The Stig

There is a breed of people who like to know things. Some things they have a right to know and if no one knows those things, these people are wont to research them. Good!

Some things are meant not to be known. So those people who like to know things should simply accept that these are the unknowables of life.

What am I talking about? The Stig of course: you know, some say he eats three Shredded Wheat for breakfast, some say he can bend iron girders with his teeth, all we know is, he's called The Stig ...

The Stig is the ANONYMOUS car driver who works for Top Gear* on the BBC. Part of the charm of The Stig is that no one is supposed to know who he is. It's good that way and I think we all like it too.

Then there are those smarty pants people who like to say, I know who The Stig is, I know who The Stig is! And they do because some spoil sport has unearthed his name and then written a book that includes his identity la la la.

They did all of this a couple of weeks ago and whilst I read the name of The Stig, it meant nothing to me. Still, ruined the illusion.

* Note: Top Gear is a BBC television programme that used to be a forum in which cars were discussed and demonstrated. Now it feeds Jeremy Clarkson's ego (after all, how can one be from Yorkshire and called Jeremy?), it does not feed James May's hairdresser since he has the most unruly late 1970s hair style and it feeds Richard Hammond's family as he is the least funny, witty and informative presenter on the team (and in fact on the whole BBC); and it might help if he were quite bit taller than he is!

DW