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Another opportunity to discuss TG.
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Last edited by: VxFan on Thu 23 Dec 10 at 10:48
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The Sunday Times has today revealed the name of the Stig.
Ben Collins
No suprise to most people I think.
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Perry McCarthy: 'I was the original Stig'
An interview.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11083602
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He's trying to cash in on them naming the current stig. They got rid of Perry when he revealed his identity.
I can see why the 'stig' is unhappy about the BBC making money out of the character. But they could replace the driver without a problem to the show. He gets around £10k an episode so not bad money.
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i agree
why kill the golden goose?
unless its another case of wanting it ALL now
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>> He gets around £10k an episode so not bad money.
... and how does that compare with other 3 clowns in the show?
In today's internet age, it is very difficult to keep anything like this a secret.
One employee in BBC somehow get to know, tell his kids, they post on motoring forum and whole world knows.
There was no Stig in 1990s Top Gear episodes and those shows were more enjoyable.
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There was no Stig in 1990s Top Gear episodes and those shows were more enjoyable.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
to be fair ben was only 15 at the time though
born.........13 February 1975 (allegedly)
oh and i for one enjoy the stig mostly and didnt need to know his name behind the plastic mask....
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>> i agree
>> why kill the golden goose?
>> unless its another case of wanting it ALL now
>>
>>>>>>>> seems my opinion is correct
www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11108795
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>> transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2010/08/27/the-stig-he-is-ours/
>>
>>>> thanks for the link
never thought to go there
superb piece of writing
i take my flat cap off to him
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It is - and a well thought out piece.
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I have been reading Mr Wilman's blogs on matters Topgear for quite a while now, and have come to the conclusion he is the power behind the throne as it were.
Long may he remain so, judging by the fine job he has been doing.
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Love it or loathe it - TG is a slick piece of work, BBC doing a very good job. The four frontmen are just that.
Last edited by: Pugugly on Fri 27 Aug 10 at 23:17
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Everyone on TG current format could be replaced including Clarkson without a problem. It might not be quite the same but they could replace him easily. Why the well paid driver posing as the Stig thinks he is worth as much as the other three I don't know. He says nothing and just drives and will have no input to the programs on who appears and which cars to have.
And he's fairly well paid though for not a lot of effort.
I'd get a new Stig in the white suite ASAP. And they probably will. And he'd then have made more money carrying on as Stig than from his book no doubt.... and the book will then be I was the stig.
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Was watching the Australian version of Top Gear on You Tube.
Same format but somehow I felt it was far better in quality.
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Apparently Stig has written a book. BBC at High Court today to ban publication. More BBC waste of Licence holders money.
Meanwhile in Chile several Miners remain trapped.......
Millions of Pakistanis are homeless due to floods.........
dvd
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>> Meanwhile in Chile several Miners remain trapped.......
>> Millions of Pakistanis are homeless due to floods.........
And some football club owners (like Man City) have put in a Billion pounds in the last couple of years... some things are just wrong aren't they.
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>> Apparently Stig has written a book. BBC at High Court today to ban publication. More
>> BBC waste of Licence holders money.
>>
>> Meanwhile in Chile several Miners remain trapped.......
>> Millions of Pakistanis are homeless due to floods.........
And your point is? You think money will make the miners happier?
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>>You think money will make the miners happier?
>>
Yes if the newspapers are correct. They are not getting paid while they are not digging :-(
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...last week's further expose about Ben Collins following the BBC's reaction to his autobiography:
tinyurl.com/26spr6o
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If true, it's hardly a surprise is it. They got rid of the first 'black' Stig when he revealed his identity. And the show continued with 'a Stig'. Only problem as I see it is the lap times for cars driven by Stig were done by a particular driver. A new car might be faster/slow because of driver or car. But at this level you'd expect a racing driver to get the most out of a car I suppose.
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And he isn't the stig anymore I guess... as has been said the Stig was seen at an event when Ben Collins was seen at home.
