BBC One

England’s record Test run scorer Joe Root, speaking to BBC One: "It has been great fun to play in a team where you all get on so well with each other.

"Obviously to contribute massively towards that is really pleasing - it has been one hell of a journey.

"It seems to get more enjoyable. Clearly to go past Cooky [Sir Alastair Cook] who was a captain of mine and someone I looked up to, it was nice to get a call from him when he congratulated me."

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport horse racing reporter

Image source, PA Media

This was Willie Mullins' world and we were just living in it.

Mullins became the first man to saddle 100 winners at the Cheltenham Festival and rounded off a historic week with his fourth Gold Cup victory in six years thanks to a second win for Galopin Des Champs.

And he was the first trainer based in Ireland to win the British championship for 70 years, with I Am Maximus in the Grand National helping him over the line. Harry Cobden was crowned champion jump jockey for 2023-24.

On the Flat, Aidan O'Brien said City Of Troy was the best horse he had trained and he gave him a 10th victory in the Derby at Epsom before following up in Sandown's Coral-Eclipse and the Juddmonte International at York, although was beaten on his Breeders' Cup swansong.

Ralph Beckett claimed a first Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe win with Bluestocking, while Oisin Murphy was champion Flat jockey for the fourth time.

BBC One

Image source, PA Media

Red Roses rugby player Ellie Kildunne, speaking to BBC One: "I think this year I have understood what it means to be playing rugby and the happiness that it brings. I love my team and I love the way we are playing because I love what we are doing."

On England's World Cup chances next year: "As soon as the last World Cup finished I was ready for the next one to start. Personally it was the best thing that happened to me losing that final as a fire was reignited. We are ready for it whenever it comes.

"Everyone keeps saying it is going to be the moment and I keep getting asked "What is going to happen after?"

"I hope it exceeds my imagination. I think we are on the right track for that to happen."

704 – The number of wickets taken by England bowler Jimmy Anderson, who announced his retirement from Test cricket in the summer. The 42-year-old retired as England’s all-time leading wicket-taker and the most successful pace bowler in the history of the game.

Image source, Getty Images

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport chief cricket reporter

Image source, Getty Images

As the England men's team head into a huge 2025, 2024 will be remembered as a year of change.

The T20 World Cup was surrendered and coach Matthew Mott paid the price. The Test team has been revamped, with a farewell to James Anderson. Out have gone Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes and Ollie Robinson, in have come exciting youngsters Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson and Shoaib Bashir.

The Test team have been inconsistent, but end in credit. Joe Root continued to break records, Harry Brook made a triple-century in Pakistan and Atkinson became the first England bowler to reach 50 wickets in a year since 2017.

All-time great wins over India in Hyderabad and Pakistan in Multan were countered by defeats against Sri Lanka at The Oval and Pakistan in Rawalpindi. When England are good, they are exhilarating. When they are bad, infuriating.

Brendon McCullum brings Bazball to white-ball early next year, before series against India and Australia provide the defining moment of Ben Stokes' captaincy. In 12 months' time the Ashes will already be two Tests in.

Rooooot.

Records, runs and a true love of the game...

Joe Root is your first BBC Sports Personality of the Year contender!

Joe Root cemented his status as England's greatest batter with a record-breaking 34th Test century on the third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's in August.

Image source, Getty Images

Root then became England's all-time leading Test runscorer, surpassing Sir Alastair Cook's mark of 12,472 when he got to 71 on day three of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan in October.

Image source, Getty Images

A day later, Root and Harry Brook set a new England partnership record of 454 runs, beating the previous best of 411 made by Colin Cowdrey and Peter May 57 years ago.

Image source, Getty Images

Joe Root made history in October by becoming England's record Test run scorer, surpassing Sir Alastair Cook's mark of 12,472 en route to a brilliant career-best score of 262 against Pakistan.

Mike Henson
BBC Sport rugby union reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland started the year by winning a blockbuster Six Nations opener against France in Marseille before drawing a summer series away to South Africa in the summer. Their autumn, featuring a disjointed defeat by New Zealand, was less impressive but they remain the northern hemisphere’s team to beat as they eye a Six Nations “three-peat” in 2025.

The Springboks continue to unearth talent at a dizzying rate with fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu the latest to roll off the production line. The reigning world champions claimed the Rugby Championship with room to spare despite testing out such youngsters.

