Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May starring in ‘The tale of the Cinderella Stig and Evil Stepsisters’
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, being the evil sisters that they are, have never missed an opportunity to bash the tame racing driver, ‘the Stig’ – Our very own, modern-time Cinderella.
Top Gear is an Emmy award winning BBC television series about pretty much anything with a motor engine. The ‘brand’ launched in 1977 as a magazine show but was reiterated as a TV series in 2002 under the production of Andy Wilman. Known for its humor and complete bashing of high profile cars that normal, middle class people wouldn’t even dream about calling their own, the show has progressively popularized in its 15 seasons to date.
The story begins with evil Stepsister Jeremy Clarkson’s brief stay at Repton, a public school in Derbyshire. Spoilt as she was, and unable to control her “drinking, smoking and making a nuisance” out of herself, the intolerant folks of Repton chucked her out. She picked up something though. At Repton new boys were called 'stigs'. New boys are expected to speak when spoken to. They are largely silent, and shouldn't answer back.
The years that followed, saw Jeremy and Evil Stepmother Andy Wilman adopting the practice at home. They called their sweet-natured, patient and forgiving stepsister Ben Collins, ‘The Stig’. She was forced to wear white overalls and a helmet that hid her face at all times – she was told that the concealing getup was to prevent any outsider from knowing how ugly she was which would be a disgrace to the family name.
Each week, Jeremy Clarkson would team up with evil stepsisters Richard Hammond and James May and publically humiliate Cinderella Stig while the amused stepmother watched from the sidelines, willing them further. Stig, as usual, never answered back. She patiently posed as the subject of their entertainment and obediently did all her entrusted chores.
Whether it was due to circumstances, or perhaps Ben Collins was an introvert by nature, it’s hard to say. With so many cooped up thoughts swarming under that solid helmet and no one to share it with, she started making a diary – her very own autobiography. She talked about her life, she talked about her likes and dislikes, pretty much everything she wanted to say was written down on paper. She was afraid that if she didn’t, she’d forget her own identity - a perceived mechanical doll that was ordered around every passing minute of the day; molded into whatever her household demanded.
With every passing day, as Cinderella Stig poured more and more of her soul on the limited canvas offered by a regular diary, she became increasingly aware of herself. She was a person; a real person, with feelings as acute as the next individual and a need to connect with interactive beings. She sought others to have a glimpse of her true self; she wanted them to bear witness to her life.
Ben Collins’ increasing urge of revealing herself in broad daylight could not escape Andy Wilman’s ears. The Evil Stepmother gave her an ultimatum that any wind of her ‘diary’ to the outside world and she would disown her. She would evict her out of the house as it would be a direct assault to the family name. Stig was threatened to the extent that no one would ever know she left, it wasn’t hard finding a replacement concealed from head-to-toe to carry out the same chores she was subjected to do.
Cinderella Stig lay cornered, miserable and alone. Could this be one fairytale where there is no knight in shining armor to offer a heroic, last minute rescue from the tyranny of her evil stepmother and sisters? Is there a reason why even the strongest, the bravest superheroes like Superman and Batman never reveal their true identity? Are they bound by some code to save the day and stand back when it’s time to receive their fair share of attention? Is it naïve to hope for a ‘happily ever after’?
It’s a harsh reality check indeed.
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