Ben Stokes was the people’s choice to win the 2019 Sports Personality of the Year for his heroics in one of the most memorable summer’s in England cricket history. Dina Asher-Smith, Lewis Hamilton, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Alun Wyn Jones and Raheem Sterling were all champions in their own right, but it was Stokes who edged out the other nominees to become the first cricketer to win since 2005. Below you can recap all the action and all the winners from every other award below.
Sports Personality of the Year 2019 LIVE updates (Image: GETTY)
Winner Ben Stokes gets emotional in speech to his wife
“You are a rock. You always have been and always will be. I wish you could come up here to share this moment with me.
“I love you so much and I’m so proud to call you my wife.
“I’m just going to have to end it on that!”
BEN STOKES CROWNED SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2019
1st Ben Stokes
2nd Lewis Hamilton
3rd Dina Asher-Smith
Katarina Johnson-Thompson became world champion at the 2019 World Championships (Image: GETTY)
Greatest Sporting Moment of 2019 – Joss Buttler breaking the stumps to seal England’s cricket World Cup victory
Team of the Year 2019 – England’s World Cup cricket team
Can’t say it was going to be a huge shock this one. Nobody even knew what a super over was and now it’s the favourite two words of the English public.
Hard to believe it was their first World Cup win.
Women’s World Cup
Easy to forget how much the Women’s World Cup actually captivated the country. Fans got behind the Lionesses and we were all with Steph Houghton when she slumped to the floor after that missed penalty against USA. The tournament itself was heralded as a huge step forward.
But as Megan Rapinoe said: “Is it enough to play in the greatest Women’s World Cup we’ve ever seen?”
She answers by saying no.
Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 – Tanni Grey-Thompson
An 11-time Paralympic champion, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has helped put Paralympics on the map and is still doing her part in making her voice heard at the House of Lords.
A truly inspirational woman who clearly wants to do her part on helping the next generation.
“For the young people of today, we have to ensure they have an opportunity to be active and to play sport,” she said.
Coach of the Year 2019 – John Blackie
Seamless from the BBC moving from Dina Asher-Smith’s segment to awarding her coach John Blackie as the coach of the year.
He’s been coaching Dina since she was 8 years old and the world champion often refers to Blackie as her “second dad”.
Raheem Sterling has enjoyed a stellar 2019 campaign (Image: GETTY)
Dina Asher-Smith
The fastest female Briton of all time. That’s a sensational tag line to hold but one step bigger is calling yourself champion of the world.
One of the most charming and endearing sport stars coupled with a ruthless track record [not apologising for that].
Lewis Hamilton
I still don’t understand how this guy doesn’t get the credit he deserves. The seven world championships Michael Schumacher won was seen as unachievable by many but equally saw him regarded as the world’s greatest. Lewis Hamilton should be lauded in the same manner.
That’s my five cents though…
Alun Wyn Jones led Wales to a Grand Slam victory this year (Image: GETTY)
Unsung Hero 2019 – Keiren Thompson
Eliud Kipchoge, who will pick up the World Sport Star of the Year award, is presenting the Unsung Hero award.
An inspirational man who broke the two-hour marathon mark at a special event in Vienna.
A personal favourite of mine this award because these are people often seen as superheroes by those they have an affect on yet possibly don’t get the recognition.
Keiren Thompson, who runs the community project Helping Kids Achieve in Bulwell in Nottingham, sounds like an inspirational man and those kids he works with clearly look up to him like an idol.
Ben Stokes
Almost fitting that the programme moves on to Ben Stokes [Apparently already SPOTY 2019 winner].
It’s hard not to get goosebumps from that frenetic World Cup final win over New Zealand in the super over and then his heroics at The Ashes.
Oh Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker has had to backtrack after introducing Ben Stokes as the winner of the Sports Personality of the Year!
Voting still isn’t open yet though…
Geraint Thomas won the 2018 Sports Personality of the Year (Image: PA)
Helen Rollason Award 2019 – Doddie Weir
A rousing reception as Doddie Weir comes to the collect the Helen Rollason Award.
The 49-year-old was diagnosed with motor neurone disease three years ago, but he has continued to battle the disease, raising millions of pounds in the hope of finding a cure and Princess Anne, who is a patron of the Scottish MND society, does the honours.
