BBC announce major changes to Sports Personality of the Year as Clare Balding learns fate

The BBC have announced changes for this year's edition of the show, with a new awards being handed out

Gabby Logan, Clare Balding and Alex Scott (Image: Getty)

The BBC have announced changes to this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year, but the presenting line-up will remain the same. Despite BBC cuts, Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott will host the programme, which will take place on 13 December. One big change to the show is the addition of a footballer of the year award for both men and women. The awards, along with the main Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY), will be decided by public vote.

The introduction of the footballer award comes just weeks after England captain Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or. The Bayern Munich striker is already odds-on to win the BBC SPOTY award.

No male footballer has claimed the SPOTY since Ryan Giggs triumphed in 2009. This is despite England enjoying greater sustained success in major tournaments than at any previous point - reaching two semi-finals and two finals over the past eight years.

Harry Kane with the Ballon d'Or — Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or just weeks ago (Image: Getty)

Kane's remarkable year with Bayern Munich and his national side could see him join an illustrious list of players to have won the SPOTY, including Giggs, David Beckham and Michael Owen.

Since the accolade was established in the 1950s, footballers have claimed it seven times, a tally surpassed by Formula 1 (eight) and far exceeded by athletics (19).

In the women's category, SPOTY will co-present the BBC World Service Women's Footballer of the Year award, which has been running since 2015 and is determined by public vote. Women's stars have proudly flown the football flag in recent years - Lionesses claimed the honours in 2022 and 2023, with Beth Mead leading the way, followed by Mary Earps.

Kane's primary challenger for the SPOTY accolade is Amy Hunt, the British sprinting sensation. She sits as second favourite with bookmakers following her remarkable haul of four gold medals at the European Championships. Outside bets include Scotland's Josh Kerr, the middle-distance star who claimed Commonwealth gold, along with Kane's England teammate Jude Bellingham.

Alex Kay-Jelski, the BBC Sport director, said: "This year's shortlists will be packed with athletes and teams who have achieved extraordinary things, but what's especially exciting is that audiences will have a bigger say than ever before in who takes home the trophies."

Rory McIlroy won the 2025 SPOTY award (Image: Getty)

The SPOTY ceremony will take place at the BBC's Salford headquarters. The broadcast will be trimmed to an hour and a half rather than the customary two hours, and will begin earlier at 5.45pm, ahead of its traditional 7pm slot.

The changes come amid cuts to BBC Sport, which has seen it axe long-running shows including Ski Sunday and Football Focus. They have also dropped coverage of the Commonwealth Games and the Boat Race.