"I had a really good winter of training and hoped that would help, but I wouldn't be here without my coach [Mel Marshall]," Peaty continues.

"The team is just amazing. In a few years' time, I hope we're going to be winning golds everywhere. It's pretty much a family.

"Patting my chest before races released the adrenalin. It's a bit painful, but it helps me swim faster. I'm just honoured to be here."

Ed Sheeran's singing rings around the arena as Adam Peaty, the youngest contender, walks down the aisle towards Clare Balding. The Swimmer has opted for brown shoes with a dark suit. Not that that's important. "I hated going in the shower, hated going in the pool. I used to cry like a baby probably until I was 12," he says of his dislike of water.

Image source, Other

"He's had a phenomenal year competing against some of the best guys in the world" - former world swimming champion Mark Foster.

Peaty's year in a nutshell

- Swimmer became a double Commonwealth gold medallist and four-time European champion.

- At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, took gold in the 100m breaststroke and 4x100m relay medley, and a silver in the 50m breaststroke.

- In Berlin at the Europeans, broke the 50m breaststroke world record en route to winning gold in four different disciplines.

- Won silver in two individual events and team relay at the World Short Course Championships in Doha.

Image source, Getty Images

Six-time world champion Mark Foster says Britain has its best group of swimmers for 30 years and he has plenty to back-up his claim, with Scotland's Ross Murdoch, Wales' Jazz Carlin, England's Ben Proud and Fran Halsall all winning Commonwealth golds this summer. But the swimmer leading the new generation is the next contender... Adam Peaty.

"It feels so weird walking out here," says Whitlock, dressed in a dark suit instead of the red and white spandex he wore at the Hydro during the summer. "I want to be the best I can be and I love being in the gym, training as hard as I can."

Image source, Other

"He has strength, power and balance - he's got the whole package" - former gymnastics world champion Beth Tweddle on Max Whitlock.

Whitlock's year in a nutshell

- Picked up a host of medals from the World, European and British Championships, and at the Commonwealth Games.

- Equalled the best all-around finish by a Briton at a World Championship, taking silver in Nanning, China.

- Took gold at the European Championships on the pommel horse.

- Won three golds, a silver and a bronze at the Commonwealths.

Gabby Logan is standing next to Britain's finest gymnasts which means it must be time to be introduced to the third contender, Max Whitlock. The Englishman will enjoy returning to Glasgow, the city where he won three Commonwealth golds this summer.

Warm applause for Gareth Bale as he is introduced by Gary Lineker. The Real Madrid forward isn't in Glasgow as he is doing what he does best, playing football for the Spaniards, so a video link-up will have to do.

"The special thing is the Champions League. Every footballer wants to win the biggest competition in the world so to win and score is a dream come true," says the Welshman.

"It's a bit difficult with the language but I'm learning slowly," adds Bale of life in Spain before Lineker shows off his linguistic skills and Bale giggles.

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"I think he's up there as one of the best four or five players in the world" - John Hartson on fellow Welshman Gareth Bale.

Bale's year in a nutshell

- Shrugged off £85m price tag as world's most expensive footballer during dazzling debut season at Real Madrid.

- Former Southampton and Tottenham player clocked up 22 goals and 16 assists in 2013-2014 season.

- Netted winning goal in Copa del Rey final; first Welshman to score in a European Cup/Champions League final.

- Helped Real win 'La Decima' - a historic 10th European title. Named Welsh footballer of the year for record fourth time.

Image source, AP

How Liverpool fans must wish it was still the 2013-14 season... An exciting end to last season's Premier League saw Manchester City pip a Luis Suarez-inspired Liverpool to the title, ensuring a League Cup and Premier League double for Manuel Pellegrini in his first season. Easy this football management, said the Chilean.

And over in north London, Arsenal fans celebrated as their nine-year wait for a trophy ended with victory over Hull City in the FA Cup final. Football smoothly takes us to our second contender...

"It's a tough sport and I train really hard," Yarnold tells Balding. "Just a few weeks ago, I crashed. You're travelling at 90mph, so if anything goes wrong, it's a disaster.

"When I first tried skeleton, I hated it and I swore I would never do it again - and I'm addicted now."

BBC Match of the Day commentator Guy Mowbray:, external Gutted to not be at SPOTY - but would have had to miss Man Utd v Liverpool. Nice choice to have!

For UK viewers, Match of the Day 2, featuring Guy's commentary, is on at 22:45 GMT, except in Scotland, where it starts at 23:40.

Angela Lewis:, external Poor Gary Lineker - needs a hot lemon and an early night.

Samantha Wilson:, external Tonight is the best night of TV, love BBC's SPOTY...

Tash Newman:, external Clare Balding looks fabulous!

Lizzy Yarnold, looking like a Greek goddess in a long metallic Grecian dress, successfully negotiates the steps and joins Clare Balding on stage. "It's always, what car do you drive?" says Yarnold of the most popular question children ask her.

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"She is the perfect form lying on the sled - I think she is going to dominate for years to come" - Amy Williams on fellow Olympic skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold.

Yarnold's year in a nutshell

- Dominated the women's skeleton event to win Great Britain's only gold medal of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

- Yarnold's victory was only GB's 10th winter title in Games history.

- Led the field throughout the four-race event in Sochi, and her winning margin of 0.97 seconds was the largest ever.

- She also secured the overall World Cup title in 2013-14, reaching the podium in seven of the eight World Cup races and winning four golds.

Image source, Getty Images

Jade Jones is on the front row at the Hydro, smiling and laughing with Nicola Adams. Equally worthy of a mention are surely the Norwegian curling team for their colourful psychedelic slacks? The team's eye-catching trousers did the trick as the men won curling gold. But let's move on to our first contender...

Image source, AP

In the words of Julie Andrews, let's start at the very beginning because it's a very good place to start.

Ah, the Winter Olympics where Jenny Jones won Britain's first Olympic medal on the snow with a dramatic slopestyle bronze, Britain had weeks of curling fever as the men and women took silver and bronze and one woman, Lizzy Yarnold, returned from Russia with something a lot more precious than love (possibly) - gold.

John Inverdale
BBC Radio 5 live presenter

"Gareth Bale is the only one of the ten finalists not here, he is in Morocco playing an exhibition match, but will be available via video link."

Image source, @JessTaylor25

British heptathlete Jess Taylor, external had time just before the show got under way to grab this selfie with Sports Personality nominee Jo Pavey.

Just in case you've forgotten, or aren't aware what's happening this evening, the reason why we're here tonight is to find out who will be crowned 2014 BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

The 10 contenders, in alphabetical order, are: Gareth Bale, Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Froch, Kelly Gallagher & Charlotte Evans, Lewis Hamilton, Rory McIlroy, Jo Pavey, Adam Peaty, Max Whitlock and Lizzy Yarnold.