BBC confirm three 2024 Sports Personality of the Year hosts after Gary Lineker exit

An all-female trio volition pb December's iconic bash successful Salford with Paris 2024 Olympic leader Keely Hodgkinson the overwhelming favourite to assertion the night's large award

BBC person confirmed an all-female trio volition big this year's Sports Personality of the Year aft it was confirmed that soon-to-depart Gary Lineker would not beryllium portion of adjacent month's awards bash.

Alex Scott volition articulation Clare Balding and Gabby Logan for the lawsuit successful Media City, Salford connected December 17, wherever 8 antithetic awards volition beryllium handed out. All 3 women person been portion of the ceremonial successful caller years.

Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson is the favourite to instrumentality the main gong aft a stunning twelvemonth successful which she ran the sixth fastest clip ever and besides won the European title.

But she faces contention from teenage darts prima Luke Littler and recently-retired cycling prima Sir Mark Cavendish, who won a grounds 35th Tour de France signifier successful July.

Lineker has go a fixture arsenic the pb presenter of the ceremonial but helium volition not beryllium progressive this twelvemonth pursuing the caller announcement that helium volition measurement speech arsenic Match of the Day big astatine the extremity of the Premier League campaign. The erstwhile England striker volition stay with the corp for the 2026 World Cup.

And pursuing the SPOTY hosting announcement Alex Kay-Jelski, manager of BBC Sport, said: "Once again, it’s been a nail-biting, thrilling and affectional twelvemonth of astonishing sport. From the Olympics to men’s Euros to records breached crossed the state and the world, we can’t hold to look backmost and bask it each implicit again.

“We were spoilt and it’s intolerable to cognize who volition person the awards. Thankfully the assemblage get to determine who claims the Sports Personality of the Year Award, truthful we don't person to.

“Regardless of who wins, it’s definite to beryllium a peculiar evening celebrating sporting greatness and I can’t hold to be my archetypal successful the job.”

The contention to regenerate Lineker connected Match of the Day is yet to genuinely vigor up contempt a fig of contenders being linked with the role, portion Lineker made a subtle gag during Saturday night's amusement astir his impending departure.

Alan Shearer opened the amusement alternatively of Lineker by staring down the camera and saying: “All bully things indispensable travel to an end.” And Lineker replied by saying: “Yes Alan – Lee Carsley’s England reign is over. It’s backmost to concern successful the Premier League.”

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