The Stig Interview - Behind The Helmet

27 November 2009

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The Stig is well known as the fellow with A) the best job on telly, and B) the most well hidden identity in television history, but finally we’ve got five minutes with… guess who…

Okay, so, before you get yourself all excited that FemaleFirst is about to unmask the white rider, we did lead you on a bit there, as we have actually been chatting to The Original (and you might argue, The Best) Stig, Perry McCarthy about driving, Top Gear and road safety.

Hello there Perry, how are you doing at the moment?

Hi! I’m good thanks. Pretty full-on with personal appearances and corporate speeches and also gearing up for the Coca Cola Designated Driver Campaign.  

Now, I’m heading to Manchester Trafford Centre tonight to do my Christmas shopping, and I know the roads are going to be a nightmare, but luckily I hear you’re backing a campaign to support safer driving this Christmas, so what should I be doing?

Well, patience is a virtue! Impatience when driving leads to bad decisions, so try to think of what Santa is going to bring you, grin from ear to ear and stay cool.

Okay then, I mean, I’m a good driver (expect I think my brakes need changing) but are there any times we should avoid heading onto the roads unless necessary over the festive season?

Personally, I don’t go on to the road unless it’s necessary anyway ... but like most of us, if I have the choice I tend to avoid rush hour in the morning and evening because it really is mind numbingly dull sitting in a 500 mile traffic jam.

Hey!! If your brakes need changing ... guess what?! Get them changed! Right now please! Remember ... if you need to stop and your brakes aren’t quite up to the job then you could have an accident and that might hurt you, your passengers or other road users.

So, The Original Stig is still going to be bumbling up and down the country as part of the Coca-Cola Designated Driver campaign, stopping at bars and clubs around the Country, so what will you be doing there?

The Coca-Cola Designated Driver campaign is now in its second year and aims to encourage responsible driving, particularly over the Christmas period. This is really important and so until 2nd January, drivers who choose not to drink on a night out will be rewarded with a free second soft drink.  I’m going to be making various pit stops at bars and clubs around the country to raise awareness of safe drinking.  If people want to find out more details about the campaign or which bars and clubs are involved they can visit CokeZone.co.uk/driver

Do you think the fact that you’re known as The Stig will help a lot of young drivers sit up and take notice? Because obviously everyone loves The Stig… especially ‘the original’!

I’m really pleased Top Gear is so popular and especially pleased most people like Stiggie! Hopefully, most attribute a certain expertise in all things driving to The Stig, so if I’m giving a few tips on driver behaviour then old and young alike might think ‘Hmmmm not a bad idea ... think I’ll try that’.

As a racing driver, I have a lot of experience on how quickly things can go wrong, and when things do go wrong it happens fast! So ... look after yourself! Driving, even on the roads, is a job and we all have to concentrate on that job in order to be safe as possible. When driving: No alcohol, no using the mobile, don’t turn around to talk to the kids in the back seat (even if they are whinging), look forwards at all times and concentrate! 

I’ve got to ask, what was it like playing a character who everyone was desperate to know? Did you ever want to shout ‘It’s Me!!!’?

Richard Hammond was always proud of the fact that Top Gear had taken the most talkative driver in motor racing then put him in Stig overalls and found a way to shut him up! So ... I did shout ‘It’s Me’ but only from inside my special soundproof Stig helmet! It was a lot of fun being the Stig; I’m used to driving flat out on a circuit of course but meeting most of our celebrity guests was a laugh. Notice I said ‘most’!

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