So he's lost £5-10k per episode of income to get money from an autobiography. I wonder which was worth more money.
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I doubt he got £5-10k per episode, nor did he get any repeat fees because he is unlisted.
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I'd read somewhere that figure. Obviously cannot know if it's true. And why would he get money for being an anonymous character in a crash helmet? If he worked for Disney he'd be claiming he was Mickey Mouse or similar.
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Would be interesting to have seen his contract. OK, to race the cars round the track it was maybe Collins all the time but like the episode in travelling through London, where he took the bus (allegedly), it could be any Tom,Dick, or Harry inside the outfit?
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Who is Ben Collins? Never heard of him. So the shock revelation in todays news is, erm, somewhat underwhelming.
But then I've never watched Top Gear either. I understand that the division between watching, and not watching TG is a division between living outside London and in it.
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I suppose they will get rid of him now, just as they did the Black Stig.
The only questions are:
1) What colour will the new Stig be? My vote is for Silver...nice and classy
2) How long will it be before the new (Silver) Stig writes a book, and gets replaced?
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Silver stig looks too much like the white stig.
Red stig.
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Maybe they will replace the driver and not the colour of the suit and not say anything on the show.
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>> Maybe they will replace the driver and not the colour of the suit and not
>> say anything on the show.
Not an option, those who watch the show will have follwed the saga and are expecting TG to do something with the old stig. In that respect its given the show a bit of a boost.
Everyone knew when the old stig changed. Perry McCarthy was a bit of a fat old hector, and a none too smooth racing driver. The change in style was obvious.
Last edited by: Zero on Wed 1 Sep 10 at 20:24
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I am totally sympathetic to the BBC view of the matter. Its not that I really really enjoy TG, but they have invested a great deal of time and effort in deliberately concealing (for a harmless joke) the true identity of person behind The Stig character.
Yes they could go an find another racing driver, but that's not the point. There presumably was a legal agreement between TG and Ben Collins which he has now deliberately torn up without penalty. That is unfair and immoral but no surprise given who is the owner of Harper Collins (Rupert Murdoch). Ben Collins was well rewarded for his role (I would love to earn £10,000 per week - even £10,000 per week for 12 weeks per annum would be nice) and few of us can afford to lose that sort of money. Presumably he has done this and gone to Court to enhance the sale of his book, but I for one will not be buying it.
Last edited by: Espada III on Wed 1 Sep 10 at 20:21
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But he's a bit of a nobody really. Who'd want to read about him? Or am I in a minority. I hope the book flops to be honest as he agreed legally not to do something like this.
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"Who'd want to read about him?"
This week I took the corner flat out because it wasn't raining. Last week, it was wet and I skidded a bit. Next week, looks like it might be sunny so will take it flat out again.
zzzzzzzzzz
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Not in that old bedstead of a Lexus you wont.
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It certainly is a disappointing drive. But a very nice place to be.
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>> Silver stig looks too much like the white stig.
>>
>> Red stig.
>>
Hurry hurry I need to know cos I was given a WHITE Stig stress reliever doll for Christmas and if they change the colour I might just have to pull his head off!.
Last edited by: henry k on Wed 1 Sep 10 at 21:28
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>> >> Silver stig looks too much like the white stig.
>> >>
>> >> Red stig.
>> >>
>> Hurry hurry I need to know cos I was given a WHITE Stig stress reliever
>> doll for Christmas and if they change the colour I might just have to pull
>> his head off!.
You'll just have to buy a can of spray paint every few years...
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..You'll just have to buy a can of spray paint every few years...
>>
but it will show the stretch marks :-)
Perhaps Santa will help out ?
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>> Silver stig looks too much like the white stig.
>>
>> Red stig.
Silver doesn't look anything like white, but maybe red would work.
Or maybe gold instead...
Whatever they do (whether it is a colour difference, or something else), it can't be too gimmicky, or it will grow very tired, very quickly.
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>> Silver doesn't look anything like white, but maybe red would work.
