“In 2010, we were rock bottom, and now we’re the best in the world. I dedicate my life to this sport, I work every day to try and make you proud, so thank you all for voting”. A short, sweet speech from Murray, an entirely deserving winner, and a thoroughly nice bloke. For reasons I won’t go into again, that feels appropriate. Thanks for joining me. Bye!
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Murray: “I didn’t expect this... a friend sent me an article saying ‘Andy Murray is duller than a weekend in Worthing’, which I thought was a bit harsh... to Worthing.’ He’s here all week, folks.
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Andy Murray wins Sports Personality of the Year 2015!
Never really in doubt, as Davis Cup king Murray collects his second Spoty prize.
Second place: Kevin Sinfield
A surprise there, as rugby league legend Sinfield bags second place...
Third place: Jessica Ennis-Hill
Bronze for world champion Ennis-Hill, who was second in 2012.
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It’s time, and only a few minutes behind schedule, Barry McGuigan and Dan Carter are out to announce the top three...
Voting is closed. There’s now a pause to remember the departed sporting legends of 2015, beginning with Jimmy Hill. Lizzie Jones, whose husband Danny died in May while playing for rugby league team Keighley, is on stage, singing ‘Danny Boy’. There are too many names to list here, but it’s a poignant, fitting tribute.
Dame Mary Peters and Martin O’Neill are out to present the next award, for Team of the Year. If they’re not careful, they’ll only have Fergal Sharkey left to do the main prize.
The Team of the Year, unsurprisingly, is the Great Britain Davis Cup team. Leon Smith gives a speech, and says it was all down to Andy Murray praises the fans, the backroom staff, the team’s families, etc. “What I hope this achieves is a lasting legacy for tennis, getting as many kids into this great sport as we can”.
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Perhaps, on this heady night in Northern Ireland, we’ll have a moment for Michael Conlan, the Belfast amateur boxer who won the BBC NI and RTE awards for sportsperson of the year? No, instead it’s time for a montage of the show so far. Please, no more montages.
James Nesbitt is doing a bit on Northern Ireland’s Euro 2016 qualification, eyebrows popping all over the place. I zoned out, to be honest, but it leads into the Coach of the Year award, which goes to... Michael O’Neill!
A crowd-pleaser, but it’s hard to argue with that choice. He had only coached Brechin City and Shamrock Rovers before leading his team to their first ever European qualification. O’Neill is grateful to his backroom staff, his wife and kids, and the IFA for not firing him a couple of years ago.
On his team, he says “we don’t have the greatest players in the world, but they work hard, they represent both sides of the community, and they’re proud to play for Northern Ireland”. Fair play.
By the way, if you actually want to vote for this, here’s how you do it.
Presenting the Unsung Hero award, it’s wheelchair tennis superstar Jordanne Whiley, and Eddie Izzard. The award goes to Damien Lindsay, a community football coach who has set up a team, St James Swifts, in one of West Belfast’s most troubled areas, continuing to take training even when gunshots were ringing out nearby.
Autumn: Golden Horn wins the Arc d’Triomphe, a bad-tempered end to the MOTO GP season, Alastair Cook’s 13-hour stand against Pakistan and Conor McGregor’s 13-second UFC knockout win. And Jamie Vardy. Remember him?
Staying with rugby, it’s time for a stirring montage of the Rugby World Cup, followed by the introduction of overseas sports personality of the year, Dan Carter.
Carter was at the heart of an exceptional, utterly deserving All Blacks side who took a second straight trophy, with Carter himself making up for missing the 2011 final on home soil. If you could only watch ten seconds of sport from this year ever again, though, it would surely be this.
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Anyway, the last day of the Six Nations. That was pretty good, wasn’t it?
Twitter reaction to Fury’s appearance seems to be less than glowing. To be honest, I’m not sure what else could be gained from a hurried live appearance. You could argue that the damage has been done. Lineker at least asked the question. Perhaps I’m just glad it wasn’t any worse.
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Nominee: Andy Murray
We move swiftly on to the final nominee, and the hot favourite to land a second Spoty trophy. John McEnroe talks us through it, shouting “are you kidding me?” a lot. This year’s is a list with plenty of astonishing achievements – but Britain winning the Davis Cup? Are you kidding me, indeed.
Murray is on stage with his team-mates, and the Davis Cup. Murray says he feels bad standing separately from the rest of the team, and looks a touch emotional. Clare Balding reminds him that he won 11 points in the run to victory. They both have a point.
