2017 - Red Carpet Show BBC Sports Personality of the Year

Let's cross to Roger Johnson from

BBC Northwest Tonight obvious at the

Sports Personality of the Year.

Hello and welcome to viewers on the

BBC News Channel to the Echo Arena

here in Liverpool, a magnificent

view this evening, and this is what

it's all about. The BBC Sports

personality of the year trophy, 12

contenders who you have just seen,

one of them will be crowned the

winner for 2017 within the space of

a couple of hours this evening.

We are going to be chatting to a lot

of the stars from sporting scenes

and entertainment scenes, as they

make their way into the main event.

First of all, before we get our

first guest, let's take a lack at

some of the amazing sports moments

of 2017 -- take a look.

Some of the amazing memories of 2017

which will be celebrated here

tonight in Liverpool at the Echo

Arena at this year's Sports

Personality of the Year where, as

you can see, the stars have really

come out.

We are here with England football

manager Gareth Southgate. Welcome.

Are you looking forward to a big

night ahead?

Yes, fantastic, always

a brilliant event. This year

obviously we have got a junior

international team well represented

as well so fantastic experience for

them to come here.

Two of them both

world champions. I guess the big

question is, next year, 01, will the

sporting highlight be England

lifting the World Cup?

We were

saying if we have got lots of no

more nations for sports personality

in the next year, we'll be in a

really good place, so that is our

aim, we are really looking forward

to it and yes, it's starting to get

really real now we have got the

draw.

Were you happy with the draw?

Yes. I think because we are one of

the second seeds, the way it works,

you get two teams you are probably

going to be favourites against and

play one team ranked higher, so it's

in our hands now.

Also what I would like to know,

obviously footballers up for

tonight's award, Harry Kane, will

you be getting your mobile out and

voting for him tonight?

There are

some really good people. I've met a

couple of the other guys who've had

incredible years as well. So a lot

of world champions. It's a high bar.

Great for Harry that he's in there,

he's had a fantastic season.

From

your point of view, we were talking

whilst watching the highlights, you

have never seen this before?

No, not

this close. You know, goodness me,

I'm looking at some of the names

1960, I wasn't quite around for

that, but it's such an iconic

trophy, great to see nit the flesh.

It's amazing. Thank you very much

for talking to us. We hope you enjoy

the evening. One of the names on

there I'm absolutely certain is Sir

Steve Redgrave and if we look down

the carpet, there he is, the big man

standing next to Annabel.

I'm joined by previous winner Steve

Redgrave. What year was it when you

won?

2000 Just after the Sydney

Olympics.

Does it feel a long time

ago?

A very long time ago. That was

my last year of competing of 25, the

last 17 years have gone reasonably

quickly.

Obviously you have been

there, so what will the contenders

be feeling tonight and how important

is it to win?

I was nominated a

couple of times before, so it's

excitement, is it going to be me, oh

God what am I going to say if I do

win, and the year that I did win so

they tell me, just afterwards, it

was very one-sided on my side and

everyone knew they was going to win

apart from myself that was sitting

there extremely nervous. I spoke

reasonably well but forgot to

mention my wife.

Never forget to

mention your wife.

Not such a good

thing when she's your team doctor as

well. But no, it was a great evening

and what a thrill to win that

trophy.

For a lot of sportsmen and

women, this sort of thing doesn't

come necessarily naturally to them

walking up and down the red carpet.

I guess you are a bit more used to

it now?

I've been on two or three,

but sports people tend to be more

introverted, related to the actors

and performers, they tend to be more

extroverted. There is a crossover

either way but most sports people

tend to be more combiet and reserved

in some ways.

Are we allowed to ask

you who you might think will win

tonight?

There is two I wouldn't

mind winning, AJ being one and Adam

Peaty being the other. They've both

had fantastic years and one thing

that I always try and say is that

sports personality should be about

what you've actually done in that

year, not what you did in a

lifetime. Maybe my award was more

lifetime achievement than in my one

year.

Very well deserved it was

anyway. Thank you very much for

stopping to talk to us. Have a

lovely evening.

Pleasure. And you.

One of the great things about

standing here is that everybody

wants to stop and have a photograph

taken. That's the first time you

have seen it?

Yes. We were competing

in the Invictus Games in Toronto,

but it's a special night be invited

along. It's going to be amazing.

What were the Invictus Games like.

It looked amazing?

