LONDON (AFP) – The Stig, the mystery racing driver on BBC television's Top Gear programme, will soon be unmasked as former James Bond stunt double Ben Collins.
In the High Court on Wednesday Justice Morgan refused to grant the BBC a temporary injunction blocking publication of Collins's autobiography.
Shortly before the ruling, Collins left the courtroom to return home to Bristol where his wife has recently given birth. Asked by the media if he was The Stig, the 33-year-old driver said he could not talk about it.
Quizzed over whether he had his trademark helmet with him, he replied: "You're trying to tempt me into saying something I shouldn't."
Simon Dowson-Collins, the publisher's director of legal services, said The Stig was in court -- but added that it would not confirm the mystery driver's identity until the book launch on September 16.
He added: 'We were very surprised the BBC took such action to prevent freedom of expression. We maintained all along that the information is already in the public domain."
It was widely reported that The Stig was Collins after his company's financial reports listed Top Gear among its work.
A spokesman for the BBC, which claims the book would breach confidentiality obligations, said: "The Top Gear audience has always made it clear they enjoyed the mystery around the identity of The Stig. The BBC felt it important to protect that anonymity.
"Today's judgment does not prevent the BBC from pursuing this matter to trial and it will not be deterred from protecting such information from attack no matter when or by whom it should arise."
Top Gear is the BBC's most successful export and the motoring programme has been televised in more than 100 countries, the broadcaster says.