F1 legend Michael Schumacher was sensationally revealed as The Stig on last night’s episode of Top Gear.

The seven-time world champion was revealed as the show’s tame racing driver to smash rumours it’s been a ‘photocopier salesman from Bolton’ the whole time.

Egged on by the crowd who were screaming “off, off, off”, Schumacher removed his helmet to rapturous cheers from the stunned audience.

The German racer had just lapped the Enzo-based Ferrari FXX round the track in a staggering 1 minute 10.7 seconds.

Jeremy Clarkson then quizzed Schumacher about some of the rumours during the show, asking: "Are you illegal in 17 US states?"

Schumacher replied: "No, it's much exaggerated. It's only nine."

Clarkson then asked about another rumour: "Some people have told us you only know two facts about ducks and both of them are wrong. Is that true?"

Schumacher replied "Well obviously they won't fly" and was quickly interrupted by Clarkson who said: "No, they were right, you don't know anything about ducks."

Last night’s episode has triggered a media frenzy not seen on Top Gear since Richard Hammond’s 288mph dragster smash in 2006.

The story has been the most read and most shared story on the BBC’s website.

And some of the Auto Trader team reported that iPlayer crashed three times during the Schumacher section of last night’s show.

Newspapers, websites, TV channels and radio stations were all talking about The Stig this morning.

Ultimately it’s a massive publicity stunt to steer the spotlight off The Stig’s real identity but massive kudos to Top Gear for getting Schumacher (and his weird Bacardi commercial) on telly last night.