It was. The

atmosphere was incredible. I

competed in the 100 metres, shot

putt and discus and the atmosphere

for every event was invisible. The

support was second to none.

So much

work of the Invictus Games is down

to Prince Harry of course, have you

had a wedding invite?

That would be

nice. No, that would be nice but we

are obviously all in training

already for Sydney next year so we

have got the trials in April then

the selection process. We find out

in May whether we are going to

Sydney next year, but I think it

will be around the time of the Royal

Wedding, so you never know!

All the

best and good luck. Happy customers,

because you had a photo take within

the trophy too.

Annabel, back to you.

Tonight is a celebration of sport

but, as we mentioned, it's also a

celebration about professional

athletes winning medals but also

those that don't always get

mentioned and recognised. The

volunteers at grass roots levels.

Tonight we celebrate them as well

and particularly a very special

coach in Crosby.

I'm Pamela and I'm in Liverpool to

say thank you to a special lady for

her contribution to grass roots

netball. Let's go and meet her.

You have been pretty amazing, doing

so much for grass roots netball.

This is so great. Oh, my God.

I've

come the say thank you so much for

everything you are doing and all the

girls here look like they are having

a great time.

Hello!

This is our

junior netball club, the under-13

section. We are in our fourth year,

started off with five girls, now

we've got 95.

Amazing. I hear you

are coaching Monday, Tuesday,

witnesses, Thursday?

Yes.

I didn't have the opportunities to

get involved with as much netball

when I was younger until I was sort

of 16, 17, so to give these girls

the opportunity now and to give my

two daughters the opportunity to

play and get involved in netball at

a younger age just makes me so happy

to see them and get the parents'

feedback to say how much they love

netball and how much they love being

part of the club and how much

they've made new friends. It makes

it all worthwhile.

She's got so much passion,

enthusiasm and I tell her all the

time, I wish we could bottle it, we

need so much more people like

Michelle for community sport in this

country to really grow and develop

more.

A bit on the angle... That's

it.

It's absolutely amazing to have Pam

ham la here tonight with us in

Crosby -- Pamela. To be recognised,

I'm pretty gobsmacked actually,

pretty speechless about it all, it's

absolutely amazing.

With me now, the Tottenham and

England striker, Harry Kane and of

course one of this evening's

contenders for the award for sports

pers that willty of the year. How

chuffed were you to be nominated for

it?

It was amazing. Something I'm

extremely proud of. A bit of a

surprise, I have to say, but really

excited to be here and looking

forward to the event.

You know the

last footballer to win this award,

Ryan Giggs?

Ryan Giggs, yes.

You

have got to do that?

I know, yes,

obviously Ryan Giggs was incredible,

done so much for the game, so to be

nominated is amazing, of course I

would love to go on and win it and

hold the trophy.

Does it mean a lot

to you? You can win things

professionally in your sports life

but what does it mean to win this

award?

It would be fantastic to be

appreciated by all of the public for

all sports as well, it's something I

would be very proud of so yes,

football's obviously my sport, but

I've always loved doing every sport

when I was a kid growing up in

school as well. It's amazing to be

here.

You have captained England

recently which is a huge honour, I'm

guessing?

It is. Again, as a kid

growing up, that's what you dream of

doing. To have done that and to have

scored as well on the debut, it was

incredible, a moment I'll never

forget.

We have had the youth teams

coming through earlier. They've had

a fantastic year. Do you think they

can go forward into 2018 with such

success?

Yes, hopefully. They've

been fantastic. I'm incredibly proud

to be English and to see what

they've been doing. Yes, it only

drives us players to try to do the

same. It's great to see them here

tonight and hopefully 2018 will be

even better.

We wish you all the

luck, have a fantastic night. Thank

you for speaking to us.

Thank you.

Roger and I have just bumped into

one of the 12 and only Scots to be

nominated for this year's Sports

Personality of the Year award. How

does it feel?

It's amazing. I never

expected to be nominated. It's such

an honour. It feels unreal to be

here and to get a nomination. It's

crazy.

You are looking fabulous,

would you agree tonight? You are

known for having your cool purple

hair, always looking fashionable.

Was tonight a hard choice?

I have

five with me. Some were quirky and

they all persuaded me to go with the

elegant one so I'm happy you are

saying I look good because I wasn't

sure.

Your train is long on that

dress, you need someone to carry it.

He's not having any of it is he?

I'm

a bit too tall. You came close to

giving up in 2014 didn't yourself I

bet you are relieved you didn't?

