BBC Sports Personality Of The Year 2017

For my sins, last night I watched the 2017 edition of the BBC’s Sports Personality Of The Year which was broadcast live from the Echo Arena in Liverpool between 6.45pm and 9.00pm on BBC1.

I do this every year even though I’m fully aware and accept that it’s no more than a straightforward popularity contest and has nothing particular to do with the scale of the sporting achievements of shortlisted British stars during the previous twelve months.

As a broadcast, by definition, it is inevitably an imperfect show. The one thing that I’d grant the BBC is that the editors do their level best to reflect the sporting achievements of the year, but mixing sports starts (dressed up in their finery for the occasion and to that extent often looking like fish out of water) and showbiz light entertainment is always risky in terms of awkwardness and/or dross.

70% of the interviews are scarcely worth doing because the interviewee doesn’t have it in them to mouth more that “Did my best and obviously it came off which was nice but there’s loads to work on for next time and I just hope I can iron those out and come back next year and do better …”

I’m not a particular fan of Gary Lineker, Gaby Logan and Clare Balding but somebody’s got to do the presenting and they make a professional stab at it.

I’ve got to be honest – in advance I was convinced that Anthony Joshua was going to win the main title but I’d forgotten that the BBC is riddled with PC-correctness and – as ever – at the end of the night, when the main prize is announced, I am always left with a suspicion that the voting procedure is probably rigged.

Here’s my snapshot review of last night’s shortlist contenders:

ELISE CHRISTIE

The female Short Track Speed Skating double World Champion. Few (apart from short track speed skating fans) will have ever heard of her. No offence intended to her, but an obvious imposed PC-correct choice as candidate.

MO FARAH

Multi Olympic, world, European and Commonwealth gold medal winner at 5,000 and 10,000 metres. One of Britain’s greatest-ever athletes but somehow (even I cannot explain this) one that the British public has ever quite taken to its heart. Which makes it ‘interesting’ that he should win the title this year – probably the last time that he’ll be a contender – not that I begrudge him it.

CHRIS FROOME

Four-time Tour de France winner and much else besides. No personality at all, which is why he pales into insignificance beside ‘Wiggo’ as a cyclist in the public’s estimation.

Why he was allowed to remain a candidate – or wasn’t persuaded to withdraw his nomination – after his failed drugs test became public ten days ago  I shall never know. It made for a very awkward ‘interview on the night.

LEWIS HAMILTON

Became four-time F1 champion in 2017. Partly because of his personality, partly because he lives in Monaco, and partly because people know what a procession F1 is these days, he’s another who has never really found a place in the hearts of general British sports fans.

ANTHONY JOSHUA

Britain’s next biggest sporting superstar. Enough said.

HARRY KANE

Soccer’s nominee. A prolific goal scorer. Not his fault that he’s had a charisma by-pass.

JOHANNA KONTA

Another of our ‘change countries to become a Brit icon’ sports stars. She’s got much of what it takes to be a top four player but still needs to acquire the necessary grit and ‘dog’. I don’t think the British public have particularly taken to her.

JONNIE PEACOCK

Multi-gold medallist Paralympian. One of this year’s BBC ‘PC-required’ disabled athletes – probably came third overall largely because of his exposure on Strictly Come Dancing.

ADAM PEATTY

On paper, given his achievements, he probably deserved the recognition more than any. The trouble is that swimming turns off as many people as it turns on.

JONATHAN REA

Who?! Apparently a motorbike racing champion. The only way he can have been voted into second place overall is via (1) a massive block vote from motorbike racing fans, and/or (2) practically nobody amongst the general public bothered to vote at all on the night. Unusually, the voting was live – and took place over only about 35 minutes – during the programme. Most boxing fans, and me, were clearly too bored or tired to bother to vote by then. Either than or the voting was rigged.

ANYA SHRUBSOLE

England cricket pace bowler who did much to win England the women’s cricket World Cup. All she did was have one decent short spell of bowling all year and few outside women’s cricket have ever heard of her.

Why no English male cricketers got a look-in (but she did) is undoubtedly down to the BBC’s PC brigade. As was the inexplicable decision to award “Team Of The Year” to England women’s cricketers … when you compare some of the male team achievements over the past 12 months.

BIANCA WALKDEN

Twice taekwondo heavyweight world champion. Probably a great athlete but nobody apart from taekwondo followers will have ever heard of her. Another PC-correct decision.

And so there we have it.

I’d have loved to see the actually scores (in terms of numbers of votes) registered by each nominee. Just before the 3-2-1 was announced either Clare or Gaby waffled on about the votes having been “counted and verified” (I’m not sure by whom) but I’d have guessed that at least three of the nominees would have gathered voters from no greater constituency than their families and followers of their own sport.

Ah well, never mind. Roll on SPOTY 2018!