And that is that. For the second year in a row, an England women’s footballer claims the top gong at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards. Did we ever think we’d see the day? Congratulations to Mary Earps and all tongiht’s winners and let me join Clare Balding in wishing everyone a merry Christmas.
Mary Earps speaks ...
First of all I’d like to say how humbled I am to be on a list of such incredible athletes,” says the England goalkeeper. “I’ve really enjoyed hearing your stories tonight and I’ve resally loved hearing your stories tonight. congratulations to you all.
“Thanks for voting for me, everyone who voted for me; I probably should have said that first. For me, this is the ultimate all round sporting accolade and this is just … wow. It’s not been the easiest journey and I wqouldn’t be where I am today without having a number of incredible people in my corner, so I’d just like to say thank you to them.”
Sports Personality of the Year 2023
And the winner is: Mary Earps
In Second place: Stuart Broad
In third place: Katrina Johnson-Thompson
It’s a one-two for Nottingham as Mary Earps beats Stuart Broad into second place, with Liverpool’s Katrina Johnson-Thompson taking third place.
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RIP: it’s time for a gear change as tribute is paid to the many sports people who have lost their lives this year. Bobby Charlton gets a special mention before respects are paid to all those who have passed in the past 12 months.
Team and Coach of the year awards ...
It’s Manchester City and Pep Guardiola, who have taken time out from winning their Club World Cup semi-final against Uwara Reds to post video messages from club captain Kyle Walker and Pep. “Have a lovely evening, I am so jealous and hopefully I can be there next time,” says the boss.
Lifetime Achievement award
A gong previously won by Billie Jean King, Pele, Sir Bobby Charlton, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, David Beckham, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Sir Chris Hoy, Simone Biles and Usain Bolt, this year’s Lifetime Achievement award goes to Sir Kenny Dalglish.
A goalscoring legend with Celtic and Liverpool who represented Scotland at three World Cups before turning his hand to successful spells in management with Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers, Dalglish and his wife Marina have also raised over £10m for a variety of charities including the Marina Dalglish Appeal that raises funds for cancer care. Still a regular attendee at Anfield, in 2017 Anfield’s Centenary Stand was renamed the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand in his honour and he was knighted in 2018 for “services to football, charity and the city of Liverpool”.
“Kenny has dedicated so much of his life to football, both on the pitch and as a manager,” said BBC Director of Sport Barbara Slater. “Kenny has dedicated so much of his life to football, both on the pitch and as a manager. He’s broken records for club and country, and always shown himself as a true leader, especially through the tragedy of Hillsborough in 1989 and the years to follow. Kenny is a true inspiration and a deserved winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement award.”
“It wasn’t until the invention of YouTube that I realised how good he was,” laughs his daughter Kelly in one of the more memorable lines from his highlights showreel.
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World Sports Star of the Year award
Erling Haaland takes the gong but is unable to be present as he’s in Saudi Arabia on official Manchester City club business.
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Rugby World Cup: We’re reminded of South Africa’s win over New Zealand in the final of a tournament most of us who follow northern hemisphere rugby would probably rather forget.
Helen Rollason Award
Named in honour of the late TV presenter and journalist and presented “for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity”, this year’s award goes to former javelin champion Fatima Whitbread, who was abandoned as a baby and overcame physical and sexual abuse in children’s homes to conquer the world. She did so spurred on by the help and love of Margaret Whitbread, a javelin coach who eventually asked a young Fatima to become part of her family.
“I feel very nervous, I’m really sorry,” she says. “This is a very special award because Helen was a friend. She’s given me the opportuinty to stand on this stage and speak out for our children. I represent the care system sector and celebrate our young children and the remarkable resilience they show.”
More fleeting mentions: Following an interview with Andy Robertson about the rude health of Scottish fitba, County Cricket, canoeing, rowing, triathlon, gymnastics, club rugby league, Max Verstappen and Ronnie O’Sullivan all get their annual nods.
Unsung Hero of the Year award
The Unsung Hero award celebrates volunteers who make a positive impact on their community by enabling participation in grassroots sports. There are 15 regional nominees for the award this year and they were announced earlier this week. Congratulations to …
Chloe Gibson (East Midlands)
Desmond Smith (Yorkshire)
Gareth Mahood (Northern Ireland)
Hamsa Hassan (West)
Hannah Escott (West Midlands)
Kate O’Sullivan (North East & Cumbria)
Khadija Patel (North West)
Lamin Faal (South East)
Megan Allen (London)
Melvyn Hamer (Cymru Wales)
Rachael Hutchinson (East)
Ruby McDonald (Scotland)
Sadie Merrien (South West)
Steph Atkinson (East Yorks & Lincs)
Terry Dennis (South)
The winner is Desmond Smith, a memebr of the Windrush Gerneation who is the chairman of Sheffield Caribbean Sports Club. He receives his award from Denise Lewis.
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Rory McIlroy: The final nominee for tonight’s main award is uinable to be at the cderemony, so Fleetwood is there to speak on his behalf. “He takes on crazy things that a lot of us try to talk him out of,” he says of his teammate.