Oh,

it's amazing. I became word champion

and thought, this is giving back to

everyone that supported med through

the bad time. To come out the other

end and now be nominated for this

award, if you would have said that

four years ago, I would have told

you you were making it up.

How tough

is that. Sam you will probably

appreciate this with your hockey

background, you must have times when

you feel very alone and down. Is it

very difficult to drag yourself back

up?

Yes, of course, everyone has bad

times, where it's hard to get up in

the morning, especially after Sochi,

but you have got to focus on

everyone supporting you, sending you

the love. You have little goals to

reach every day, that is what keeps

me going.

Sochi for you, you train,

you compete, get up at 6am for that

Olympic moment. What things have you

got in store coming up for the next

politician, you have just had

selection, things like that?

Yes,

I'm so excited, only got told this

week.

They were never going to not

pick you?

You never know! I'm just

so excited. I want to go out and

enjoy the Olympics. Sochi was

horrible, I didn't enjoy it, I got

myself in should have good shape and

I know I can win but mainly I want

to enjoy it band happy in front of

the home crowd and not have a

miserable face on the whole time so

I'm looking forward to getting out

there.

We wish you well. Thank you

very much indeed. Elise, one to have

12 nominees. Thank you. We have

heard from Harry Kane and Elise, now

it's Johnny Peacock.

Fresh from last night which was a

big night on celebrity Come Dancing.

How was that, the whole experience,

what was it like for you in

Strictly?

It was a roller coaster,

absolutely incredible. There are

many ups, a few downs, the training

can be tricky, but it was so much

fun. I think the only bad thing is

that I didn't get to enjoy the party

as much as I wanted to because I had

to be up to come here.

You had to

save yourself?

To a point, yes.

We

are grateful for that. It's very

different though isn't it that kind

of challenge because you are used to

a sporting challenge but you are

doing it for yourself then really

aren't you, you've got a partner

this time?

Yes, exactly, that's it.

Oti was there helping me. It's

weird, you don't want to let them

down. When you are on the track it's

just you and obviously you can let

down your country but really the

pressure is just on you. Whereas

going out there, I don't want to let

Oti down. There is a lot of nerves.

So far out of my comfort zone.

Are

you surprised how well you did then

because you did well and lasted

well?

That's down to Oti and her

amazing choreography and he pushed

me. She did amazingly well. She was

meant to be here today, where is

she? She enjoyed the party a little

bit. Ssh she might be lying in bed

somewhere! We should talk a bit

about sport as well and you have

been nominated for this. How do you

feel? Absolutely incredible. The

biggest award for a sportsman. It's

such an honour. The names that go on

the list is insane so be in the mix

is incredible.

Do you get time to

rest because you have had a full-on

year. What is Christmas going to

mean?

I'm going to have a couple of

weeks to chill out. Christmas at

mums, New Years at my girlfriend

Sally's parent, so that will be

nice, but lots of sleep, a bit of

alcohol, so yes, I need to stop

eating so much though because I've

already put on weight.

Really, doing

Strictly you have put on weight?

Definitely. It's not as intense,

it's much more mentally exhausting,

I had to put down a few cakes!

Thank

you so much, we are glad you made it

here tonight and good luck. Thank

you.

Thank you.

From one athlete at one end of the

carpet rapidly three of it have made

it to the other end, Steve Cram

Paula Radcliffe and Dame Tanni

Grey-Thompson are here. We were

talking to Johnny Peacock, he's been

one of the great role models for the

para-athletics team?

Yes. He

delivers when it counts. Winning

gold in London was phenomenal. To do

it later in Rio with all the

pressure, men's amputee's sprinting

is one of the deepest classes out

there and to come back after year of

injury and to win was amazing, he so

deserves to be on the list.

When you

are sitting in the commentary box

and Paula as well, you must take

great pride in the way Paralympics

has come on in recent years, it's

very much on a level with the

able-bodied teams?

As Tanni was

saying, in all sports, regular or

Paralympicsneeds its heroes, Johnny

is one of our, Tanni was for a long

time. We have been able to integrate

the Paralympic events, particularly

in athletics. We had the IPC champs

held in this stadium just before and

you saw full stadia for both

Championships which is testimony to,

I guess, what the public appreciate.

They're watching top level sport. It

doesn't matter whether it's a

paralympian or able-bodied athlete,

they understand they're watching

people at top of their game which is

why they come here and watch it on

TV as well.

