Ben Collins has opened up about the circumstances behind his departure from Top Gear, explaining that he chose to leave after years of uncertainty surrounding his identity and future on the program. The racing driver played the white-suited Stig during the show’s celebrated Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May era.
Speaking on the Cars and Money podcast, Collins described his exit as the result of a gradual breakdown rather than one dramatic confrontation. He said repeated identity leaks, concerns about reduced work, and a lack of long-term security eventually convinced him that it was time to move on.
Collins also revisited the legal battle that followed his decision to publish an autobiography discussing his time behind the famous white helmet. The BBC attempted to prevent the book’s release, although the High Court declined to grant an injunction after concluding that his identity had already entered the public domain.
Despite the difficult ending, Collins insisted that he remains grateful for the opportunity and does not carry lasting resentment toward the presenters. His account presents the departure as a complicated mix of professional insecurity, deteriorating secrecy, and a desire to take control of his own story.
The Stig’s Identity Was Becoming Harder to Protect
Collins said the secrecy surrounding the Stig had started to unravel through several different sources. He specifically recalled a Radio Times feature that placed a mysterious white-suited figure on the cover before including his biography inside, which he viewed as another major clue for journalists already investigating the character.
Media speculation continued to build, making it increasingly difficult for the BBC and Collins to preserve the mystery. By 2010, newspapers had publicly connected him with the role, and the Stig’s identity had become one of British television’s least convincing secrets.
The production had previously attempted to divert attention with a segment suggesting Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher was the Stig. Collins said he was not told about Schumacher’s involvement beforehand and briefly feared that the production was preparing to replace him.
A Deliberately Bad Lap Sparked Fears of Being Fired
During the Schumacher episode, Collins was instructed to drive a Suzuki Liana badly without being told why. He interpreted the request as a possible setup for a storyline in which the Stig had lost his ability and would be dismissed.
Collins responded by performing an intentionally chaotic lap, believing it might become his final appearance in the role. He later discovered the footage was intended to support the Schumacher joke, rather than announce his removal.
The incident reflected a broader communication problem developing behind the scenes. Collins said he increasingly heard suggestions that substitutes could be used for appearances and promotional work, leaving him unsure how much longer his position would last.
Collins Wanted Greater Security and a Larger Role
According to Collins, he had performed the Stig’s driving duties consistently apart from a small number of occasions when he was unavailable. He nevertheless lacked the type of long-term agreement that would have given him confidence in his future with the show.
Rather than wait for his responsibilities to be gradually reduced, Collins decided to leave at the end of the series. He said he wanted to finish with his reputation intact after what he considered an extraordinary run on one of television’s biggest automotive programs.
Looking back, Collins suggested the relationship might have survived if he had been offered greater security and opportunities to contribute. He maintained that he wanted to do additional work for Top Gear, not fade into a smaller version of the same role.
The BBC Took the Dispute to Court
The relationship deteriorated further when Collins prepared to publish The Man in the White Suit, an autobiography covering his racing career and his years on Top Gear. The BBC sought an injunction, arguing that disclosure of the Stig’s identity breached confidentiality obligations connected to the program.
The court refused to block publication, with the judge noting that Collins had already been identified extensively by the press. The book was subsequently released in September 2010, formally ending years of speculation over the driver inside the suit.
Collins acknowledged that the dispute upset people he respected, including Clarkson and executive producer Andy Wilman. Relations eventually improved, however, and he later returned to assist with a Top Gear feature involving wounded military veterans.
No Lasting Grudge Against Clarkson or Top Gear
Collins said he and Clarkson reconciled relatively quickly and emphasized that his frustration was directed mainly toward parts of the corporate structure. His affection for the people and experiences behind the show appears to have survived the legal and professional fallout.
He also remains protective of the chemistry that made the Clarkson-era program successful. In Collins’ view, later versions struggled when they attempted to recreate the same three-presenter formula rather than building a new format around different personalities.
His departure may have been messy, but Collins does not describe it as a regret. He left because the secret was collapsing, his role felt increasingly vulnerable, and he believed the time had come to step out from behind the helmet on his own terms.