It does on TV,
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I've lost my mojo
I'm going to bed
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They have had black Stig (evil/bad) and white Stig (now also evil/bad)... so how about Grey Stig.
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From the BBC: "The book, called The Man In The White Suit, claims Mr Collins is the mystery driver on the BBC Two show."
Photo on the same webpage:
news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48932000/jpg/_48932116_004977466-1.jpg
That suit is not white ;-)
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My B & W telly would show the silver Stig as the white Stig. Similarly, any red, green or blue Stig would seem to be the old black Stig.
What's Top Gear?
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Saving on the licence fee I see.... so you don't have a set top box to receive digital channels ;-) 'cos if you did it needs a colour licence.
I know you're only joking about B&W though.
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Does STIG stand for something or is the name from some stupid Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter thing. I am actually suprised that he is one person and I am not conviced that he is. It is a convenient way for the BBC to use any normally sized person, dress him in the racing suit and helmet and then who knows, or cares come to that! There has been comment in the past that he appears to vary in size from time to time!
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The real stig is only used to drive the cars. Any old crew member dons the gear for non driving stuff.
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According to an editorial in a tabloid, a "stig" is a slang word for a new boy in the public school that JC and his Producer went to. A stig was treated like a slave by older boys and were not allowed to speak to this elders.
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>> They have had black Stig (evil/bad) and white Stig (now also evil/bad)... so how about
>> Grey Stig.
>>
How about a Pink Stig... with curves in all the right places...
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>> How about a Pink Stig... with curves in all the right places...
Excellent idea - do you think Sabine Schmitz is getting bored of the Nurburgring these days? :-)
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Surely this is the time to rid TG of this Stig nonsense once and for all - the joke has worn very thin and tiresome and boring beyond belief. However most of you know my views on the 'motoring ' programmes and its rather pathetic (but wealthy) presenters.
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"Surely this is the time to rid TG of this Stig nonsense"
IRTA "Surely it's time to get rid of this TG nonsense". Sounds good to me.
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What I can't understand is why those who criticise it continue to watch it and want it removed?
Surely you have an 'Off' switch and can accept that those of us who like it should be able to watch it.
Perhaps that's too simplistic.
Pat
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Continue to watch it? Not me...
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Speaking for myself, Pat, and as one of those who hates the new setup, I just watch it on catchup and fast forward the bits i don't like... It tends to be quite a short watch!
Also I don't think we've said we want it removed, just left as it is and another more intelligent motoring programme to run alongside it for those of us who actually like some motoring content...
Last edited by: hobby on Thu 2 Sep 10 at 13:31
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>> Also I don't think we've said we want it removed, just left as it is
>> and another more intelligent motoring programme to run alongside it for those of us who
>> actually like some motoring content...
Most people dont, if they did, there would be one.
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>>>IRTA "Surely it's time to get rid of this TG nonsense". Sounds good to me. <<<
That's what I was referring to, but not knowing the meaning of IRTA then I could have got the gist of it wrong.
It's worse than text speak, tut :)
Pat
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>> IRTA (...) worse than text speak, tut :)
Usenet shorthand.
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Ahhhh, I see FT, something along the lines of the secret handshake then, since you're not going to tell me what it means.:)
Pat
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Eh? What is the "it" that you want to know about?
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IRTA
>>bangs head against a brick wall<<<:)
Pat
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Calm down! IRTA=I read that as.
There are loads and loads of acronyms, but only a few are in common use - a dozen or so perhaps - some are listed at:
www.all-acronyms.com/tag/usenet
and in other other places there's a huge list including really uncommon ones at:
web.mit.edu/~lgdean/Groups/SIPB/Acron/acron.sipb
HTH.
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HTH?????
No, don't bother:)
I think I must be getting old!