“This is the closest I’ve ever got to a trophy,” jokes Weir! “What a great christmas present this has been,” he adds
Alun Wyn Jones
The gentleman of Welsh rugby. At 34 years of age, Alun Wyn Jones has epitomised everything good about Welsh rugby over the past few years and still performs at the top level.
He led his country to a Grand Slam victory at the Six Nations, where he was named Player of the Championship. He was also instrumental in Wales reaching the semi-finals at the Rugby World Cup.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson
Following immediately in Jessica Ennis-Hill’s footsteps was never going to be an easy task and Katarina Johnson-Thompson has had to come through some hardships in recent years.
2018 saw a promising step back to the elite but it’s 2019 where she truly rose to the world stage. She defeated great rival Nafi Thiam to become world champion in Doha and in the process break Ennis-Hill’s British record.
An emotional VT to introduce her to the stage voiced over by comedian-actor Ricky Tomlinson and it clearly had an effect on KJT.
“That VT had me crying back there, I’m a bit emotional,” KJT says as she comes on stage.
Raheem Sterling
A great opening statement from Gary Lineker introducing the first nominee of the night – Raheem Sterling.
Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year as well as shining for England on the world stage and of course winning the Premier League with Manchester City.
But as well as his excellence on the field, it’s been his bravery in speaking out against racism and using his platform to raise the issue.
Dina Asher-Smith became the first British woman to win a global sprint title (Image: GETTY)
Football moments of the year
Beginning with a look back some of the best footballing moments of 2019. Kicks off with a look back at the treble-treble winning season for Celtic.
Now Vincent Kompany with a monologue of their title-winning campaign. Look away Liverpool fans…
2018 winner
A chance to look back on last year’s winner in Geraint Thomas, who pipped Lewis Hamilton and Harry Kane to the 2018 crown. The Welshman became only the third ever British cyclist to win the famed Tour de France.
Register to vote
The voting process takes places throughout the two-hour programme this evening and viewers have a number of options to place their vote.
The voting will be open as announced in the show and you can either place your vote by phone or for free online.
If voting online, you will need a BBC account and for those hoping to vote by phone, numbers will be displayed throughout the programme.
18:30: Hello and welcome to Express Sport’s live coverage of tonight’s Sports Personality of the Year awards. Below is a rundown of the six nominees with the programme set to get underway in 30 minutes. Stay tuned for live updates throughout!
Lewis Hamilton is now just one behind Michael Schumacher’s all-time record (Image: GETTY)
Dina Asher-Smith
The British sprint star followed up her stellar 2018 campaign with another record-breaking season this year, highlighted with her 200m gold at the World Championships in Doha – becoming the first British woman to win a global sprint title.
There are high hopes her success will continue next year at the Tokyo Olympics meaning she could get a third consecutive nomination.
Lewis Hamilton
At 34 years old, Hamilton remains on track to doing the unthinkable of matching Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world championships.
Formula One holds pedigree in the Sports Personality, having had seven winners in the past – Hamilton having already won back in 2014.
Ben Stokes
Cricket isn’t usually a popular choice for the Sports Personality of the Year award but Stokes has enjoyed an exceptional 2019.
His efforts in England’s unbelievable World Cup win over New Zealand coupled by his Ashes heroics at Headingley captivated a country and helped revive interest in the sport.
Ben Stokes provided one of the most captivating moments in sport this summer (Image: GETTY)
Katarina Johnson-Thompson
At the 2018 European Championships, Johnson-Thompson was outperformed by great rival Nafi Thiam but the 2019 World Championships were a different story.
The Liverpudlian dominated the heptathlon, putting in four personal bests which led her to breaking Jessica Ennis‑Hill’s national record of 6981 points to clinch gold and make her case for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Raheem Sterling
While Raheem Sterling was a key cog in Manchester City’s title-winning season last year along with impressing once again for England on the world stage, he has also become a pioneer off the field in the fight against racism.
His peers have praised him for speaking out bravely and eloquently on the divisive matter and using his platform to try and combat the problem of discrimination.
Alun Wyn Jones
Like a fine wine, Alun Wyn Jones has aged gracefully with 2019 being yet another phenomena year for the legendary captain as he led Wales to a Grand Slam at the Six Nations.
And despite being one of the oldest players at the Rugby World Cup, Wyn Jones proved he can still mix it with the best on a global stage as he led his country to the last four.