One of the most famous racing drivers of the 21st century was not only fictional, but also faceless: Top Gear's superstar, 'The Stig'.

While not having to pay for a star name inevitably played a part in that decision, the bosses behind the programme also felt that it made sense to have an anonymous 'pro' because racing drivers become "a procession of dullards" when they speak.

In his highly-amusing book charting 13 years working on Top Gear, script editor Richard Porter said that Jeremy Clarkson's take on racing drivers was that "no one's interested in what they have to say, we only want to see them set lap times", while Porter added that "you can develop a massive affection for a driver upon seeing their talent within the car, and then lose a great deal of it when you hear them talk".