The six contenders for the BBC sports personality of the year award have been revealed.
Every name was revealed in Ballon D’or style, with the first name confirmed on Greg James’s BBC Radio one breakfast show and the other nominees being trumpeted as the day went on.
The candidates are athletics world champions Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson; Welsh rugby union stalwart Alun Wyn Jones; Manchester City’s treble-winning winger Raheem Sterling; cricket sensation Ben Stokes; and Formula one’s six-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, vying for the coveted award.
The group will go head-to-head in a public vote on the night of the show, which is being staged at the P&J Live in Aberdeen on December 15.
Cricketer Ben Stokes, who was the architect of England’s maiden victory in cricket’s World Cup is currently the bookmakers’ favourite to win the coveted prize, although there is lots of support for Asher-Smith and Hamilton as well.
Along with the main award, other accolades such as World Sport Star of the Year, Greatest Sporting Moment of the Year, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Helen Rollason Award, Get Inspired Unsung Hero Award and Young Sports Personality of the Year are all up for grabs.
The panel of judges also promises to be as star-studded as the contenders list.
It includes former Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas, Cricket World Cup winner Ebony Rainford-Brent, tennis coach Judy Murray and Olympians Denise Lewis and James Cracknell who are taking up seats on the panel.
Representing the BBC are director of sport, Barbara Slater, head of TV sport, Philip Bernie, and sports personality executive editor Carl Doran.
Last year’s competition was marked by Welsh cyclist and Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas taking home the trophy ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and England striker Harry Kane.
The award has been a showcase of British sporting greatness since its inception in 1954, and the stage is now set for the next generation of sporting legends to be heralded.
Scottish singers Lewis Capaldi and Emeli Sandé will be playing at the awards ceremony.
