DEALS are set to be struck which could see Ben Collins become the presenter of his own TV show.

Mr Collins, who is a University of Exeter graduate and lived for several years in Morchard Bishop, won a High Court battle with the BBC earlier this week for the right to reveal his identity as The Stig in his autobiography.

It is understood that the racing driver's contract at the BBC expired last month and will not be renewed after the dispute which cost the corporation up to £100,000.

Now he could be going up against Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond on a Top Gear-style car programme.

Mr Collins, 35, has been signed up by James Grant management, one of TV's most powerful talent management agencies.

The agency is working on formats for him and in the coming months broadcasters will be asked to bid for his services.

James Grant manages many of ITV's biggest names — including Ant and Dec, Holly Willoughby, Vernon Kay, and Piers Morgan.

Like them Collins will become a "major television personality" said a source at the company adding: "He is a very personable bloke, good looking, intelligent and obviously knowledgeable in the field of motoring.

"The irony is of course that he will be rivalling the very men who made him a god-like character on Top Gear."

His identity as The Stig is not the only secret to emerge from Collins's past.

It was also revealed he is a former member of the SAS.

He served in 23 SAS, the reservist regiment, training fellow troopers in "escape and evade" driving.