Paula, one of the

contenders this evening who isn't

here, Mo Farah, how amazing has he

been now that he's brought his track

to an end?

He's closing one chapter

and closing one very successful

chapter, so successful that we

actually find ourselves looking back

this year and thinking, he didn't

quite match what he did in the years

before that because that was

outstanding to be able to put those

doubles back-to-back year after

year. I think he's now probably

relishing the challenge of the going

into something new that he needs to

learn, find his feet a bit and give

himself something else to attack

that motivates him that bit more

now.

It was amazing having the

worlds back in London. How amazing

was that to see everyone back in the

spirit of the Paralympics?

It was

really special on so many levels.

Athletics had been through a rough

time so to bring it back to a

country that really supports and

understands athletics and fills the

stadiums, that gave it a real boost

in. Britain it was brilliant to see

performances like the relay boys

just come through and grab that and

just really kind of reignite all of

that passion that we saw in 2012 and

give people a chance to live it

again.

Thank you all very much inteed for

talking to us. We are grateful to

all of you. Enjoy the evening. There

is no doubt who is the fastest

contender for Sports Personality of

the Year award, 2017. It is of

course Lewis Hamilton. He won his

fourth world title this year and he

also won the admiration of another

motor sport giant, Sir Jackie

Stuart.

I think 2017 has been the best year

for Lewis Hamilton with regards to

winning in the manner in which he's

done it and so forth. For me, the

most enjoyable race I ever saw Lewis

Hamilton running was one that he

didn't win, in fact it was the Grand

Prix in Barcelona where he came

through the very back, started in

the pit lane in fact, came through

and didn't get on the podium but

nearly did. That made the race

because he was just chopping

everybody off, as he went along. He

has a huge gift of natural talent.

What you have got to do is match

that natural talent with what is up

here in the brain cells and that

he's developed as he's gone along.

This year is the best example of

that. I think these are the two big

assets you need.

A magnificent sight from the air.

The Echo Arena here in Liverpool

ahead of this year's Sports

Personality of the Year. Here on the

red carpet the famous faces keep

coming. Rebecca Adlington is with

us, Adam Peaty is amongst the

contenders tonight.

Best of luck.

Phenomenal isn't he?

Unbelievable.

His Olympic success is one thing but

to back that up and this is his

fourth year nominated, he keeps

climbing the ladder and doing better

every year so hopefully tonight he

can be there on the stage.

Given how

amazing he is, do you find it

frustrating that so many people do

swim, why doesn't it punch through

and have a swimmer as the sport s

pers nal Sports Personality of the

Year?

Anthony Joshua is such a big

name, for example, because he's a

huge sport, we are still a minority

sport that is a bit like your mum

and dad in the stands and that's

pretty much it. It's bound to happen

when you have a small sport but

Adam's had a fantastic year. For him

it would be an honour to be the

winner but he's honoured to be

nominated.

You look stunning

tonight. Where is it from and why

did you choose the jumpsuit? Good

choice?

Look at these. Two goal

medals and jumpsuits as well, I feel

left out.

Where is this one from?

Tall girls can wear jumpsuits so why

not.

We have the awkward thing

whether we went for one or two

kisses but we went for a fist bump.

Joining and Yang.

The new girl band.

I can't sing, can you?

No. There we

go! That makes three of us. At least

we have something in common. Thank

you very much for stopping to talk

to us, we are really grateful.

The world of cycling is always very

well represented at this awards

event and this year's contender is

Chris Froome who won his fourth Tour

de France this year, as well as the

tour de-Spain. One man who

particularly thinks he should get

this award is a previous award

winner himself, Sir Chris Hoy.

I think Chris Froome, you'd be hard

pushed to say he's not the greatest

of his generation. Four times Tour

de France champion, welter champion.

His consistency. The way that he

deals with everything that is thrown

at him, I can't think of anybody

would rate above him. He's the best

of the best. There are so many

variables in the Tour de France, so

many things can go wrong. It's an

incredibly difficult thing to

control. Therefore consistency at

that level in that type of event is

super impressive. It's a huge

achievement what he has managed to

do over the last four or five years.

To win the Vuelta as well as the

Tour de France this year, incredible

achievement. I think he would

probably win sports personality in

any number of different nations

around the world this year.

We have

just bumped into this gentleman who

has probably got by far the most

glamorous or revealing outfit of the

night. It is Speedo Mick. Tell

everybody what you do.

