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BBC Sports Personality 2024: When is it and who are the nominees?
Plus, who will host the show, latest odds and what awards will be won
Sports Personality of the year is back for 2024, although Gary Lineker is not, having stood down from most of his BBC roles.
The official shortlist for this year’s BBC jamboree has now been announced with Olympic 800 metres gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson the odds-on favourite to take the crown. There was no place for Mark Cavendish, but Luke Littler, Jude Bellingham and Joe Root do feature.
Last year, England goalkeeper Mary Earps claimed the main prize ahead of Stuart Broad to become the third female winner in a row after a run of 14 consecutive male winners.
What is it?
Sports Personality, commonly known as Spoty, is the BBC’s long-running end-of-year sports review show to crown the Sports Personality of the Year. It remains, for some viewers, one of sport’s most prestigious awards. The shortlist is selected by a panel of sports experts but the public votes for the winner.
When is it?
The event takes place on Tuesday, December 17 with voting open to the public during the programme. TV coverage starts at 7pm (GMT) and will be all over by 9pm.
What channel will it be shown on?
BBC One and BBC iPlayer will have live coverage of the show. Alternatively, you could follow the event by reading our live blog.
Where is it?
The event will be broadcast live from Media City in Salford, where the BBC Sports department is based. This year the BBC has a new head of sport presiding: Alex Kay-Jelski, formerly of The Times and The Athletic, took over the top job in June.
Who will present the show?
Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott will lead the first ever all-female presenting line-up of the show.
Why is Gary Lineker not involved?
Gary Lineker stepped down from presenting duties on the show as part of his phasing out as a leading face of the corporation.
After 23 years, last year’s 70th anniversary was his final show.
This year’s shortlist was drawn up by former athletes Dame Laura Kenny, Iwan Thomas, Ade Adepitan, Nedum Onuoha and Rory Best alongside journalists and broadcasters Eilidh Barbour, Laura Williamson, Eleanor Crooks, Stephanie Hilborne, Alex Kay-Jelski, Philip Bernie and Gabby Cook. They selected:
Keely Hodgkinson
Britain’s new track-and-field queen. Became the country’s first Olympic athletics champion since Sir Mo Farah by powering to 800m gold at Paris 2024. Also won the European title in 2024 and is closing on the near 40 year world record.
Odds: 1/4
Luke Littler
The 16-year-old darts sensation who reached the World Championship final in January before going on to win the Premier League. He also threw four nine-dart finishes in winning more than £1 million and a total of 10 major tournaments in 2024.
Odds: 5/2
Alex Yee
Looked destined for a second successive Olympic triathlon silver medal before producing an incredible late surge to overhaul Hayden Wilde and clinch gold on the banks of the River Seine. He also later added the world triathlon crown.
Odds: 50/1
Sarah Storey
Paralympic swimmer-turned-cyclist who stretched her record-breaking gold medal tally to 19 at Paris 2024. She had won her first Paralympic title in 1992 aged 14. Now 47, she also won a further two world titles this year to take her tally to 39 golds.
Odds: 80/1
Jude Bellingham
Capped a superb debut season at Real Madrid by helping the club to win the Champions League and La Liga before starring in the England team that reached the final of Euro 2024. He also finished third in the Ballon d’Or voting and was named as La Liga Player of the Season.
Odds: 66/1
Joe Root
Surpassed Alastair Cook to become England’s leading Test match run scorer. He also became the first Englishman to reach 20,000 international runs in all forms of the game. His 262 against Pakistan included an England record partnership of 454 with Harry Brook.
Odds: 80/1
Odds with Betfair, December 10
What awards will be won?
As well as the main BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, the other gongs go to World Sports Star of the Year; Helen Rollason award for outstanding achievement in the face of diversity; Young Sports Personality of the Year; Unsung Hero; Coach of the Year; Team of the Year; and the Lifetime Achievement award.
Voting for the World Sport Star award is already open. The contenders are: Simone Biles, the US gymnast who won three gold medals in Paris; Caitlin Clark, the US basketball player who took her first Women’s NBA season by storm; Catherine Debrunner, a Swiss para athlete who won five Paralympic gold medals; Armand Duplantis, the Swedish pole-vaulter who broke his own world record three times; Sifan Hassan, Morocco’s Olympic marathon champion; and Leon Marchand, the poster boy of the Paris Olympics who won four gold medals.
The three nominees for the Young Sports Personality of the Year have also been announced. They are: skateboarder Sky Brown, 16, who won bronze at the Paris Olympics; para swimmer William Ellard, 18, who took home three Paralympic medals; and darts player Luke Littler, 17, who lost the World Championship final then won the Premier League and Grand Slam of Darts.
Who won last year’s award?
Mary Earps beat the former England bowler Stuart Broad in the public vote, with Katarina Johnson-Thompson in third. Alfie Hewett, Rory McIlroy and Frankie Dettori were the other nominees.
“2023 has been wild in ways I couldn’t expect. I’m really, really grateful,” Earps told reporters. “I would not be here without my team-mates because we’ve achieved some incredible things over the last couple of years. While individual accolades are great, they only come after team success. This is their trophy just as much as mine.”