Image source, Getty Images

Harry Kane: The man with the Golden Boots. It sounds like a Bond film, right?

The 24-year-old Tottenham striker been a man on a mission this year. He finished the Premier League's top scorer for the second successive season with 29 goals.

Kane scored six hat-tricks in 2017 and was also the only English player to be shortlisted for the Ballon d'Or prize.

He's been an important cog for England too after netting a crucial equaliser against Scotland as captain, and sealed the team's qualification for the 2018 World Cup with the only goal against Slovenia.

While England fans will be pinning their hopes on him in Russia next year, Kane's focus is clear: "At some stage, I want to be the best player in the world".

The full list of Sports Personality contenders can be found here.

England manager Gareth Southgate has stopped for a chat on the tonight's red carpet.

"Its always a brilliant event - we're represented by our junior teams so it's a fantastic opportunity for them."

What did Southgate make of England's World Cup draw?

"I think because of the way the draw works you're always going to get two teams you've got a good chance against and one team who are ranked higher then us so it's in our hands now."

And England's chances in Russia?

"If we've got lots of nominations for SPOTY the next year then we'll be in a really good place, so that's our aim, we're really looking forward to it and it's starting to feel real now we've got the draw."

Image source, BBC Sport

Sir Steve Redgrave, winner in 2000 after his fifth consecutive Olympic rowing gold medal, has stopped for a word and presenter Annabel Tiffin asks him for his memories of that night.

"I had been nominated a couple of times before and there was the excitement, is it going to be me, what am I going to say," he says.

"The year I did win, I spoke reasonably well but forgot to mention my wife - not great when she's the team doctor as well."

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

A former bricklayer turned heavyweight champion. It's been quite a year for boxer Anthony Joshua.

The former Olympic champion dazzled 90,000 people at Wembley in April when he added the WBA world heavyweight title to his IBF crown with an enthralling knockout win over Wladimir Klitschko.

Joshua then retained titles with a dogged win over Carlos Takam in Cardiff in October.

He took victory in the 10th round despite breaking his nose in an accidental clash of heads in the second round.

And he's continuing to aim

"I'm serious about becoming undisputed heavyweight champion of the world," said the 28-year-old.

You can vote online via the BBC Sport website or by telephone. To cast your vote online you will need to be signed in to a BBC account.

If you already have an account you can sign in here.

If you do not have an account, you will need to register before you can vote. Details on how to do this can be found here.

Voting will open during the Sports Personality of the Year show which starts at 18:45 GMT on BBC One and streamed on this page.

If you want to vote by phone, numbers will be broadcast during the show and will also be made available.

Voting terms and conditions can be found here.

Image source, BBC Sport

Our first sighting of former winners of the main award - Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who won in 1984 after unforgettably taking Olympic ice dance gold in Sarajevo when they danced to Bolero.

Libby Dawes
BBC Sport at the Echo Arena

Most sports stars are not naturally comfortable in this environment. Sweaty gyms are more their scene.

But we love seeing them all dressed up for occasions like this don't we...

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at the Echo Arena, Liverpool

I caught up with Noel Gallagher backstage before he performs at the show.

"Usually when I play at awards, it means I've won something. Maybe I'm up for most improved shot putter 2017," he joked.

Easy for him to name his sporting highlight of the year...

"Manchester City this season with Guardiola and the emergence of Kevin de Bruyne as the best player in the world," he said.

Image source, BBC Sport

European 10,000m champion and all-round inspiration Jo Pavey has got involved in the #BigThankYou.

You should, too. Tell us who in sport you would like to thank for their help and dedication this year

Image source, Jo Pavey

Image source, Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton became Britain's best in 2017.

The 32-year-old clinched his fourth world title at the Mexican Grand Prix in October, an achievement which made him the country's most successful Formula 1 driver.

He moved one championship clear of Sir Jackie Stewart and stands joint third in the all-time title standings behind Michael Schumacher (seven) and Juan Manuel Fangio (five).

And he earned the record with two races to go.

"I can't believe that I've got four," he said at the time. "You've just got to enjoy the ones you have."

The full list of Sports Personality contenders can be found here.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at the Echo Arena, Liverpool

Olympic hockey gold medallist Samantha Quek is a presenter on the red carpet show - as Sports Personality comes from her home city of Liverpool.

"It's incredible to be here," she said.

"It's a great opportunity for us to show what we've got. This is the event you want to be at."

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Red Button

Turn over now to the BBC News Channel or Red Button, or click play on this page, to watch our Red Carpet Show from the Echo Arena.

If you're into celebrity spotting, this is right up your street.

Image source, Getty Images

From teenage mountain bike rider to a tour de force on the roads, Chris Froome has secured his place as one of the world's most renowned cyclists.

In 2017, the 32-year-old claimed a fourth Tour de France title and became the first Briton to triumph in the Vuelta a Espana.

He is just the third rider to win the Tour-Vuelta double in the same year.

The Team Sky rider also won two bronze medals at the World Championships in September - in the individual and team time trials.

"To win two Grand Tours is an amazing feeling and it's going to be hard to top," said Froome.

His next mission is to hold all three Grand Tour titles.

The full list of Sports Personality contenders can be found here.

Get Inspired
Get Inspired

Tweet your #BigThankYou to the volunteers who help at whatever level of sport...

Former British marathon runner Mara Yamauchi: A #BigThankYou, external to all the amazing volunteers who enable us to enjoy running and athletics in the UK. You are invaluable!

And from Paralympic gold medallist Anne Dickins...

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Image source, Getty Images

Everyone watching the qualifying at the World Championships in London let out a short, sharp gasp when British athlete Mo Farah took not one but two tumbles on his way to the finals.

No drama, though. The four-time Olympic champion stayed on his feet when it mattered the most and came away with gold in the 10,000m and silver in the 5,000m.

With 10 major global titles under his belt, and a knighthood, Sir Mo ended his track career in August.

"It's been a long journey but it's been incredible," said the 34-year-old.

Is it time for a rest? Nope, he's now focused on road running instead.

The full list of Sports Personality contenders can be found here.

Remember Hero the Hedgehog and his antics at the World Athletics Championships?

Of course you do.

Well, he's made it to Liverpool and the acrobatics are back...

BBC Sport app users may need to select the link above.

A big fan of Instagram?

Head over to BBC Sport's account, external for loads of behind-the-scenes pictures and videos from the Echo Arena.

You can vote online via the BBC Sport website or by telephone. To cast your vote online you will need to be signed in to a BBC account.

If you already have an account you can sign in here.

If you do not have an account, you will need to register before you can vote. Details on how to do this can be found here.

Voting will open during the Sports Personality of the Year show which starts at 18:45 GMT on BBC One and streamed on this page.

If you want to vote by phone, numbers will be broadcast during the show and will also be made available.

Voting terms and conditions can be found here.

Darts player Paul Nicholson: So disappointed not to be able to attend #SPOTY tonight due to picking up a sickness bug. I guess it just wasn’t meant to be this year. To everyone who is attending with @BBCSport, external, have a magnificent evening.

Trampoline gymnast Luke Strong: Excited to be attending my first @BBCSPOTY, external tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

Elise Christie is the bounceback queen...on ice.

The 27-year-old endured a difficult Winter Olympics in Sochi after being penalised in all three of her events and received social media abuse in the days that followed.

This year has been a different story.

Christie took the 1,000m, 1500m and overall titles at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Rotterdam in March, and won bronze in the 3,000m.

"I thought about quitting a few times and I wanted to change sports," she said. "I just cannot believe I turned it all around."

Next stop: the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, as one of Team GB's big medal hopes.

The full list of Sports Personality contenders can be found here.