The stig is dead long live the stig, A face palm moment in the history of BBC. Options

[yarik83]

So apparently earning 5-10 thousand pounds and driving exotic cars is not enough for a tame racing driver. Apparently spoiled by greed and inability to capitalize on his fame as "the stig" said driver decided to write some sort of autobiography and after a major lawsuit BBC was unable to preserve anonymity of the character. Naturally according to the contract once Stig's identity is revealed and or leaked, he or she or it will be replaced with a new Stig.

So my hat is off to white stig for being a good sport before greed got to him.

Next season is around the corner and according to BBC character will be making a return opening speculation for who might possibly be the new Stig.

[yarik83]

Stig does not present as previously mentioned. His entire character gets maybe 1min 30s air time on the show. Other 3 are shown (minus commercials) at least for 43 minutes of commercial free show time either together or separately. Should stig have "more" presence on the show? Only if he races more cars. If Stig were to talk or his personality revealed every episode, he might as well be a Steve or a Bob because there are thousands of talented drivers out there who would give their left testicle to earn 5-10 thousand pounds 10-13 times per year. Idea behind Stig is that audience keeps guessing. It also eliminated the eeky feeling when a driver is revealed that nobody even heard of outside of race series fans. Not like Michael Shumacher... well take that back.. that one was cool as hell.. but you know what im trying to say... not like they reveal a super super super star of motor racing on a weekly basis as "the stig" of that week.

I think whoever is the next stig needs to negotiate a proper contract that benefits him as much as it does other presenters. Just think about it... do we really care who is behind Elmo? or Big Bird or Barney? Do we really care who is behind costume of a power ranger? We celebrate the character and not a guy behind it.

This is what I think really happened.

35 year old drivers usually retire by time they are 40. So he was on his way out anyways. It was recommended to him that "royalties" from his autobiography and all exit interviews will yield him more than he would have earned as a Stig. BBC of course benefits either way cause their ratings just went up through the roof and I bet so did viewership base.