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They may be a trifle disappointed to learn he is in fact a 33-year-old former racer and stuntman from Bristol, who let slip his big secret in the unlikely setting of an art store in Bristol.

The fate of Ben Collins, who wanted a print of himself as the Stig in action for his wall, hangs in the balance.

And builder Jason Goody, 21, claimed he learned his identity last week when he did some work for him and found The Stig’s trademark suit and gloves on display in a cabinet, according to The Telegraph’s website.

MailOnline had not wanted to spoil the secret when the Stig was first revealed by the Daily Star Sunday, but when the article was picked up by the Telegraph website yesterday and The Times and London Lite today, it seemed pointless to hold out

Fans had also speculated Mr Collins was the Stig on YouTube, where a clip showing him talking with a Bristolian TV crew leads into a clip showing Collins speaking in similar tones.

The BBC refused to comment today and nor would Collins. However, an insider on the show was furious. ‘You wouldn’t write a piece saying that Santa didn’t exist,’ he told The Times.

When he’s not hitting speeds of 200mph on the race track for Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May’s popular show, Mr Collins drives a£15,000 ‘reasonably priced’ car, is married and lives in a £300,000 home.

Before Mr McCarthy’s exit, Mr Collins had a varied career, including a four-year stint in the Army and a post managing Hornby’s Scalextric

brand.

He had started his motorsport career competing in 1994 in Formula First and Formula Vauxhall Junior on his way to Formula 3. He now charges upwards of £1,000 giving motivational speeches.

He also featured as a stunt driver in the latest James Bond film, Quantum Of Solace.

Top Gear is one of the BBC’s most viewed programmes and is screened in more than 100 series.

Stig’s name comes from Jeremy Clarkson’s days at Repton School where new pupils were always given the moniker.

It may be particularly appropriate if a new boy is in the driving seat when the show returns in December.