England’s struggle for results and identity continued against a backdrop of coaching changes as they served up an autumn full of entertainment, but short on victories. Wales slipped deeper into the doldrums filling the year with 12 successive defeats, a run that sapped coach Warren Gatland’s belief and good humour and stretched supporter patience to the limit.

Glasgow’s United Rugby Championship final win over the Bulls in South Africa was perhaps the most note-worthy club performance, although Toulouse who won a Top 14-Champions Cup double, vanquishing Bordeaux-Begles 59-3 in their domestic showpiece, might argue otherwise.

6 - The number of consecutive years England's Red Roses have won the Six Nations. They scored 44 tries on their way to lifting the title, double that of their nearest rivals France with 22, who they beat in the final.

Image source, Getty Images

Mike Henson
BBC Sport rugby union reporter

Image source, Getty Images

England’s streak of global supremacy continues unabated as the Red Roses defended their Six Nations crown, retained their WXV title and extended their winning run since the last Rugby World Cup to 20 straight matches. Full-back Ellie Kildunne was named world player of the year. The expectations for the runaway world number ones ahead of next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup on home turf are stratospheric.

Ireland’s eye-raising upset of New Zealand in September followed a home victory over Australia and confirmed Scott Bemand’s team as a fast-rising force. Scotland are growing nicely, coming within 10 points for France in the Six Nations, but Wales, wracked with internal disputes between the players and union, bottom of the Six Nations and with 7 defeats from 11 games, have endured a year to forget.

The arrival of Ilona Maher – Olympic medallist, social media superstar and 15-a-side near-novice – at Bristol Bears sparked a spike in followers for the club and Premiership Women’s Rugby in general. Watching as she attempts to match the hype with performances in 2025 will be intriguing.

You can vote online here, by telephone or by scanning the QR code on the graphic or your TV screen.

In order to cast your vote online, you must sign in to your BBC account. If you do not have an account, you will need to register before you can vote.

You can only vote once and must be in the UK to vote online. You have around 90 minutes to cast your vote!

If you're calling from a mobile the number is 6 22 82 followed by the number of your favourite. From landlines call 09015 22 82 and add the number of your favourite.

The numbers to add for each contender are as follows:

• 01 - Jude Bellingham
• 02 - Keely Hodgkinson
• 03 - Luke Littler
• 04 - Joe Root
• 05 - Sarah Storey
• 06 - Alex Yee

Voting for BBC Sports Personality of the Year is now OPEN!

The nominees are footballer Jude Bellingham, runner Keely Hodgkinson, darts player Luke Littler, cricketer Joe Root, Para-cyclist Sarah Storey and triathlete Alex Yee.

Here are all the details you need...

Cue the SPOTY opening montage...

A glimpse of some of the biggest sporting moments of the year, and what a year it has been.

BBC One

The time has come!

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards show is about to start right now over on BBC One.

You will also be able to follow it at the top of this page very shortly.

So, grab the remote! Clare Balding, Alex Scott and Gabby Logan are waiting for you.

Voting for Sports Personality of the Year opens soon.

A final reminder that to do that, you must sign in to a BBC account at https://www.bbc.com/signin.

If you do not yet have a BBC account, you can register for one for free at https://www.bbc.com/register.

Earlier I left you with some quiz questions to test your knowledge of sport over the past 12 months.

It's time to reveal the answers. Thumbs up if you got more than half?

• What was the name the winner of the 2023 Grand National at Aintree? I am Maximus
• In what sports did GB win their first gold medals of both the Olympics and Paralympics?Team eventing (Olympics) and swimming (Paralympics - Poppy Maskill)
• Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal retired from tennis this year, but how many Grand Slams did he win in his career? 22
• James Anderson's illustrious and record-breaking career came to an end in July, but from which nation did he take the most wickets?India – 149
• American gymnast Simone Biles shone at the Paris Olympics, but how many medals did she win at the 2024 Games?Four (three gold, one silver)

• Spain beat England 2-1 in the final of the European Championships, who scored England's only goal? Cole Palmer

Nigel: For me, SPOTY has to go to someone who is a genuine world-beater. To that end, it has to be Alex Yee.

Emma: SPOTY is one of my annual Christmas traditions - I love it. I’ll be supporting Alex Yee this year for the top gong!

Harry Poole
BBC Sport

And just like that, the red carpet falls quiet again.

The stars have arrived and we’re ready for the start of tonight’s show.

Who will win the 2024 awards? Not long for us to wait to find out now!

This is your five minute warning!

Grab a brew, grab the remote because the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024 show is about to get under way.