Libby Dawes
BBC Sport Online

Team GB's hockey stars have all arrived in their sparkliest garms. They've been praising Leicester City's achievement winning the Premier League.

"We know we are against them tonight for Team of the Year but what they achieved shocked the nation, if not the world."

"We're still going to beat them!" adds Sam Quek, fresh from the I'm A Celebrity jungle. 

It was a year of firsts for this lad from Leeds.

In 2016, he became the first man to retain the Olympic men's triathlon title; he is the first triathlete to be named among the SPOTY nominees and he is also (*probably*) the first triathlete to break the internet with a clip of him carrying his brother over the finish line in a race.

This one-man swimming-biking-running machine gave us some unforgettable moments over the last 12 months.

Alistair Brownlee, we salute you.

Pouting selfies aplenty at the Genting Arena. 

Dame Sarah Storey, who became Britain's most decorated female Paralympian after three golds in Rio took her tally to 14 titles in all from swimming and cycling.

"It's a huge honour to be here again and to have had such a successful year," said Storey. 

"I'm so proud of my whole team, I couldn't have been here without them; it started with my parents taking me to all those early morning training sessions and now my husband Barney is an integral part of a huge team effort.

"[After having a child] at one point I was at home with four stone more on me more than at London 2012. I didn't feel any pressure to come back, but I'm more driven than ever now and being able to celebrate with Louisa, my daughter, is  better than anything before."

Image source, Getty Images

He may have lost his title of the 'Most Expensive Player In The World' in August (step forward, Paul Pogba), but Gareth Bale still had a summer to remember.

The Cardiff-born forward played a major part in Wales incredible run at Euro 2016. 

Having qualified for their first major tournament since 1958, Wales topped Group B and overcame Northern Ireland and Belgium to reach the semi-finals, where they lost out to tournament winners Portugal.

Bale scored three goals for his country and came home a hero. 

At club level, Bale has helped Real Madrid win five trophies in the past three seasons, including the Champions League in 2014 and 2016. 

Da iawn, Gareth. Da iawn.  

BBC School Report

We've got some budding journalists on the red carpet tonight. 

BBC News School Reporters from Holyhead School in Birmingham will be bringing you all the latest gossip and pictures via @BBCSchoolReport, external on Twitter.

They've already been asking some killer questions to the contenders - here's their Q&A with Young Sports Personality of the Year winner Ellie Robinson. 

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport

It's getting rather crowded with stars on the red carpet right now. If it's not one Olympic champion, it's another...

Triathlete Alistair Brownlee is interviewed by one TV crew, while cyclists Jason and Laura Kenny are also in demand.

Adam Peaty, who smashed his own world record to take Olympic gold in the men's 100m breaststroke at Rio 2016.

"I'm not very comfortable in a suit, I'm more comfortable in my swimming stuff...  

"I've been here for three years now and each year I keep coming back hoping to win but it's great to be here.

"Tonight it's all about giving back to my family, British swimming and all the people who were watching the Olympics this summer. Hopefully it'll all lead to getting more people in the water."  

Image source, Rex Features

Tom Daley is live now. On BBC Sport's Facebook page. What are you waiting for?

"She has blazed her trail with a sunny disposition that belies the brutality she metes out in the ring."

This is how Nicola Adams was introduced on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs earlier this month.

Quite an apt description of the so-called 'Baby-faced Assassin'.

Adams, from Leeds, is the first female boxer to hold European, World, Commonwealth and Olympic titles.

She won the flyweight title again in Rio this year - the first British boxer to retain an Olympic crown for 92 years.

The 34-year-old accepted the inspirational 'Paving The Way' award at this year's Mobo awards, and delivered a rousing speech with ended with the words: "I'm standing here now receiving this award, and this is what I say: Tell me I can't, and that's why I will."

Robert Donovan: Man Utd winning the FA Cup, sacking Van Gaal, and appointing Mourinho all in the space of a few days.

Santa Laurs: My sporting moment of 2016: Murray-Delpo, Olympics men's tennis final. Brilliant match & showed what could have been w/out injuries.

Jo Gilliver: Amazing Nick Skelton! And Piers Gilliver. Paralympic silver - breaking 24-year Paralympic medal drought for GB Wheelchair fencing!

Ahhhh, Piers Gilliver's mum's nominated her son! A proud moment.

Image source, Getty Images

If I were you, I'd turn on the Red Button right now because Darren Campbell, former British sprinter, is wearing a quite incredible suit. 

Image source, .

Image source, PA

More star-spotting now. Cyclist Joanna Rowsell Shand, a key part of the gold medal-winning team pursuit squad at this year's Olympics, has arrived in Birmingham to see how tonight's events unfold.

You can watch the special Red Carpet Show right now at the top of this page. 

Yes, Judy!

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport

Sports Personality contender Adam Peaty was among the first to arrive on the red carpet and said he was pleased to help raise the profile of his sport, swimming.

The Olympic gold medallist, alongside his girlfriend Anna, said: "This is the time to do it. Swimming is one of the nation's favourite sports. We need the younger talent to come through."

Here's a brief taster of what the 15 people nominated for the 2016 BBC Get Inspired Unsung Hero award get up to.

You can find out much more about them here. 

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

"Michael, Michael, Michael..."

That's the cry from photographers as they clamour for a shot of the record-breaking Olympian.

American swimmer Phelps will receive the lifetime achievement award after winning his 23rd Olympic gold in Rio.

Libby Dawes
BBC Sport Online

Lifetime achievement award winner Michael Phelps is in Birmingham people... This is not a drill. 

He's currently chatting on the Red Button to TV legend Nick Owen.

And if you want to play along at home, here's our SPOTY Bingo game. If there is any mention or sign of the following things happening, tick them off.

Quick hint: We're expecting most to happen! Gary Lineker, by the way, cut himself on the trophy last year.

And if you're really keen... the Red Carpet Show is now beginning on the Red Button.

Lovely.