Paul Rees, the racing driver who played The Stig on the BBC's Top Gear from 2019 to 2022, has publicly unmasked himself to sue the broadcaster for up to £150,000. He alleges that the BBC failed to properly treat injuries he sustained during the same accident that nearly killed presenter Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff in December 2022.
The accident and alleged negligence
The crash occurred at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey while filming for the show. Flintoff was driving a three-wheeled vehicle at high speed when it flipped, leaving him with serious facial injuries and broken ribs. Rees, who was a passenger in the vehicle, claims he suffered a broken back that went untreated because medical staff focused solely on Flintoff.
According to Rees, the on-site medic told him immediately that he was 'not equipped' for the crash. He was eventually sent to hospital on a spinal board, but only after the rush to treat Flintoff had delayed his own care. Rees later discovered he had broken his back.
BBC's response
A BBC Studios spokesperson denied the claims, stating: 'We dispute this claim and are defending it. As it's now before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment further.' In its legal response, the BBC denied negligence 'as alleged or at all' and is contesting Rees' compensation claims. The organisation believes it provided comprehensive medical and welfare support following the accident.
BBC Studios also claims that Rees' 'faulty instructions' caused the accident, as he was the designated professional driver that day. Rees denies this, saying BBC bosses summoned him to London to 'throw him under the bus.' He told Metro: 'I expected an arm to be put around me, and it wasn't whatsoever. I said to her, “How are you pinning this on me?” She's like, “Well, you were the pro driver sat next to him. We're not pinning it on you as such, but you probably need to get a good lawyer.” It felt like the accident just happened over again, like I was being thrown under the bus.'
Who is The Stig?
The Stig is a fictional character from Top Gear, created by Jeremy Clarkson and producer Andy Wilman. Known as the show's 'tame racing driver,' the mute character wears a full-face helmet and white overalls to obscure identity. His primary duties include setting lap times, assisting with the 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' segment, and participating in racing challenges.
Other drivers who played The Stig
Several drivers have officially played The Stig. Perry McCarthy was the first, known as the Black Stig, from 2002 to 2003. He was killed off after revealing his identity in his autobiography. Ben Collins played the second Stig (first White Stig) from 2003 to 2010, leaving after a legal dispute with the BBC over his autobiography The Man in the White Suit. The High Court ruled in Collins' favour, allowing publication.
During series 13, Michael Schumacher was revealed as The Stig in a one-off promotional stunt. After Collins left, the show introduced the 'Second White Stig,' found as a baby in Bethlehem. This version was played by Phil Keen from 2010 to 2022, as revealed by Wilman in his book Mr Wilman's Motoring Adventure.
Other names linked to the character include musician Jay Kay, Damon Hill, Julian Bailey, Russ Swift, and Darren Turner.
