within the motoring community were already aware of my identity. However, this sudden revelation created an unstoppable snowball effect.
“Once the BBC did it, newspapers began to feel it was permissible to write about me too
. The internet followed suit; on one search platform, inquiries about ‘Who is the Stig’ surpassed those about ‘What is the meaning of life.'”
An ex-soldier and father of three, Ben, who appeared alongside Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May on Top Gear, continued:
“Rumors spread swiftly—it became increasingly difficult to maintain the secrecy. Friends who had promised not to disclose my identity suddenly felt free to discuss it. It felt like the beginning of the end.
From day one on Top Gear, I had taken every possible measure to remain incognito. I would put on a balaclava for work and took steps to conceal my car. In fact, I was often separated from the crew filming the show.
It was quite intense. Between takes, I would remain in the suit, navigating the set like a stormtrooper. For meals, I isolated myself in a hut.
Gradually, crew members began to realize who I was, playing small pranks, calling me “Ben, can you do this?” while I wore my helmet and shouting “Stig” whenever I appeared as myself. I went to great lengths to maintain my disguise, even switching post offices after someone recognized me and called out, “You’re the Stig,” in front of a crowd.
However, the Radio Times issue truly shifted the game. It raised significant doubts about my viability moving forward.
Among the Top Gear team at the BBC, there seemed to be a change in sentiment regarding how I would be utilized.
But it was during a pivotal project that my future became clearer. There arose an opportunity to race as The Stig in the Le Mans 24-hour race. It had been a dream of mine, yet as I began discussing it, it was made clear to me that I was expendable.
In conversation with Top Gear’s executive producer, Andy Wilman, I felt I deserved the opportunity.
Yet, he informed me that if I didn’t…I had been the Stig for seven years, and I believed loyalty should be mutual, although perhaps I was being naïve.
Having a sponsor meant that another driver would take on the role of The Stig.
I had poured my heart and soul into the show; the pay per episode was only a fraction of what others suggested, and often my contracts lasted just two or three months at a time.
I bore the cost of my own insurance and did not even have a pension—yet the BBC was profiting millions from merchandise. It left me feeling undervalued.
People had come to expect that I would execute stunts or slides flawlessly. When performed correctly, these feats may appear simple, but they are anything but.
With all due respect to the Dalek operators, I believed my situation was not comparable, and I wanted to exit with more dignity than that.
As the show grew larger over time, it became increasingly evident that I couldn’t manage all the “Stigging” on my own.
Unbeknownst to me, another driver was brought in for a series of live Top Gear shows. I realized that it was turning into a situation where I had to either jump or be pushed. It was last Christmas when I started penning my memoirs.
In July, I informed Andy about my written memoirs. He immediately expressed concern regarding its content, but I reassured him it was a positive account of my time with the show.
I wanted their participation, yet the atmosphere turned hostile. A meeting was convened with Andy and BBC Worldwide, where they expressed their disinterest in my project, indicating that I had much to lose.
It was a taxing experience, and I felt on the verge of losing everything. Nonetheless, I stood firm in my conviction; I fought for freedom of speech and the ability to pursue my career without relentless pursuit.
From the outset, it seemed absurd for the BBC to take legal action against me.
It appeared they preferred to target me over an issue that was almost in the public arena. They seemed intent on intimidating me out of the competition.
It is a disgrace that a publicly funded broadcaster attempted to stifle my free speech. It was hypocritical to claim that I had disclosed more about myself than they ever had.
A friend sent me the court’s verdict while I was on the train. I raised my fist in triumph, feeling the burden of doubt and anxiety lift away.
In hindsight, I believe they held resentment towards me for daring to speak out. They wanted to reinforce my place in line.
However, for me, loyalty must always be reciprocal. My advice to the next Stig is to observe what transpired with me and make informed choices.