Golf: The Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup get The Treatment, with Europe having prevailed over the USA in both. Cue: an entirely justified Rory McIlroy love-in helmed by his teammates Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry. The Irishman was instrumental in prompting salty tears of sadness and rage from assorted Americans as Europe triumphed in Rome.
Mary Earps: The Manchester United and England goalkeeper is the favourite to win tonight’s main award and it’s not difficult to see why as the latest contender is profiled at tonight’s ceremony. She’s extremely likeable, an excellent player and her effing and jeffing during the World Cup final endeared her to many. “I’m goping to try this Christmas to try to get some time to reflect on it all,” she says of the past couple of years. “I can’t believe I’m up here on this stage, even if it took a while walking in this dress and these heels.”
Women’s World Cup: While you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise, given the blanket adulation to which they are subjected, the Lionesses didn’t actually win the Women’s World Cup but they did give it a right good go, making lots of new friends along the way, before losing out in a final that was sadly eclipsed by the controversy which surrounded Spain’s trophy-lift. Needless to say, it was a male football administrator who succeeded in stealing the thunder of his female compatriots. The gobshite.
Stuart Broad: Contender No4 on tonight’s Spoty shortlist, Broad called time on his career this summer after bowling his final ball against Australia. Having hit his final ball for six with the bat, he took a wicket at the Oval with his final career delivery from his hand. “I played with a lot of pride and I think I left my heart and soul with it,” he says. In tonight’s audience, the love of his life Mollie King is sitting alongside the love of his cricket life Jimmy Anderson.
The summer in cricket: The men’s and women’s Ashes series come under the microscope and from an English perspective, the less said about either the better. Methinks an interview with Stuart Broad may be coming down the pipe.
Netball: England’s defeat at the hands of Australia in the World Cup gets the montage treatment.
Young Sports Personality of the Year
The first gong of the night is presented by swimmer Ellie Simmonds and footballer Leah Williamson and goes to snowboarding’s youngest ever world champion Mia Brookes. She’s just 16 years old!
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More token mentions: Taekwondo, the Tour de France, the Derby, the British Grand Prix, Formula E, the French Open, the Special Olympics, the World Swimming Championships, the World Paralympic Games, assorted golf majors, basketball, modern pentathlon, club rugby, and the Men’s and Women’s Challenge Cups are all given their brief moment in the spotlight.
Alfie Hewitt: Born with two holes in his heart, Alfie lost the use of his legs as a seven-year-old child but overcame his hatred of and contempt for his condition by getting into wheelchair tennis. He’s won 26 Grand Slams and now considers his disability “the best thing that’s ever happened to me”. He’s tonight’s third nominee for the Big One. “Tennis means everything to me,” her tells Clare Balding. “Being active, competitive and travelling the world … when I look at the career that I’ve had and to be on the stage here tonight, it’s something that I’m really grateful for.”
Tennis: Strictly star Annabel Croft is called upon to “quickstep” us through this year’s Wimbledon. Carlos Alcaraz won the men’s singles and Marketa Vondrousova won the women’s singles, you’ll recall.
Football: Because West Ham won the Europa Conference League, professional Cockney Danny Dyer has been tasked with doing the voiceover of the year in football. The package he “ooh-err guvnors” over is followed by a focus on Manchester City’s treble that features Noel Gallagher, because why wouldn’t it. Pep Guardiola’s men are currently playing in the semi-final of the Club World Cup and you can follow the action from that here …
Frankie Dettori: The famous Flat Jockey may have been the first campmate voted off I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!, but don’t let that fool you – he’s a seriously popular man. The second of tonight’s nominees to get the once-over, he comes live from France, where he is on holidays with his family.
“I know how important this is for everyone, so I’m very sorry I can’t be there,” he says. “Racing to me is very important but other sports obviously appeal to a wider audience. So just to be in the final six, I already fdeel like a winner. APart from Stuart Broad, none of the other nominees were even born when I started racing.”
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Token mention corner: Snooker, darts, skiing, American football, rugby league, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Grand National, gymnastics, curling, the Masters and marathon running are among several sports glossed over in a dinky little package.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson: The popular Scouse heptathlete put a serious, careeer-threatening achilles injury behind her to win this year’s World Championships in Budapest and is the first of tonight’s Spoty nominees to come under the microscope. “To become World Champion after everything she’s been through is just … magic,” says Denise Lewis.
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It’s gone Pete Tong early doors: The camera cuts to Gaby Logan who is, I think introducing a quick recap on the year in athletics. Somebody’s forgotten to turn her microphone on so I’m just guessing because now she’s talking to 1,500m World Champion Josh Kerr and top Paralympian Hannah Cockroft.
