EU referendum controversy as The Stig races into pro-Brexit Wolverhampton event
Hold your horses! Top Gear's The Stig has appeared on a poster for a pro-Brexit event taking place at Wolverhampton Racecourse, but BBC bosses have said it's nothing to do with them.
The Leave.EU campaign has co-opted the TV show's mascot to feature in the June event.
A poster promoting it features a man wearing the Stig's trademark helmet promising an 'exciting line-up' of special guests including 'Top Gear's 'The Stig' and F1 driver Perry McCarthy and extreme sportsman James Cracknell'.
The poster advertises the 'Run for Freedom event', on June 12 at Wolverhampton Racecourse, Gorsebrook Road.
The event includes a 5km run and walk to support the campaign for the UK to exit the European Union in the June 23 referendum.
Conservative, Labour and UKIP politicians will attend to cheer on the runners.
Some people have questioned whether Top Gear and the BBC should be apparently backing such an event, but a BBC spokesman said: "This event is nothing to do with the BBC or Top Gear."
Tony Homewood, of the Leave.EU campaign, said: "Perry McCarthy was The Stig from the Top Gear TV programme and the poster is designed to identify that fact and the fact that he will be present at the 'Run for Freedom' event.
"There is no intention to imply that the BBC is supporting the event or covering the event in any way. Neither is it likely that any reasonable person will be led to believe that they are.
"The image is intended to identify Mr McCarthy by way of his alter-ego so as people better understand who he is."
Supporting the 'Run for Freedom' former Olympic rower Alex Story said: "Running for freedom is what this referendum is about.
"I was so proud to have represented this country as an Olympic athlete, because that is where my allegiance lay and why I am fighting for the UK to become a free sovereign nation, yet again.
"My mother is Austrian, my wife German and I was raised in France where my father worked.
"I am multi-lingual and as cosmopolitan as you could possibly be. I love Europe which is why I so object to the EU."
Double gold medal winning Olympian James Cracknell said: "I have always had a relatively relaxed attitude to the EU, best described as being mildly sceptical.
"I was always hopeful that the prime minister could re-negotiate the terms of membership to something more suitable, but I am not convinced by that re-negotiation.
"All things considered, I have concluded that we would be better off leaving the EU and that is why I have agreed to lend my support."
