BBC revamps Sports Personality awards after row over online vote
THE BBC’S Sports Personality of the Year show will be overhauled after anger last year over online lobbying campaigns distorting results.
For the first time, the shortlist will be announced on the same live show that the winner is confirmed.
The corporation said the changes would give the show more room to tell the story of the sporting year and denied the new format was connected to recent controversial results in the public vote.
Viewers complained last year after Anthony Joshua, the world champion boxer, was snubbed from a spot in the top three, while Jonathan Rea, a comparative unknown world superbike champion, finished second after online campaigns to get him nominated.
Instead of announcing more than 10 sporting figures weeks in advance, the BBC will now announce just six on the night. Barbara Slater, head of sport, said: “We’ve had a concern around the amount of time we have to tell the story of the sporting year. We’ve had some extraordinary sporting occasions that we’ve had to condense into seconds.
“It used to be called the Sports Review of the Year with an award at the end of it but I think, as the number of nominees has grown, it’s been more led by individuals than the tale of the sporting year. So the aim has been to get that balance back.”
Also, the Overseas Sports Personality of the Year will become World Sports Star of the Year – and viewers abroad can vote for the first time. Gabby Logan, who will co-host the show again with Clare Balding and Gary Lineker, explained that by cutting the shortlist, they are also reducing the number of films they have to fit in that recap each nominee’s achievements, as well as onstage interviews.
“Last year, we only had 90 seconds to review the entire rugby season,” said Logan. “These changes will give us more space to really reflect on the whole year, as well as giving us another gasp moment at the top of the show.”
As before, the shortlist will be chosen by a panel of experts in November and the winner will be decided after a 25-minute public voting window on the night. There will also be a new prize for the Greatest Sporting Moment of the Year but Coach of the Year, the Helen Rollason award, Lifetime Achievement, Team of the Year and Unsung Hero remain unchanged.
Geraint Thomas, the Tour de France winner, is the favourite to follow Sir Mo Farah’s 2017 success.