In what will come as no surprise to anyone, Top Gear has fired the Stig.

The Stig, whose real name is Ben Collins, has been making headlines in Britain and aound the world after he was unveiled as the secret identity behind the mysterious masked-man on the hit show.

The BBC, fearful that the concept of Top Gear was being compromised by Collins going public, claimed that his contract prevented his from showing himself and sought out an injunction against the publication of the upcoming autobiography of the former Formula 3 racing driver. A father of three, Collins, 33, lives with them and his wife in Bristol.

Presenter Jeremy Clarkson confirmed the official departure of the Stig from Top Gear, saying he was dead to them. Viewers are wondering if a similar send-off for this Stig to that of his predecessor make take place. The last Stig, Perry McCarthy, unmasked himself in 2003, and was similarly fired, although on that occasion it was strapped to a nitrous-assisted Jaguar XJS leaving the deck of a Royal Navy aircraft carrier.

At the time, McCarthy moaned that his weekly salary of £700 was pittance compared to Clarkson, reputed to earn more than of £40,000. Lawyers for driver said he had been denied opportunity under the cloud of secrecy conditions, which had hamstrung his potential to make celebrity appearances and do advertising deals. Despite the former veil over his identity, the Stig drew a large global fan base, mainly due to the fact that they could not put a face to the name. The anonymity, and Stig, are now gone.

Tags: BBC, Ben Collins, Bristol, fired, identity, injunction, Jeremy Clarkson, motor, racing, show, Stig, The Stig, Top Gear, unmasked