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Nominee: Tyson Fury
Fury is sitting on a bench, talking through his victory over Klitschko, repeating the same rhetoric that seems so ridiculous in the build up, when it seemed Klitschko would wreak vengeance on the arch irritant. It still seems amazing that he ended the Ukrainian’s run, but end it he did, and deservedly so.
He’s on stage, entering from the back of the stage. There’s applause – but not from Greg Rutherford. “Shall we start with the fight?” says a nervous Gary Lineker. “It’s taken me 27 years to get here... there’s seven billion people in the world, and there’s only one heavyweight champion.” Actually, there’s two, but still.
Lineker then moves onto the thornier issue of his recent comments. After pretending not to understand the question, he says “I’ve said a lot of stuff, and none of it’s with intention to hurt anybody. I’m not really a serious person. If I said anything to hurt anybody, I apologise.” His contrition is greeted with a mild round of applause.
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Time for a quickfire boxing montage, and a segue to our next nominee. It’s Tyson Fury...
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Nominee: Mo Farah
On to Mo Farah, who completed a historic ‘triple double’, winning the 5,000m and 10,000m at two world championships, and the 2012 Olympics, as if you’d forgotten. Farah has not had an entirely straightforward year, of course, but UK Athletics cleared him to continue working with Alberto Salazar back in September. He’s warmly received by the crowd as he’s beamed in from a sparse hotel room in the States.
Rory McIlroy, last year’s runner up, is out to a predictably warm welcome in Belfast. He’s presenting the Lifetime Achievement award to fellow Northern Ireland native, AP McCoy. McCoy was crowned champion jockey 20 times in an extraordinary career in the saddle, before retiring to widespread acclaim this year.
He says that of all of his achievements, that one precious Grand National win, on Don’t Push It, was his favourite of all. “Racing is a great sport, I was very lucky to live my life as a jockey” says McCoy. “I would like to thank the horses I was able to ride, and the stable lads and lasses who looked after them so well,” and concludes, his voice cracking, “to all the young people watching, make the sacrifices, because it’s worth it”.
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Summer sport highlights! Wimbledon: David Beckham catches a tennis ball, Heather Watson takes Serena to the brink, Serena wins the whole thing, Novak Djokovic (surely the best athlete on the planet this year) wins the men’s title. No Wimbledon 2Day, guys? The rest: Zach Johnson and Jason Day pick up majors, Yorkshire county champions, Chelsea win the women’s FA Cup, and England’s women’s hockey team win a penalty shootout.
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Nominee: Lizzie Armitstead
Armitstead, who dramatically won the women’s world road race in Virginia this year, is shown on the road around her native Yorkshire – which, as she told William Fotheringham, is pretty much all she’s been doing, with Rio only a few months away. Armitstead’s world championship win was all the more impressive, given the horrendous crash she suffered at the Tour of Britain.
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Time for a review of England’s helter-skelter home Ashes victory, narrated by... the weather vane at Lord’s, apparently. A nomination for any of the England team, rather than this nonsense, would have been nice. As Barney Ronay has said, it’s slightly troubling that even Joe Root couldn’t squeeze onto the shortlist.
Nominee: Kevin Sinfield
It could be seen as a Ryan Giggs-esque lifetime achievement nomination, with Sinfield leaving Leeds Rhinos after 19 seasons, but his sporting year is easily good enough, leading his team to a treble. He’s on stage with his entire team, and says he’s representing his team, and all of rugby league.
“Winning the treble after 18 attempts was brilliant... it’s hard enough to win one trophy in this sport”. What would his advice be to youngsters wanting to play rugby? “Don’t do it!” He’s a one, is King Kev.
“How do you follow Bailey?” asks Clare Balding. The answer is rugby league, which always seems to be shunted into an awkward corner in these things. No rugby league player has ever won the award, but Kevin Sinfield has a shot this year.
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The Helen Rollason award, which is of course named after the late sports presenter. The award goes to Bailey Matthews, an 8-year-old boy from Yorkshire with cerebral palsy. Bailey was filmed taking part in a triathlon in July, and the inspiring video spread around the world. You can watch it below, if you feel like getting emotional on a Sunday evening:
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Nominee: Lewis Hamilton
Next up, last year’s surprise winner, Lewis Hamilton. He’s 33-1 to win the award this time, though – looks like the public are bored of having a British multiple world champion.
Hamilton cruised to the title in what was not F1’s finest season; speaking from a snowy Colorado chalet in a silly hat, he says “like so many of the athletes there tonight, I stay focused on that one goal – but I have 1,300 people in my team, so I’m just one link in the chain”. Can he do it next season? “I’m already out here training” he says, before switching off the camera and popping the fondue on.