Pat
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We've had this discussion many times before, Zero... In my view the current TG is a BBC1 type programme (ie it appeals to the masses), BBC2 was set up to do specialist programmes such as (proper) Motoring programmes with reduced viewing figures... There is a market for motoring progs, the number of old ones that are aired on cable and satalite prove that (even excluding TG re-runs!)... Its just that the Beeb is obsessed with viewer numbers and in their eyes (and your's it seems) are satisfying the Motoring viewers with TG... Fact is, they aren't...
Last edited by: hobby on Thu 2 Sep 10 at 13:47
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BBC2 was set up to educate the masses with arty type programes.
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>> There is a
>> market for motoring progs, the number of old ones that are aired on cable and
>> satalite prove that (even excluding TG re-runs!)...
It could well be that the viewing figures for those shows are very small. Some of the cable channels get only a few thousands viewers per day. It seems that TG on BBC2 gets around 2.5 million, which is pretty good for a fairly niche show (yes, loads of people drive, but probably not many of them actually have an interest in motoring shows).
>> Its just that the Beeb is obsessed with
>> viewer numbers and in their eyes (and your's it seems) are satisfying the Motoring viewers
>> with TG... Fact is, they aren't...
Could it be that they are satisfying a very good percentage of people who actually have an interest in motoring shows?
Of course, they are never going to be able to satisfy everybody. For instance, a lot of people seem to like Fifth Gear, but I can't stand it.
I am all for having the BBC target niche audiences, but if they are spending their time focusing on maybe 100,000-200,000 and missing that 2.5 million, I would suggest that they wouldn't be doing their job properly.
In other words, could it perhaps be that what you are looking for in a show is too niche to justify, unless it is low budget and shown on cable at 3 in the morning 9 (or on YouTube). Maybe you could start filming a C4P show for YouTube!
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>> market for motoring progs, the number of old ones that are aired on cable and
>> satalite prove that (even excluding TG re-runs
The one that captures the most audience are the TG re runs on dave.
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So what?
The fact remains that the others also capture an audience, they wouldn't run them otherwise...
My arguement always has been that you can keep TG as it is but transfer it to BBC1 where it belongs... chances are it would increase viewing figures if they did... then have a proper motoring programme on BBC2... which is not just there for !arty" stuff, Z, but for all niche interests...
SS, is TG as it stands now a Motoring programme, or a light entertainment programme that sometimes includes a little motoring in it? To me and many others its the latter...
Last edited by: hobby on Thu 2 Sep 10 at 16:49
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>> My arguement always has been that you can keep TG as it is but transfer
>> it to BBC1 where it belongs... chances are it would increase viewing figures if they
>> did... then have a proper motoring programme on BBC2... which is not just there for
>> !arty" stuff, Z, but for all niche interests...
Yes, but the problem is that they need to attract a decent number of viewers. I don't think that they could justify doing it for a very small number of viewers. Any programme that was for a very small niche, really would need to be on a small budget and either take a late night slot or be on the likes of cable, or YouTube (or perhaps just iPlayer only).
I'd go a bit further and say that the niche I am talking about is not simply "motoring", it is perhaps something like "a motoring show that is delivered in a serious (non-light entertainment) format"
That's the trouble with niches. Somebody else would say "a motoring show that is delivered in a serious manner AND only covers cars in the sub 50K bracket".
It depends how niche you want to go, and if you go very niche you get the problem that you can't make programmes for every nice and give them all decent budgets and prime-time TV slots.
>> SS, is TG as it stands now a Motoring programme, or a light entertainment programme
>> that sometimes includes a little motoring in it? To me and many others its the
>> latter...
I would personally say that it is a motoring show that is delivered in a light entertainment style. If it was delivered in a more serious style, I probably wouldn't watch it, and I guess many others wouldn't too. I'm interested in the motoring, but I also want to be entertained a bit,.
Again, back to the niche problem. Not every show has to be Celebrity Big Brother On Ice, but you also just can't cater exactly for for every single taste.
Last edited by: SteelSpark on Thu 2 Sep 10 at 17:01
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We'll have to agree to disagree... I can't really see the current programme as a Motoring programme, its got too much in it that doesn't belong there, but as a Light Entertainment...
