Which member of the trio was the Stig closest with? | Ben Collins interview

Ben Collins was the Stig we all remember, setting some unbelievable lap times around the Dunsfold test track and taking part in many of the best challenges that the trio ever undertook. Mike Fernie grabbed him for a chat about his time on Top Gear, his more recent film stunt driving and what his relationship was like with Clarkson, Hammond and May.

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[sheruwalia]

Top Gear was a once in a generation enigma.

[JaredBusch]

some say he was born wearing a leather jacket

Ben Collins just drips cool

[Account]

The Micheal Schumacher reveal will forever be one of the greatest moments

[ghostpepper]

This honestly feels like an interview with an unmasked supehero😂 As if a superhero's secret identity has finally been revealed and he's giving a full tell all about his adventures😂

[neofox.]

Some say, The Stig has a picture of Ben Collins in his wallet.

[jameskehoe]

Next can you interview all the stigs cousin’s ? 😃😃

[BLAZEREN]

It’s so incredibly sad he didn’t end up rich like the others after the show. He was an integral part of Top Gear and can clearly be a front man in presenting. Listening to him wishing the price of a Porsche would drop when he’s one of the best drivers TV has seen. He should have got rich beyond his dreams.

[thetreblerebel]

He needs a show with him testing cars around a track...he is just as ICONIC as the Trio, and deserves to be recognized world wide as the others are..

[d.sblack]

The Stig is the only man who can’t talk his way out of a speeding ticket

[michaeldowlin]

It was never the real stig. It was the stigs socialising cousin

[craigdean]

The stig was such a great character. and in the end a sad story, but all in all such a great career Ben and well done. thank you for the great years and memories on the show.

[astro]

All he needs to do for his cv is put: I WAS THE STIG

[behruz]

"Stig-James" against Australia and Germany was the best one :))

[joecook]

Ben Collins was a big part of Top Gear’s success. I would love to see him either on Top Gear again or on the Grand Tour in some fashion

[DC]

I like the episode where Ben, Jezza, Hammond and May were racing the 24 Hour Britcar at Silverstone with the Diesel BMW saloon car.

[robbiepoohify]

6:59 is what everyone actually wants to see.

[RastaSaiyaman]

What I loved about his book "Man in the white suit" was how he detailed the production that went into Top Gear and how his job was about more than just teaching celebrities how to race and setting lap times.

Because he also was the consultant for the cheap car segments, helping the presenters buy the cars that were going to be used and making sure they were at least road legal. But that job also came with two strict rules:
- 1. He wasn't allowed to reveal to the presenters what the others had bought, Top Gear was scripted to the max and it was that element of surprise which took the presenters out of their comfort zone which made for great television.
- 2. If there was a fault in the car which could lead to imminent failure, he wasn't allowed to have it fixed. Again that made for great television if the presenters would have to abandon the script and had to improvise. The more chance of a disaster, the better.

[Marwolaeth]

I remember being on holiday in SanAntonio back in 2009 being told by a waitress that she was a fan of British tv and liked Top Gear. She said how there was someone in the other week who worked on top gear and she jokingly asked him wether he was the stig. The guy didn’t deny or confirm, he just gave a smile and slight could be incline of the head. Of course it sounded like someone had been pulling her leg and we said as much asking what his name was, so she went off to the bar to check and came back to announce it was Ben Collins.

Following year I realised I owed that girl such a huge apology 😳

[wolftone]

Honestly Im glad to see Ben finally getting some recognition for all the work he's done over the years, thank you for all the memories Ben!

[firstnamelastname]

Would love to see Ben having a cameo on the Grand Tour at some point. I think it needs to be done for us the fans.