After

swimming the channel a few years

ago, I've been fundraising, going to

football games, walking to France,

walking to Wembley. I've just been

fundraising basically for three

years.

And you've done a fantastic

job. I was at the Liverpool Everton

derby on Sunday and it was snowing,

and he was still there in his

Speedos! How do you get through

those cold days?

It's a challenge,

and I love a challenge. Lots of

coffee. Like you say it's part of

the fun racing stuff. If I'm shaking

a bucket with my clothes on, you

don't get as much money.

We've just

been talking to Rebecca Adlington,

famous gold medal winning Olympic

swimmer. Whereabouts are talked to a

world champion swimmer. None of them

are dressed quite like you tonight.

Fantastic. Annabel is talking to

Adam Peaty. I don't think he's

wearing his Speedos! That gentleman

down there is in his Speedos, you

look a bit overdressed!

Maybe if I

get nominated next year that's my

next outfit.

You've had a fantastic

year so you must feel overwhelmed to

be up for this award.

Absolutely.

World Championships and the

Europeans last night.

You quickly

gave your gold medal away to

somebody in the crowd.

I saw a

British flag and you don't see many

British flags when you go abroad. I

thought, I want to do something for

them to say thank you for

supporting. This girl I gave my gold

two, she was starstruck -- I gave my

gold-medal to her. You've won the

gold medal, but hopefully far her it

will change her world and inspire

her for many years.

That is a really

lovely moment. You are with your

girlfriend Millie. Where you out

there watching?

I wasn't, I was at

work!

You try and support as much as

you can but you're not involved in

the world of sport yourself?

Sadly

not.

It's a very good balance. I can

do what I need to do in the pool and

come home and relax and completely

chill out.

Are you going to relax

now?

Yes, we go on holiday after

Christmas. This is my only time of

year where I can chill out and start

to restart the engine next year.

It's a big year, Commonwealth Games,

European long course championship,

then it's the worlds and then the

Olympics against upright when you

stop in the middle of training.

When you stop in the middle of

training, do you have to stop eating

the amount you are eating?

Yes. It

is 15,000 calories a day, and it

goes down to a leaf.

Thank you very

much, good luck tonight and have a

great evening. Adam Peaty talking to

Annabel. We wish him luck to night,

he's one of the 12 contenders.

6:45pm the programme is live on BBC

One. You can vote for your

favourite. Last year tennis one with

Andy Murray taking home his third

award. This year the sport has

Johanna Konta representing the

female game. She got to the

semifinals of Wimbledon which was

the first time in a long time.

Amongst the legions of her fans

is... The last person to do it,

Virginia Wade.

Johanna Konta had a

tremendous year. Maybe better even

than she anticipated, although you

never know. Obviously everyone is

dreaming of coming into the top

handful in the world and she got

herself to number four. So I think

she achieved every one of the goals

she could have set for the year. To

win a big tournament like Miami, to

get to the semifinals of Wimbledon,

and to do as well as she did in

Australia. That was a year to

remember. I know she had some

injuries as the year progressed but

as long as she can stay fit, listen,

she's got as much chance as anybody

else. Women's tennis is there

waiting for somebody to take the

reins and climb on up.

Virginia Wade

singing the praises of Johanna

Konta. A couple of minutes ago we

had two ladies in catsuits, both

with Olympic gold medals. Now we

have two by Jungle by files. King of

the jungle!

Yes indeed.

We gave each

other that look and said, we know

what you went through.

When you meet

someone who's been in the jungle we

can look at each other and say, we

know. There's a gang of us who know

how tough it is and how much fun it

is.

Do you ever eat rice and beans?

I hate rice and beans.

He has

kangaroo instead. Tell us about

Jonathan Rea. He is closing on your

all-time career number of wins.

Next

year I'm sure he will smash the

record. I'm a big fan of Jonathan,

I'm here to support him. Hopefully

everyone will vote for him. He's a

good lad and a great rider.

What

makes him so good?

He's got the

aggression, the consistency, the

will to win. He's good in wet

weather, dry weather, all sorts.

He's very professional about the way

he goes about his business. He ticks

all the boxes.

You mentioned you

think he's a great talent. Do you

think he is going to break your

world record for the amount of

career wins?

He'll break them. I'm

not bitter one bit! He's a good

guys. Thank you for talking to us.

He's pretty quick on two wheels.

Here's a bloke who was pretty quick

on two legs, Michael Johnson. I'm

with Michael Johnson, we've been

arguing about how many times he's

one. -- he's won.

