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Elizabeth Hudson
BBC Sport's Paralympics reporter in Rio

Image source, Rex Features

The build-up to the Rio Paralympics had plenty of controversy – the decision to ban all Russian athletes, low ticket sales and financial problems meant that there was plenty of apprehension about what sort of a Games it would be.

But once the opening ceremony started on 7 September, all of that was forgotten. The Brazilian crowds took the Games to their hearts, flocking to the Park daily and it was a joy to see the Carioca help it become the second-most attended Paralympics ever with record-breaking performances across all sports.

Of course, there were disappointments – athletics, one of the most high-profile sports, had low crowds, in part because of its location outside the Park, and even now, there are continuing financial issues over travel grants.

But ParalympicsGB forgot all that and surpassed expectations, winning the most golds (64) and the most medals (147) of any British Paralympic team since 1988 to finish second in the medal table behind China.

They claimed medals in 15 sports with gold in 11, thanks to history makers like Sarah Storey and Kadeena Cox. But with standards rising, it means ParalympicsGB will not rest on their laurels because the challenge has started already for Tokyo 2020.

Ever wondered which sport fared best at SPOTY?

Yes? See below. No? Tough. See below.

Mo Farah is representing tonight...

Joe Atkin: Ranieri deserves coach of the year.. What an incredible job he did at Leicester last season!

John Greechan: Pleased for Claudio, mind. Hell of a nice guy.

Keely: Now I'm properly crying! Well done Claudio. 

Dilly-ding, dilly-dong, coach of the year, come on!

His appointment at Leicester earned a luke-warm reception at best, but former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri proved most of us wrong when he led the Foxes to a surprise Premier League title win in May.

He's won 33 and drawn 20 of his 68 games in charge and his infectious personality has won everyone over. 

He gets a standing ovation from the Genting Arena and is given the award by Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill and his Northern Ireland counterpart Michael O'Neill. 

Image source, Getty Images

Libby Dawes
BBC Sport Online

We are almost ready to hand out our first of the awards... 

Here they are. That's a lot of metal polish. 

Image source, Rex Features

You didn't think we'd introduce Leicester City and not play some Kasabian did you?

The 132 Foxes fans who have travelled tonight will be enjoying this (hopefully).

Take it away, Sergio.

Jamie Vardy spoke to Nick Owen on the red carpet earlier on, focusing on his humble origins in lower league football to tonight's glitzy gala. 

He's adamant that there are plenty more potential Vardys waiting to be discovered around the country, saying: "I still pinch myself most days bit it’s a good thing remembering where I’ve come from and the hard work that’s gone into it.

"I think there's loads [of talent], the scouting system thinks there’s loads so hopefully that will produce much more in future."

And asked about being nominated for the main award tonight: "It's an amazing feeling but there’s a lot of tough competition so we’ll just have to wait and see."

Image source, Rex Features

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

My personal highlight came on 7 May at The King Power Stadium, when Leicester City received the Premier League title and it seemed the city’s entire population came to celebrate.

And making it even more special was the scene before kick-off against Everton when manager Claudio Ranieri, a model of humility, humour and dignity at the heart of this amazing story, led his fellow Italian and great tenor Andrea Bocelli – blind since the age of 12 – into the centre circle.

The fact that black clouds and thunder were rolling around the stadium at the time made it pure theatre.

What followed was a spine-tingling moment of emotion as many inside The King Power Stadium were moved to tears by Bocelli's performance of Nessun Dorma, taking off his jacket to reveal a Leicester City shirt as he fulfilled a promise to Ranieri to perform on this occasion if the Foxes became champions.

This was no ordinary title win – and this was no ordinary title celebration.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

This was a 12 months which belonged to world number one Mark Selby.

Four ranking title victories including the World and UK Championship meant he became the first player in 15 years to win snooker’s two biggest prizes in the same year.

Witnessing his triumph over Ding Junhui at the Crucible in Sheffield – which came at the same time as Leicester sensationally won the Premier League – has been a career highlight of mine, especially after telling me afterwards it was “the greatest night of his life”.

A special mention also goes to Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh. Having TWICE missed the black while on a maximum 147 break, he finally managed to go all the way at the Paul Hunter Classic. From Un-Nooh, to Oh Yes.

Nanette Thomas: You've got to love the Kennys, such a lovely down to earth super Olympian couple!

Owen Collins: Sir Chris Hoy steals the show with nearly two hours still to go.

Sir Chris Hoy in a cupboard! This is the night that just keeps on giving. 

The Kennys are great sports for getting on board with the BBC production team's weird and wacky ideas. 

Fancy some behind the scenes pictures from 'At home with the Kennys'?

Here they are:

Image source, Tom Butt

BBC Sport assistant producer Tom Butt, who directed the film, said it was great fun but the day had its challenges. 

"The opening sequence of this film... the car they are driving was meant to have tin cans dangling out of the back to illustrate they’d just got married but they all fell off after one take. I feel for the poor runner who had to run down the road picking them all up!"

Image source, Tom Butt

BBC Sport producer Jamie Gavin tells us a little more about Danny Willett's contender film. 

"We went back to the course Danny first learned to play golf at as a young boy - Birley Wood public golf course in Sheffield - Danny used to walk with his clubs on his back up the hill, or get the tram from his home at the bottom of the hill (his dad was a vicar at the local church) about a mile away from the golf course. 

"Local golfer Joe Carnell played the part of 'young Danny Willett' before concluding the filming a few days later with 'the real' Danny Willett - who joked with the greenkeepers and posed for selfies with members and staff as he returned to where it all started. 

"The course is referred to locally as 'Royal Birley' and Danny was once told off for wearing the grass out by the 18th green by practising his chipping too much. 

"A big thank you to all at Birley Wood for helping make this shoot happen - especially the green staff who especially changed the colour of the flag for us from red to yellow when we returned with Danny two days later."

Two revelations from these Yorkshire men on stage right now.

1) Danny Willett made Gary Lineker a few pennies by winning the Masters.

2) Alistair Brownlee has a potty mouth.

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Voting will not open until all of the candidates have been profiled on BBC One.

Image source, Rex Features

The end of the year brings celebration, but also some sadness.

Among the many talented men and women we have lost this year are young rock band Viola Beach. You might have recognised their song Swings and Waterslides when Brownlee and Willett walked on together.

The Warrington-based band and their manager, Craig Tarry, were killed in a car crash in Sweden. Tarry was a Manchester City fan and the Premier League club paid tribute to him and the band with a minute's applause earlier in the year.

A couple of really stunning films, there, for Alistair Brownlee and Danny Willett.

Is that a tear in your eye already? I see you...

Warren Pilkington: Classical remake of the Superstars theme on #SPOTY - nice touch. Wish that show was back on telly mind you.