I reckon it already has enough viewers for BBC1, and too many for BBC2, hence my suggestion to switch it...
As for the dedicated motoring prog, you've fallen into the trap that the BBC2 managers have by (again) only looking at viewer numbers... however I'd still maintain that there are enough viewers around for a "general" and informative motoring programme... and if you look at all the different types of motoring interests which could be included in a proper motoring programme its quite a large niche!!
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>> As for the dedicated motoring prog, you've fallen into the trap that the BBC2 managers
>> have by (again) only looking at viewer numbers...
I don't think that they only look at viewer numbers (or it would only be Celebrity type stuff 24 hours a day), but certainly they have to ask themselves whether they are going to appeal to a big enough audience. They, of course, only have so much money and so many TV slots, so they have to create programmes with a decent amount of appeal.
TV is, after all, a mass medium that isn't really designed to be too niche. People who want very specific content, that might not appeal to the masses, maybe have to look for that elsewhere (internet/magazine reviews, internet TV channels - that kind of thing).
>> however I'd still maintain that there are
>> enough viewers around for a "general" and informative motoring programme... and if you >> look at
>> all the different types of motoring interests which could be included in a proper motoring
>> programme its quite a large niche!!
You could be right hobby, but it is naturally guesswork (from me too). No doubt they research this stuff, as do the commercial channels, and the absence of show that fits what you want, may well suggest that there maybe aren't enough viewers.
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>> I reckon it already has enough viewers for BBC1, and too many for BBC2, hence my
>> suggestion to switch it...
A lot of people fail to see it because it's on BBC2. Changing channel is so difficult. :-)
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The story continues...
www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1308890/Why-The-Stig-Ben-Collins-unmasked--1m-losses-frustrated-ambition.html
I think so far everyone believed that there were multiple people behind Stig. But now we see it is not the case!
Last edited by: movilogo on Sat 4 Sep 10 at 14:36
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I have to admit to laughing out loud, while alone in the house, at the point in this episode where Clarkson's construction, a 3 storey house on a Citroen CX, was pushed over a 200ft cliff! He was somewhere on the beach in the distance and, in a cunningly posed shot he was pontificating on the joys of life and ice cream while his camper fell down a cliff and shattered into 200,000 pieces. Magic!
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Not quite; we see that the Daily Wail says it isn't the case! I think there were enough size changes to allow people to think that it was not always the same person.
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Stig is about to start his own motoring show!
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1310756/The-Stig-Ben-Collins-claims-BBC-bullied-job.html
I think BBC already guessed that he would reveal his identity. They though before that they would appoint another new Stig so that it won't make a big news.
But Stig didn't allow this to happen. That's why JC & his clowns are so angry.
I'm with Stig on this one :)
Last edited by: movilogo on Fri 10 Sep 10 at 13:08
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The same video is available in better quality on the topgear website.t
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My goodness. That irritating little nonentitty who follows is still there; J. May's leaving his shirt-tails out 'cos he looks too fat with them tucked in; and J. Clarkson's turned into a tub o' lard. This show's a bit over-ripe IMO.
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Well a lot of them are only a year or so away from getting their bus passes.
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Well Rattle one thing for certain we won't be seeing them on any buses !
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Slim they may not be, but they both have the bility to laugh at themselves.
Something that is very attractive to women.
Pat
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The German saloon sport cars fuel economy race that wasn't shown on the TV
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRslmNy27kc
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Well I enjoyed Tuesday's episode - apart from the SIARPC zzzzzz.
Are the motoring laws more relaxed in America’s east coast and New York though?
eg, driving on bald tyres, reading a map while driving, etc.
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I noticed that too.
It is also funny as I had a feeling that they would get Tiff in do to racing car stuff. Having said that I am sure he was one of the Stigs?
Also funny how Clarkson kept making fun of Tiff's age when Tiff can only be a couple of years older than him!.
The bit where the lights fused was staged but funny.