I have one trophy.

Tonight you can come in and kick

back and enjoy it.

I've got to do a

bit of presenting tonight. I'll be

enjoying it, it's all is a great

shows.

I think a lot of people,

sportsmen and women, obviously they

want to win in their own sports but

winning this is important.

It's also

be history. If you look back over

winners of previous years, there is

some amazing names there.

Roger

Federer has won it this year.

His

comeback last year was unbelievable.

I actually have to admit I said

about a year or two ago, Roger, it's

time to let it go. He proved me

wrong.

That spurred him on! Do you

have a highlight? The World

Championships were amazing this

year. A lot of sad moments with

Usain Bolt. Do you have a highlight?

I think those championships proved,

obviously a sad moment to Usain but

it proved the sport is bigger than

one athlete because it was still an

amazing championship. The thing

about Usain is, if you ask anyone

who won, they will ask what Usain

Bolt there? He won it. It won't have

any effect on his legacy. His legacy

is amazing, great sprinter ever.

The

world of athletics to my being

represented by Mo Farah, he's got a

good chance.

History hasn't been

kind to him over the years with this

thing, so I'm not quite sure. He did

have an amazing season. He should be

right there and have a really good

chance to win it. His season was

amazing. He went out with a bang and

he would absolutely be deserving of

its.

Thank you. Have a wonderful

night. Roger is going to tell us a

bit about a hero who lives a bit

more locally.

We were just talking,

you do 40 metres sprints with the

Great Britain hockey team. How many

seconds is that?

It would normally

be 20 out, 20 back. I would like to

say I was the fastest. When Holly

scored that last goal, even though

I'm not the fastest in the squad,

but on that picture it looks like I

am.

We've talked a lot about the

minority sports this evening. For

hockey, what did it mean, that

Olympic win, the profiler tat. It on

10pm at night, prime time. What has

it done for hockey?

It's huge. It

started off with the gold medals,

the acknowledgement in front of

millions. It made people say hockey

is a fast, competitive sport. To be

here amongst the sporting's best

both past and current, it's amazing.

We had our captain Kate nominated,

hopefully we'll catch her. She was

amazing as well.

There's a boxer

nominated tonight, his name is

Anthony Joshua. He's not here.

There's another big guy, Tony

Bellew. Liverpool boxer of course.

Is that a tinge of blue for your

beloved Everton?

Yes, if I can sneak

it in and get it in, yes!

There was

a possibility you would have been

fighting David Haye tonight.

Yes, as

you can see I'm here to help out.

But it really but what can you do,

the show must go on.

Anthony Joshua,

who I know it is a rival of yours.

A

rival friend.

He's got a good

chance, hasn't he?

I think he

deserves it. It would be fantastic

to see.

You described him as a

friend. If you at some point had to

fight him, how tough is that?

I

went.

You're not going to give us an

exclusive tonight?

Have you seen the

size of him?! Do you want to fight

probably not. I wouldn't fight

Speedo Mick over there. Your fight

has been rescheduled for make.

O2

Arena. I've missed being back at

work. Ultimately I made

prizefighter, I enjoy fighting. Time

off is no good for nobody.

Although

Eure prizefighter, I've heard you

talk before about the fact it's a

job for you and you want to go to

work and get home safe.

That is 100%

correct. It's just a job. As much as

I love boxing and it's the only

thing I truly understand inside and

out, you've got to understand it is

just a job. Once I come away from

that I'm just a normal nine to five

lads.

To have this here in

Liverpool, this event, it's great

isn't it?

It's massive, it's huge.

Our city is a fantastic city. It's

got a wealth of heritage, it is

steeped in glory. We've got a lot of

history from the football teams,

from all different sportsmen and

women of every different ethnic

origin. We are a massive city and I

think it's fantastic. It should be

here, we've had teams win Champions

League.

What team was that?

It

doesn't matter what team it was!

We've got a fantastic tradition with

sport. There's many more to come as

well. The youth is coming through

also.

Tony Bellew, proud Evertonian!

Annabel teased us earlier about a

new local staff, Tony is one and so

is Sam. Obviously as you've just

seen with Tony Bellew, this city has

no shortage of sporting superstars.

In 2017 a new one emerged, golfer

Tommy Fleetwood has had an

astonishing year. He became a

champion, he became a husband and he

became a dad. Two wins, one

marriage, one baby, and Europe's

number one golfer.

