BBC reveals major change to Sports Personality of the Year that will impact Ryder Cup stars and Lionesses

Two awards at this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be decided by public vote in a major shake-up.

With less than a month to go until the star-studded annual ceremony, a host of household names find themselves in the running for the prestigious individual prize.

Getty

Among the nominees are Lionesses heroine Chloe Kelly, golf star Rory McIlroy and teenage darts prodigy Luke Littler.

As is the case every year, the main Sports Personality of the Year award will be determined by a live public vote.

In 2024, Keely Hodgkinson scooped the top prize thanks to her gold medal-winning heroics in the 800m at the Paris Olympics.

How has the voting changed at Sports Personality of the Year?

This year, sports fans will have even more of a say in the glitzy evening, this time over the winner of the Team of the Year award.

That is because, for the first time, this accolade will also be decided by a live vote, which will open before the show starts, and close at some stage during the two-hour event.

The last recipient in this category was rugby league side the Wigan Warriors, who won every trophy available to them in 2024.

The Super League giants completed the quadruple by securing the World Club Challenge, Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and Grand Final.

There will certainly be no shortage of competition this time around, with plenty of standout team displays over the last 12 months.

Success has been shared among England’s football teams, as the Lionesses enjoyed another unforgettable year.

Sarina Wiegman‘s side successfully defended their historic Euro 2021 title with another European triumph in Switzerland, while Lee Carsley‘s Young Lions also tasted glory at the Under-21s Euros.

Getty

Getty

UEFA via Getty

Also among the favourites are Europe’s Ryder Cup-winning side, who enjoyed a thrilling victory at Bethpage Black in New York in September.

Meanwhile, the British and Irish Lions rugby stars remain in with a shout due to their 2-1 Test Series win in Australia over the summer.

Other potential winners include Liverpool‘s Premier League-winning team, and the England Red Roses, who lifted the Women’s Rugby World Cup in September.

The winners of the Sports Personality of the Year individual and team awards will be decided on Thursday, December 18.

It will be shown live on BBC One and will be presented by Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott.

With this the 72nd year of the awards, and the last four editions have seen female winners of the main award.

Getty

Aside from Hodgkinson’s triumph, former Lionesses goalkeeper Mary Earps clinched top prize in 2023, while her then-England teammate Beth Mead came out on top the year before.

Tennis star Emma Raducanu was the winner in 2021, following her stunning US Open triumph at just 18 years old.

Who are the favourites for BBC Sports Personality of the Year?

Lionesses star Chloe Kelly is the bookmakers’ favourite to win Sports Personality of the Year having played a key part in both England and Arsenal being crowned European champions this year.

Having scored the winner to give clinch England’s first major trophy, male or female, since 1966, Kelly scored the winning penalty in the Euro 2025 final shootout to help the Lionesses retain their title.

Northern Irishman McIlroy is also among the leading contenders after an historic year in the world of golf.

After winning the Masters at Augusta in April to complete the career Grand Slam, the 36-year-old then played a key role in Europe’s Ryder Cup defence away from home in September.

AFP

PA

McClaren star Lando Norris also finds himself high up in the standings, after an impressive season that has left him with a chance of becoming the 11th British driver to win the F1 World Championship.

Not far behind are Lionesses star goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and England rugby star Ellie Kildunne.

Meanwhile, Luke Littler is also in contention thanks to his stunning PDC World Darts Championship glory in January.