Ex-Stig Ben Collins hired by Fifth Gear

With all of the Paris Motor Show coverage this week, we haven't had a Stig update in, like, five days. The last we heard about Ben Collins, he was suggesting a "Who Wants to be The Stig" TV show, or saying that he might enter the British Touring Car Championship. Today we are hearing that, like another BTCC superstar, Jason Plato, Collins will be joining the ranks of Fifth Gear presenters.

Collins was recently fired as the Stig when he outed himself in his autobiography. The book had been held up by a court case brought by the BBC on behalf of Top Gear. Fifth Gear is the more car-focused and generally less over-the-top Top Gear rival that airs on Channel 5.

The former Stig will reportedly make his debut on Fifth Gear when the new season starts next Friday and appear in five episodes total. Collins will be at least the third former Top Gear cast member to make the switchover, joining fellow ex-TG stars Tiff Needell and Vicki Butler-Henderson over at Fifth Gear. Collins will not don the famous white racing suit on Fifth Gear, but he will reportedly appear in a "colorful racing suit" as well as present on the show in street clothes while not wearing a helmet.

In all fairness, Top Gear has also snatched talent from the Fifth Gear pool as well, with renowned wookie, Tom Ford, recently joining the ranks of Top Gear Magazine staffers. Hat tip to Kris!

[Source: The Guardian | Photograph: AP Photo/ PA]