And I wonder how many people missed this TG? I only found out last minute because of Facebook.
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>> I had a feeling that they would get Tiff in do to racing car stuff
Didn't show him though, so I suspect he probably wasn't really there, but if he really was it's strange as both Tiff and Ben Collins are presenters on Fifth Gear as is it strange that 5TV let him hop over the fence to their rival show.
>> Also funny how Clarkson kept making fun of Tiff's age when Tiff can only be
>> a couple of years older than him!.
Tiff - born 29 October 1951 (that makes him 59) - I didn't realise he was as old as that!
Jezz - born 11 April 1960 (that makes him 50) - although I think he looks older
>> And I wonder how many people missed this TG?
Repeated repeated on BBC2 at 6.55pm on Christmas Day,
or available now on iplayer - www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00x2pq7/Top_Gear_Series_15_Episode_7/
The second of the Christmas double bill is on Boxing Day on BBC2 at 8pm
Last edited by: VxFan on Wed 22 Dec 10 at 10:42
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I would love to see Tiff Needell as a permanent fixture on TG. Ditch the whole Stig idea, and just have him as the fourth presenter who does all the track / lap time stuff.
In showboating / car control terms, I can't think of many better drivers anywhere.
I always remember how he made the Ford Puma dance, 3 up! :-)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3QuH7z1Z1o
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But am I not right in saying Tiff is a regular on the Top Gear shows that they do throughout the country?
Reading Ben Collins book just now - quite interesting life he has had although really only interested in the Top Gear stuff like when Jeremy drove the Bugatti to London from France , I think?
Once it was finished, Ben had to drive it back the same route to get all the aerial shots from helicopter etc and was closely shadowed by VW guys who watched his every move!
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What a crap job to have. Poor guy.
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Just watching it - Reminds me I love America and I love cars. Clarkson's got a right pot belly these days !
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Considering JC is about 9 years younger than Tiff Needell (I am led to believe), you have to wonder what happened to the former don't you, as he ooks rather bloated, unfit and much older.
I suppose some of it is down to the Genes (or Jeans in JC's case) but he certainly isn't ageing very well. In fact the three stooges on TG, certainly present themselves in a very shabby fashion unless it is done deliberately? Since his nasty accident Richard Hammond has let himself go and James doesn't seem much better even with his current, shorter hairstyle.
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>> Considering JC is about 9 years younger than Tiff Needell (I am led to believe),
>> you have to wonder what happened to the former don't you, as he ooks rather
>> bloated, unfit and much older.
>> I suppose some of it is down to the Genes
NO? its down to the fact that JC has had an interesting life of excess and enjoyed himself, and TN is a characterless boring old git,
Seemples
Last edited by: Webmaster on Sat 1 Jan 11 at 02:09
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My belly aint far off Clarksons and I am 22 years younger! Not really sure what my excuse is no excercise and a diet of crisps and beer probably.
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>> JC has had an interesting life of excess and enjoyed himself, and TN is a characterless boring old git,
Can't fully agree there Zero. You are right about JC of course but a bit harsh I think with the other chap. Old racer, pleasant demeanour, knows what he's doing, happy in front of the lens, what's to dislike?
Anyway why should professional sportsmen be able to talk and have a fluent and interesting spontaneous discourse? Some make the transition but if they are the real thing they sometimes have a tonguetied side. But they should have other skills that enable them to test and display the merchandise.
Last edited by: Webmaster on Sat 1 Jan 11 at 02:10
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I assume because they are using/paying Tiff and he's not on camera then it's not a problem for Fifth Gear?
The programme with Boyle in the car.... that was faster than some dry laps so why not show how he compared overall?
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Nearly missed it, but I have a super wife who was on the ball.
I have to say, it had a better flow than previous shows, it was funny and was well worth watching.
On JC, I think part of his wide appeal is that he essentially is living his own personal dream, as are the other two, which is why its so much fun to watch.
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The Stig is Outed. - Zero
