Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson says outed Stig Ben Collins has been "sacked" from the popular motoring show.

The Formula 3 driver was revealed as the mystery white-suited driver after the BBC failed to stop him publishing his memoirs last week.

"It was such a shock," Clarkson told little-known English community news service WitneyTV.

"It was horrible actually because I liked him and he came around to my house and had drinks, and all the time he was writing a book, so I feel a bit hurt."

Clarkson hinted The Stig character may be dumped from the new BBC series, due to air later this year.

Collins took over the role in 2003 after a previous, black-clad Stig also revealed his identity in a book.

"Trust me, we have many, many thousands of people queuing up to be whatever it is that we create," Clarkson said.

"I've spent the last three weeks doing nothing but trying to figure out what we will do instead.

"Top Gear is damaged but not out," he added.