A MAN who lived just two doors from The Stig has expressed his relief that he no longer has to keep the identity of Bristol's most famous driver a secret.

Ian Gilmour, 36, of Redland, has known for the past year that the "thoroughly nice" man he waved to in the morning was Top Gear's mysterious racing driver.

On occasion, he had let the secret slip while enjoying a pint at the Cambridge Arms but the claims had been laughed off the premises by friends thinking he'd had one too many.

But now Mr Gilmour, 36, can walk with his head held high after the High Court refused to ban a book which reveals that Top Gear's The Stig is indeed Bristol boy Ben Collins.

Racing driver Mr Collins, 35, whose wife has just given birth to the couple's third child, lives in a £600,000 property in Redland – 200 metres from The Cambridge Arms.

Mr Collins, a talented driver, who also worked as a James Bond stunt double, returned home briefly last night where he told waiting journalists he was unable to comment.

Mr Gilmour, who works for Airbus, said: "I have known for about a year when some friends of mine who are close friends of Ben and his wife told me the secret. I had been away for about six years and, when I saw them, she told me. Her husband told her she shouldn't have said anything but it was too late by then.

"I have to admit there have been a few times I may have mentioned it the pub but they just laughed it off saying 'of course you know the Stig, Ian.'

"Now that it has been categorically announced I can walk in holding my head up high and saying 'I told you so.' It's actually a bit of a relief that it's out there now."

Mr Gilmour added: "I don't know Ben personally, only to say hello to or give a wave in the morning and he seems a thoroughly nice guy. He is away quite a bit, I am sure he just wants a quiet life.

"It must have been a weird sort of existence and I bet it's been quite a relief for him.

"I hope he makes quite a bit of money out of his book – the other three on Top Gear certainly do.

"Ben is an integral part of the show so there should be nothing to stop him making money out of it. Who are the BBC to say that they can spend the license fee on silly battles like this in court.

"It is not like he signed the Official Secrets Act."

The Cambridge Arms landlord Paul Fickling said: "I don't know Ben myself but if he walks in here again I'm sure I'll recognise him. One of my regulars Ian (Gilmour) used to claim he knew who The Stig was but we just thought 'yeah, whatever Ian.' Looks like we may have been wrong."

Mr Collins will not officially be identified as The Stig until the book launch on September 16.

A spokesman for the BBC, which claimed 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.

"The BBC brought this action as we believe it is vital to protect the character of The Stig, which ultimately belongs to the licence-fee payer.

"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."

A NUMBER of famous Bristolians have worked from behind a mask:

Tinky Winky of the Teletubbies (Dave Thompson)

Dave Thompson, born in Fishponds, played Tinky-Winky in the popular children’s show. He was the tall, purple Teletubby who carried a red handbag. He was axed from the role after six months because his ‘interpretation’ of the role was not acceptable.

Bella of the Tweenies (Emma Weaver)

Bristol-based actress Emma Weaver, 35, was the voice of bossy Bella. , the bossy, blue-faced Tweenie whose favourite colour is red, and whose favourite song is There Was a Princess Long Ago.

Emma said the programme, launched a decade ago, transformed her life from being a jobbing actress to hit records and appearing on Top of the Pops.

Darth Vader (Dave Prowse)

Dave Prowse, who grew up in Southmead, famously had his voice dubbed over by James Earl Jones in the Star Wars films. An actor was then used when Darth Vader’s mask is removed at the end of Return of the Jedi.

Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia, said they nicknamed Prowse ‘Darth Farmer’ because of his West Country accent.

The Stig (Ben Collins)

Unmasked at last, Ben Collins is a talented racing driver praised by track legend Jackie Stewart, and raced in Nascar and at the Le Mans 24-hour.

He has worked as a stunt double for Daniel Craig in James Bond film The Quantum of Solace and for Nicolas Cage in National Treasure: Book of Secrets. He spent four years with the Army and also worked as a TV presenter and brand manager for Hornby Scalextric.