And it’s live! Gary gets tonight’s first word in, opening proceedings from the red carpet, followed by Alex and Clare. Unless I missed her, one suspects Gaby is keeping her powder dry on until the portentous musical introduction is over. This reporter isn’t as down with the kids as he used to be but I’d bet my bottom dollar the top DJ on decks accompanying the musicians is … well, let’s just hope that’s as Pete Tong as things go tonight. “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your hosts for the evening Alex Scott and Clare Balding,” he says. “And Gaby Logan and Gary Lineker.”
What an honour to be shortlisted for this evening's #SPOTY award.
— Frankie Dettori (@FrankieDettori) December 19, 2023
You've made this year so special. Sport is nothing without fans. Yes, we might create the action, but you make the moment matter.
Whatever happens tonight, thank you all for making this such a year to remember. pic.twitter.com/EX2m1CMX1u
Young Sports Personality of the Year
The top three contenders have already been chosen by a judging panel made up of former winners comprising Theo Walcott, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. The shortlist was announced on Blue Peter at the beginning of the month. They are …
Mia Brookes (snowboarding): “This year has been unreal, and to get a nomination for Young Sports Personality of the year is an incredible way to sum it up,” said the 16-year-old from Cheshire. “A year ago, I’d never have believed I’d be in this position, and I’m just really grateful to everyone - my family, my coaches, the whole team - for supporting me along the way.”
Penny Healey (archery): “I feel honoured to have been shortlisted for the Young Sports Personality of the Year award!,” said the 18-year-old from Shropshire. “It’s been a great year and being nominated for this award on top of that makes it even better.”
Charlie McIntyre (wheelchair basketball): “I am absolutely honoured to have even made it on the list for the Young Sports Personality of the Year, let alone to have made it in the top three contenders,” said the 18-year-old from Essex. “It feels so amazing! I am lost for words, but I guess I would just like to thank every person who has followed or helped me along my path so far.”
Sports Personality of the Year Awards
Sports Personality of the Year
World Sport Star of the Year
Helen Rollason Award
Young Sports Personality of the Year
Unsung Hero
Coach of the Year
Team of the Year
Lifetime Achievement award
Sports Personality of the Year shortlist
Stuart Broad (Cricket)
Frankie Dettori (Horse Racing)
Mary Earps (Football)
Alfie Hewett (Wheelchair Tennis)
Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Athletics)
Rory Mcllroy (Golf)
BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023
The Sports Personality of the Year Awards are upon us again. For some, they are a warm festive televisual comfort blanket, while others see them as an increasingly anachronistic exercise in box-ticking. Whatever your view, this annual orgy of often self-congratulatory backslapping is now celebrating its platinum jubilee and will tonight be hosted by BBC royalty in the form of Gary Lineker, Alex Scott, Gabby Logan and Clare Balding.
Tonight’s ceremony comes from Media City in Salford, where the good and the great of domestic and international sport will assemble, while the majority of the audience, the viewing public, will tune in from their living rooms.
An always amusing annual exercise in the generation of often inexplicable white-hot fury on the part of viewers who apparently remain oblivious to the fact it is neither compulsory viewing nor very important in the cosmic or even sporting scheme of things, Spoty remains many things to many people, all of whom are very welcome to our live coverage this evening.
In the 12 months of sporting endeavour just passed, we have seen England’s Lionesses make it to the Women’s World Cup final, Europe’s golfers winning the Ryder Cup and England being robbed (yes, robbed!) of outright victory in the Ashes through a heady mix of what can only be described as unfair dinkum on the part of both their Australian opponents and the weather.
Elsewhere, assorted representatives of Team GB enjoyed success at the World Athletics Championships, UCI Cycling World Championships, while England’s rugby players earned themselves a tip of the hat for defying the expectations of many by reaching the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup.
In football, Manchester City hogged the limelight by securing the treble, while we can also expect to see more sedate but no less entertaining disciplines such as snooker, darts and bowls enjoy their fleeting 10 seconds of annual Spoty fame in tonight’s obligatory montages devoted to Sports We Are Obliged To Mention But Don’t Really Have Time To Dwell On This Year. For one reason or another, we can expect to see Wimbledon, the Tour de France, Formula One, the Grand National, the Open, the Derby, the Boat Race and assorted Lycra-clad athletes you’ve never heard of gadding about on ice or parallel bars get perfunctory mentions, along with whatever sport you’re really into that we’ve accidentally overlooked here.
Tonight’s Sports Personality of the Year awards shindig is scheduled to last two hours but will almost certainly feel a lot longer and will see eight different gongs handed out, culminating in the presentation of the Big One to an athlete whose ownership of a “personality” worthy of the award will subsequently be debated at great and tedious length on Twitter/X.
In a ceremony boasting more gear changes from Lineker and his co-hosts than Lewis Hamilton negotiating a hairpin bend there’ll be fun bits, sad bits, jingoistic bits, poignant bits, some music and almost certainly a wacky turn from somebody that may or may not be a famous YouTuber or James Cordon.
Whatever this evening’s soiree throws at us, we’ll have you covered and as is customary come evening’s end, we’ll still be no closer to reaching a satisfactory conclusion to the interminable debate over whether or not darts has earned the right to call itself a sport.