Spring highlights: Frankie Dettori, Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Bingham, Jordan Spieth, Saracens, Toulon, Mayweather-Pacquaio, Wawrinka beats Djokovic, Wiggins beats the clock, Chelsea’s title, Arsenal’s Cup, and Barcelona’s Champions League all fly by in a technicolour burst.
Nominee: Jessica Ennis-Hill
Ennis-Hill, probably in a straight fight with Andy Murray for the main prize, sits on an exercise bike as her world championship success is projected behind her. She won the heptathlon at the world championships in Beijing just 13 months after having a baby. It’s an incredible achievement.
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Nominee: Chris Froome
Now a look back at Chris Froome’s second Tour de France triumph, achieved in hostile conditions, with the eventual winner having urine thrown over him and pelted with abuse throughout his journey around France. Froome is not here tonight, with his wife having just given birth to son Callum. The fact Chris Froome, a rather matter-of-fact character, hasn’t won this award, and won’t win tonight, neatly demonstrates that personality definitely plays a part.
Young Sports Personality of the Year
The award goes to 16-year-old Ellie Downie, following fellow GB gymnast Claudia Fragapane, who won last year. Tully Kearney and Tom Marquand were also in the top three. Downie was part of the team that won Britain’s first world gymnastics medal, taking bronze in Glasgow, so it is well deserved.
“If you find the TV coverage excruciating, spare a thought for 5 Live listeners who are having to endure John Inverdale” says Stephen Cooper. OK, he didn’t just say ‘John Inverdale’.
Nominee: Max Whitlock
Whitlock, who pipped fellow Briton Louis Smith to world gymnastic gold by 0.1 points, is now on stage, spinning on a piano and breakdancing to Tinie Tempah. It’s so Sports Personality. Impressive skills, nonetheless. He then has to do an interview, clearly out of breath. “Gymnastics is in a really good place, I’ve been to schools near Belfast and had a great reception” he says. Go and have a sit down, Max.
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Nominee: Adam Peaty
Moving swiftly on, it’s time to profile a third nominee, perhaps the individual with the most raw potential of all – swimmer Adam Peaty, who is on the shortlist for the second straight year. The 20-year-old bagged three gold medals at the world championships in Kazan, Russia.
With an Olympics coming up next year, he could finish much closer to the top prize next year. Up on stage, Peaty is a winning mix of modesty and visible inner steel, saying “he’s better at swimming then talking”, then describing his victories with a cold, calculating air. Donald McRae spoke to the ambitious Peaty in August.
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Nominee: Lucy Bronze
The dulcet tones of David Beckham recaps Lucy Bronze’s exceptional summer, as England came third at the Women’s World Cup. “Once we started performing well, the nation started believing in us... we’d never had that before,” says Bronze, on stage with the rest of the team. Bronze was nominated for the Golden Ball, and scored a cracker to seal victory over Norway. Nick Ames had a chat with her back in July.
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We’re now taking a look back at the highlights of 2015’s early months, including José Mourinho’s Chelsea breezing to Capital One Cup glory (it’s been a long year), the Patriots winning the Super Bowl, and Lizzie Yarnold and Dame Sarah Storey continuing to impress. There’s also a very brief mention of the Cricket World Cup.
Nominee: Greg Rutherford
The VT consists of Rutherford popping on a scarf and walking the streets, reminding us of his stellar year. Rutherford added the world title to his 2012 Olympic gold, and kept the heat on British Athletics in an effort to boost his sport’s popular appeal. On stage, he pays tribute to Ayo Falola, his former coach, who sadly lost his battle with cancer this week.
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Clare Balding runs through the nominees again. Fury’s name is greeted with a mixed reception. We’re straight into the nomination VTs... Greg Rutherford is up first.
Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan take to the stage to a frankly rapturous reception. “It’s going to be brilliant, I promise you” says Balding. I’ll hold you to that. Gary Lineker has cut his finger on the award. Not a great start.
Here’s a good shout, from Gary Naylor:
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It's on
We kick off with Ella Henderson and Sigma performing a blandly uplifting number, over a montage of the year’s sporting highlights. The Davis Cup, Usain Bolt, England’s Rugby World Cup campaign, that sort of thing.
The big show gets under way in ten minutes or so. Thoughts and predictions welcome? My predicted top three – 1. Murray 2. Ennis-Hill 3. Fury. My personal top three: 1. Ennis-Hill 2. Murray 3. Froome – on the basis that bookies’ favourite Murray barely wanted this award, even when he didn’t already have one.
