After years of mystery, Jeremy Clarkson has revealed the identity of Top Gear's latest and potentially final Stig.
During a viewing party for the final episode of The Grand Tour, Clarkson disclosed that British GT racing star Phil Keen had been the man behind the famous white helmet since 2010. This has always been a popular rumour, but Clarkson's revelation comes as the first official mention of the third Stig's true identity.
The evolution of the Stig
The Stig, an anonymous racing driver, became one of Top Gear’s most enduring symbols. The character has been portrayed by multiple professional racers, each carefully hidden behind a racing suit and helmet.
Perry McCarthy, the original Stig, wore the black racing suit from 2002 to 2003 until his identity was leaked, leading to his character’s demise.
The role was then passed on to Ben Collins, who took on the persona of the white-suited Stig for seven years. Collins, however, outed himself in 2010 when he sought to publish a book about his time on Top Gear. His departure left the role open for the next mysterious figure.
Phil Keen: the final Stig
In a surprise twist, Clarkson revealed that from 2010 until the show's final episode in 2022, Phil Keen had been the driver embodying The Stig.
Clarkson explained, "The original Stig was Perry McCarthy, followed by Ben Collins, followed by Phil Keen." Keen is one of British GT's most successful racers, with 24 wins, 16 pole positions and a championship title to his name.
As Top Gear seems all but over following a horror crash involving host Freddie Flintoff, Phil Keen may now be remembered as the last Stig.
And with The Grand Tour also on the outs, we may never get to see the future shenanigans of Clarkson and his partners, Richard Hammond and James May.