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The BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony is fast approaching, with some of the biggest names in the industry gathering to honour the UK’s brightest and best sportsmen and women.
The past year has seen a series of major events, with England’s Lionesses reaching the World Cup final, only to be knocked out by Spain.
Elsewhere, England’s Men’s Test cricket team saw batsman Stuart Broad bowing out of the game with a fairytale ending.
Viewers can vote for their favourite sports star in tonight’s live ceremony.
Who is shortlisted for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year?
- Stuart Broad (cricket)
- Frankie Dettori (horse racing)
- Mary Earps (football)
- Alfie Hewett (wheelchair tennis)
- Katarina Johnson-Thompson (athletics)
- Rory McIlroy (golf)
The Lionesses’ goalkeeper is the favourite to scoop tonight’s award, after her outstanding displays at this summer’s World Cup. She ended the tournament with the Golden Glove after conceding just four goals and keeping three clean sheets.
She was voted England Women’s Player of the Year for 2022/23, finished fifth in the voting for the Ballon d’Or, and was vital to England’s inaugural Women’s Finalissima win over Brazil in April, which went to penalties.
Earps also won the 2023 Women’s Super League Golden Glove with Manchester United.
If she wins the award she will succeed her teammate Beth Mead, who became the first women’s footballer to be named Sports Personality of the Year last year.
Stuart Broad
Broad’s nomination comes after his retirement from cricket, but he could barely have gone out with a better ending.
He now has the most wickets of any Englishman against Australia, and he ended his career with 604 Test wickets – fifth in the all-time list and behind only his great friend James Anderson among fast bowlers.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson
The Liverpool-born heptathlete came back from injury to win her second world title in Budapest this year. She claimed her first world crown in Doha in 2019.
Her build-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was undermined by an Achilles injury and it flared up during the 200 metres, forcing her to pull out. The 30-year-old bounced back with a Commonwealth Games title in Birmingham last year and then conquered the world again in Hungary.
Frankie Dettori
The three-time British flat racing champion jockey triumphed in two British classics this year, winning the 2000 Guineas on Chaldean and the Oaks on Soul Sister.
Milan-born Dettori, 52, announced last December that he would retire after this year, but in October he revealed plans to move to California and continue to race in the United States and on the international circuit.
Rory McIlroy
The Northern Irish professional golfer was Europe’s top scorer, winning four out of five matches as the team bounced back from their heaviest defeat to the United States in the 2021 to triumph in this year’s Ryder Cup – the fifth time he has won the event.
Four-time major champion McIlroy, 34, also registered 13 top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour in 2023, won the Scottish Open, retained the Race to Dubai and spent time in the world No 1 spot.
Alfie Hewett
In 2023, World No 1 wheelchair tennis player Hewett was singles champion at both the Australian Open and US Open and runner-up in the French Open and Wimbledon tournaments.
In doubles, he claimed three out of the grand slam titles alongside Gordon Reid. The 26-year-old also helped Great Britain win the World Team Cup.
When is Sports Personality of the Year 2023?
The Sports Personality of the Year 2023 live show is on Tuesday 19 December at 7pm from MediaCityUK in Salford.
It will be shown live on BBC One, with Gary Lineker, Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott on presenting duties.
The following awards will be handed out on the night:
- 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
How can I vote for BBC Sports Personality of the Year?
Votes can be cast by phone or online during the show. The number to call for each contender will be revealed during the programme.
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