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So, what can we expect tonight in addition to back-slapping and blooper reels? Well, there are eight awards to be dished out in total, culminating in the main award at around 9pm. Here are the other seven in more detail.
Lifetime Achievement: An award decided in advance, this year it’ll go to racing great AP McCoy, who retired this year. McCoy won the main award in 2010, and is the first jockey to win the lifetime achievement award.
Overseas Personality: This one is also already sewn up, with New Zealand rugby legend Dan Carter in Belfast to collect the award.
Team of the Year: Self-explanatory. Won by rugby teams in the last two years – first, the British and Irish Lions, and then the England women’s rugby union team. I’d wager Great Britain’s Davis Cup team are in with a shout this time.
Coach Award: Dave Brailsford, Paul McGinley and er, Fabio Capello have won the award for the year’s finest coach in recent years.
Young Sports Personality of the Year: The ten teenage contenders for this award will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Wayne Rooney, Tom Daley and Andy Murray. They are: Brinn Bevan (gymnastics), Sam Curran (cricket), Ellie Downie (gymnastics), Sophie Hahn (Para-athletics), Tully Kearney (Para-swimming), Morgan Lake (athletics), Matthew Lee (diving), Tom Marquand (horse racing), Molly Summerhayes (freestyle skiing) and Rebekah Tiler (weightlifting).
The Helen Rollason Award: An award given for ‘outstanding achievement in the face of adversity’. Previous winners include Hillsborough campaigner Anne Williams, and London bombing survivor and Paralympian Martine Wright.
Unsung Hero: Based on public nominations, fifteen nominees are selected from Britain’s nations and regions for their services to grass-roots sport.
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The latest from outside the SSE Arena in Belfast, which is hosting tonight’s event – the first time it’s taken place in Northern Ireland. As expected, the ceremony is being picketed by gay rights and feminist groups, protesting Fury’s inclusion on the shortlist.
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The nominees
Lizzie Armitstead (cycling)
Lucy Bronze (football)
Jessica Ennis-Hill (athletics)
Mo Farah (athletics)
Chris Froome (cycling)
Tyson Fury (boxing)
Lewis Hamilton (F1)
Andy Murray (tennis)
Adam Peaty (swimming)
Greg Rutherford (athletics)
Kevin Sinfield (rugby league)
Max Whitlock (gymnastics)
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Preamble
Hello, and welcome to a Sports Personality of the Year award show with a difference. One nominee has generated column miles for reasons unrelated to sport. Hint: it’s not Adam Peaty. Opinions are a bit like SPOTY nominations – everyone’s got one. So for what it’s worth, here’s mine.
Tyson Fury achieved something remarkable in his sport this year, and his addition to the shortlist was no great surprise. The comments he has made, and the growing cloud of opprobrium that has been kicked up, have made SPOTY headline news for the first time since the days of Henry Cooper. It has also left the BBC with a name on their own shortlist that they would probably prefer didn’t win.
There are two schools of thought that suggest Fury finishing on any step of the podium is not a problem. First, there’s a misguided, reactionary view that the boxer winning would be one in the eye for political correctness. Then there’s the notion, trotted out by the BBC itself, that the award is for nothing but sporting prowess.
To tackle the second point first, it’s called the Sports Personality of the Year, and viewers can’t go from decrying 2014 winner Lewis Hamilton as too boring, to then neglecting Fury’s views. Spoty is a primetime, family show, and in a year where a same-sex couple were reportedly considered too out there for Strictly, it would be regrettable to see someone who has expressed views that could be considered homophobic lifting the trophy. Besides, nobody can argue that this particular debate, whatever your view, is purely about sport any more.
Leaving Fury on the list was probably the right course of action once the decision had been made, but it has led to an unseemly state of affairs. Fellow nominee Greg Rutherford had to be talked into taking part, presenter Gabby Logan has reservations about Fury winning, while Jessica Ennis-Hill, an extraordinary athlete by any measure, may have to share the spotlight with a man who says she “slaps up good as well”.
Fury’s words, which appear to compare abortion and homosexuality with paedophilia, and in which he says a woman’s “best place is in the kitchen and on her back”, are not just off-colour. In my humble opinion, they are destructive, outdated, even dangerous. Fury has the right to say them, and the vast majority of us have the right to be appalled. Landing a top three finish may only fuel his apparent lack of self-reflection. For that reason, I for one hope it doesn’t happen.
Anyway, there are 11 other contenders, so let’s move on for now. More on all the nominees through the proceedings, and a healthy dose of vaguely familiar athletes in suits, and Sue Barker walking us through the year in bowls. Some things never change.
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