MUSIC

It's not until now, getting home and

sitting down, I'm like, what have we

done?

Christmas coming up with a new

baby and a new wife, and it's very

cool at the moment.

But a year ago

it was anything but cool. Tommy was

struggling. He got his best mate to

Kathy and went back to his childhood

coach. It worked -- to caddy. You

won't forget this year.

Absolutely

not, this has been a heck of a year.

We get an absolutely brilliant. He's

my best mate. He's a good lad. I've

been found behind Bush is talking to

myself, but I love it. You can't get

any better than this.

From the Dubai

sunshine to the Cheshire snow,

Tommy's stepsons have been among his

biggest supporters. Are you nervous

watchers?

I am quite good, I think.

But when he's doing well I get quite

nervous.

When he wins on Sunday I

can come back into school on Monday

and everyone is talking about it,

especially the teachers.

To have

that many people that you're close

with around you, I can't thank them

enough. An amazing year on course

and of course. It's been better than

I could ever have hoped for.

I'm very, very excited because I've

just found all my hockey girls

looking gorgeous. It's like being on

that Team GB flight back home from

Rio.

Singing so much and they let us

sleep.

I put it was you girls who

started it!

I recorded all of it!

I'm a bit under the weather!

That's

before the night has begun! So

ladies, you've just come back from

New Zealand. Pretty new squad after

Rio, how's it going?

Really good. We

came forth and we were slightly

disappointed but new squad, everyone

is getting a chance to get

international experience that it's

been a really positive year.

Apparently they've all got a Airbnb

tonight.

We've got a lovely

apartment in Liverpool. It's my hen

do this weekend so finishing it off

well!

We are going to cross over to

Annabel. I'm with one of the other

contenders for the awards night,

Bianca Walkden. I wish I'd worn big

heels tonight! I should have known!

I had to get my legs out and get the

hills and.

You look fantastic. This

is your home city, you must be

feeling so at home.

I can't wait to

go out there and hopefully all the

Scousers get behind me. Please vote

for me. Honestly, I'm so overwhelmed

and trying to take it all in.

When

they announced your name on the

night you were tweeting that you

were buzzing. It's so good it's

here, it's great the celebration of

sport is seen outside of London and

in places like Liverpool because we

had so many famous sports people.

100%. It to be in my hometown is

amazing. You've got all the fighters

and the boxers, is just inside us to

go and compete and win. Hopefully

Liverpool will get behind me

tonight. I can't wait to see the

reception from everyone.

You've had

such a fantastic year. The last time

we met was just after the Olympics

and bizarrely you were disappointed

with a bronze. This year has been

fabulous.

I've done OK. I was the

first one to get all four Grand Prix

series and retain my world title.

For me that was just me getting up

every day. I'm lucky enough to just

be here and I'm trying to take it

all in because it's so overwhelming.

What are you going to do now? Are

you taking a break over Christmas?

I've got training tomorrow or the

day after. I can't have any pigs in

blankets over Christmas because I'm

going to China on the 27th of

December.

Can you enjoy yourself

tonight?

Of course. I can't let

Liverpool down!

We wish you all the

best. We were going to talk to Asha

Philip and Adam Gemili but it was

hijacked by the hockey girls

reunion! Beth Tweddle is also with

us. Looking back on your 2017, how

would you sum it up?

It was really

good. I got a European gold medal in

the 60 metres and a silver medal in

London. These boys got gold which

I'm happy for. It's been a really

good year for us this year.

Adam,

the girls were willing it you over

that line in the final, how much did

it mean to have them there with you?

It was the best feeling to celebrate

together, especially doing it in

London was brilliant, to become a

world champion. Usually the girls

are successful at the relay and the

men hashed it up a bit but we

managed to get a medal and celebrate

altogether.

Beth, you are a veteran

of this event, you must have been

many times but how lovely to have it

in your home city.

It is always a

nice way to end the year and a great

way to celebrate what British sport

has done. But have it back in

Liverpool, we last had it back in

2008. I'm really proud to show off

what our city does.

It's to see all

these different people from

different sports who normally would

never meet.

Yes. For some buzz it's

a great way to catch up, meet up

with old friends. You see all the

emerging stars coming through. What

these guys did in the summer was

incredible. I was part of that team

willing you over the line. It was

just amazing to watch.

Thank you.

We're going to continue the

athletics team at the other end of

the carpet. I'm with Dame Jessica

Ennis-Hill. You look absolutely

gorgeous. It's so nice to have a

chance to dress up.

