James May expects new Stig

'Top Gear' presenter James May expects bosses on the car racing show to replace The Stig now his identity has been revealed.

James May thinks 'Top Gear' producers will replace The Stig.

The TV presenter - who co-hosts the car show with Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson - expects bosses on the BBC show will employ a new driving expert to portray the mystery racing pro, now Ben Collins' identity has been revealed.

Discussing the news that Ben's contract isn't to be renewed after he was unveiled as the secret speedster yesterday (01.08.10), James said: "We can get another one. There may be many more Stigs in many more galaxies. You see, the world is full of interesting myths about The Stig. There was a previous Stig, there was black overall Stig, who had to be `dealt with'.

"It is a shame. I mean, the whole point of being The Stig is that you are nobody. The Stig is a character. It's like, you know, it has to have a person in the suit, obviously, and it is always the same person, always has been because that way we get consistency, and Stig is anonymous because its good fun. It's a testing device, The Stig, and it protects it from corruption if nobody knows who it is, that's the really good thing about it."

Ben was unveiled as The Stig yesterday, after the BBC failed to secure a temporary restraining order in London's High Court banning him from releasing his autobiography, and therefore his identity.

James, 47, has joked that the upcoming season will see the three presenters get their revenge on Ben.

Discussing plans for the new series with Absolute Radio host Christen O'Connell, he quipped: "I think I'm still in it, and we're starting to do some filming next week and I can't really tell you too much about what we're doing.

"Yes driving round to The Stig's house and nailing his head to the table was one of them, going and getting our overalls back because they're not his, they're ours, we only leant them to him, and that helmet."