It is, yes.

Obviously just having my daughter

I've been in slob out close for the

past few weeks and not been to

anything special is this so it's

really exciting.

Is this your first

big night out?

It is actually. I had

a mummy and ready day the other day

but this is the first time I've left

her for a few hours.

How are you

feeling about that?

She's happy and

settled with my mum so I'm OK. I'll

be checking my phone every two

minutes.

Is a lovely event to be at.

You wouldn't want to miss it.

It's a

fantastic event and to be here

celebrating sport, I've had a

fantastic year. Really happy to be

here this evening.

Obviously we had

the World Championships. I was

speaking to Michael Johnson earlier

about his highlight, what was your

highlight?

It was great to be there

as a spectator. I love watching the

heptathlon. To see the Belgian

heptathlete win, she was out of this

world. I enjoyed watching that.

Mo

Farah is the contender for athletics

this year, what do you think of his

chances? He's missed out before.

He

has. He's had another incredible

year and done all he can possibly do

on the track. Fantastic to watch him

when again in London.

As well as

being extraordinarily busy which you

will be with two children, what's

next?

Just having some time at home

with the kids and doing some other

projects, getting involved with

sport. It's a big part of my life

and has been for so long so I want

to continue.

Christmas is going to

be hectic with little ones.

Yes,

we've got a busy Christmas. My

sister has had another baby and my

sister in law has had another baby

as well.

Certainly the biggest,

tallest man on the carpet so far,

Anthony Joshua is here. One of the

contenders tonight. Thank you for

talking to us. What a year.

It's

been an interesting year in terms of

what's going on in the boxing ring

and so on. I feel be -- I feel good.

It's inspiring as well.

What was

that night in April likely. 90,000

people at Wembley, Wladimir

Klitschko who had dominated for so

many years -- that night in April at

Wembley.

It so soon in my career,

it's not something I was waiting

for, it was brought upon me and I

thought let's roll the dice and see

how we get on. Walking out in front

of 90,000 people, it was just about

delivering. I think we definitely

delivered. We had to show a bit of

grit, bit of skill, a bit of

character and I think that's what

made it a good fight.

You've just

mentioned you're not used all this

attention and walking down a red

carpet. What's it like, are you

taking it all in your stride?

Yes.

It's not an everyday thing. Maybe

once I'm done with boxing Albee at

every event, but might coach won't

be too happy at the minutes if I am

-- I'll be at every event. I'm just

here to have a good time. This isn't

something we watched growing up so

it's quite new to me.

Are you

nervous or looking forward to being

on stage?

I'm not nervous but I'm

sitting here as a spectator. My

family were never begin to sports so

it's not something I know what's

going to happen, I'm just going to

sit down as a spectator and take it

in. Then I can pass on the

information of what it was like to

my friends and family.

And then

looking forward to 2018. In a

nutshell, are there any big names

you'll be looking to fight?

Joseph

Parker and Deontay Wilder.

The

heavyweight division is the holy

Grail.

Yes, it's the holy Grail. If

a really tough task but I say it's

like it's so simple. I think it's

very possible. I would love to fight

end of March, early April against

Joseph Parker or Deontay Wilder.

Once I get that belt God willing, I

can move forward. And get the last

belt.

In terms of your training,

plans for Christmas?

I've just come

back from Dubai. We did some fitness

stuff. I came back, straight back

into training, to manage my weight

and stuff. Don't enjoy too much

Christmas turkey. Everyone has

relax. Then get back on the gravy

train.

Thank you for talking to us.

All the best. Amir Khan is just back

out of the jungle. Amir Khan how are

you feeling?

I feel great, it's

great to be back. I've lost so much

weight, I'm down to fighting weight.

It's great to be here.

How's your

fear of those horrible bugs and

snakes and spiders?

I won't be going

back there. I'm scared of spiders

and snakes. The spiders, I'm not

scared of them any more. It helped

sleeping next to them and being

around them. But snakes I'm still

scared off.

And perhaps they fear of

strawberries now?

The strawberries

were a bit of fun, they were nice.

And Q so much and have a lovely

evening. -- thank you so much. Wow,

what a red carpet.

It's incredible,

and the stars are still coming

through.

It's an air on BBC at

quarter to seven, 640 5pm Sports

Personality of the Year. You can

vote for one of 12 contenders to win

the big awards. We hope you enjoy

it. From all of us at the Echo

Arena, good night.