Postpublished at 19:06 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
The contenders will be announced now. HERE WE GO...
Summary
Thomas wins Sports Personality award
Hamilton second & Kane third
Gareth Southgate wins Coach of the Year
England's netballers win Team of the Year & Greatest Moment of the Year
Francesco Molinari wins World Sport Star
Billie Jean King wins Lifetime Achievement award
Postpublished at 19:06 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
Postpublished at 19:06 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
Libby Dawes
BBC Sport at Sports Personality
Wow it’s loud in here... it’s going to be interesting to see the reactions in the crowd when the shortlist is announced in about 5 minutes' time!
How to register to votepublished at 19:06 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
You will be able to vote for your BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2018 during this year's programme - either by phone or for free online - but not until voting opens later in the show.
The nominees will be announced during the live show, with phone numbers for each of the nominees shown on screen during the broadcast.
Do not call until voting opens. If you wish to vote online, you will need a BBC account. Details of how to get one can be found HERE.
Postpublished at 19:05 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
Gabby Logan, Clare Balding and Gary Lineker are applauded onto the stage. They are talking about how sport brings everyone together. That's certainly true tonight. There's sporting legends everywhere!
Postpublished at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Love that song. Good stuff Paloma. I'm still not sure on that outfit though!
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 19:03 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
Libby Dawes
BBC Sport at Sports PersonalityWell I can certainly tell you it’s lifted immensely with the presence of Paloma Faith. NOW it’s a party!
Postpublished at 19:01 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
Aretha Franklin, known as the "queen of soul", died in Detroit at the age of 76 earlier this year and Paloma Faith will welcome in the show with a mixed version of 'Respect' - one of Franklin's biggest hits - as a tribute to the legendary singer.
It will have a little twist as the song is supported by an orchestra while a montage of some of this year's greatest sporting moments are shown on the big screen.
Faith will then sing her own song 'Make your own kind of music' as the presenters come onto the stage.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Aretha Franklin performed at former President Barack Obama's inauguration
Postpublished at 19:01 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
Here we go! The presenters are on.
Turn on the TV!published at 19:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
BBC OneLights, camera, action. We are going live on BBC One. Tune in now!
Postpublished at 18:58 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
Image source, Getty ImagesSprinter Dorothy Hyman (centre) has been presented with BBC Sports Personality of the Year award from 1963 that she didn't receive at the time from Steve Cram and Paula Radcliffe (right) during the pre-show.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 18:56 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
#spoty or text 81111 (UK only)
Image source, PAWill Finch: I don’t know #SPOTY contenders and I know Harry Kane, Lewis Hamilton and Anthony Joshua will be deservedly favourites, but my vote will be for Alastair Cook who has been a true hero for England cricket.
Postpublished at 18:53 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
Less than 10 minutes until the show starts! Here's tonight's presenters...
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End of instagram postBest moments of the yearpublished at 18:50 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
Social Media
Nick Coppack
BBC Sport social media leadI don’t think I’ll ever unsee Patrice Evra kissing and caressing a raw chicken, but my Social Media Moment of the Year has to be Harry Maguire co-opting the ‘Milk Edinburgh’ meme during the World Cup.
Maguire put his own spin on the topical (at the time) guy-shouting-in-ear-of-girl-who-is-clearly-bored meme the day after England secured a semi-final berth.
Who says footballers are bland and boring?
Image source, Harry Maguire TwitterPostpublished at 18:47 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
Libby Dawes
BBC Sport at Sports PersonalityIt’s filling up in the arena but I’ve popped backstage where the final touches are being made. For example, floor manager Tim is in charge of making sure there are no grubby fingerprints on any of the trophies...
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 18:43 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
#spoty or text 81111 (UK only)
Rahul Shah: Any one of Ronnie O'Sullivan, Dina Asher-Smith or Tyson Fury would be worthy winners tonight.
'I wanted to win races'published at 18:40 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
After winning three three gold medals at the European Championships in Berlin in August, Dina Asher-Smith says the time was right to move to the next level in her career: "When you're a junior, you think you're so lucky to be here but you never really take in the moment, you just kind of see how it goes.
"This year I thought: 'no, I'm tired of coming fourth in competitions, I want to be ranked here, I want to win this, I want to record these times'
"The rest of the line thought I could do it and it's the first time I've come back with that mentality, so it's a big change.
"I'm definitely going to keep this going forward."
Image source, BBC SportPostpublished at 18:37 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
There's plenty of Paralympians in the arena tonight. Britain enjoyed a terrific Commonwealth Games and Winter Paralympics this year.
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End of twitter postget involved Get Involvedpublished at 18:37 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
#spoty
Martin Warren: Looking forward to #SPOTY tonight.. my contenders for the trophy would be Tyson Fury, Lewis Hamilton Ronnie O’Sullivan or as an outside shout Harry Kane.
How to register to votepublished at 18:33 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
You will be able to vote for your BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2018 during this year's programme - either by phone or for free online - but not until voting opens later in the show.
The nominees will be announced during the live show, with phone numbers for each of the nominees shown on screen during the broadcast.
Do not call until voting opens. If you wish to vote online, you will need a BBC account. Details of how to get one can be found HERE.
Postpublished at 18:31 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2018
Libby Dawes
BBC Sport at Sports PersonalityI had a great chat with Oliver and James Phelps - aka Fred and George Weasley (Big moment for me as a huge Potter fan).
They told me they are massive sports fans and are totally fan-girling over the plethora of sporting stars.
I also asked about their favourite Christmas film.
“The Potters are always on at Christmas so we always feel festive,” James told me.
“I love Elf and Die Hard which is definitely a Christmas film” said Oliver.
SEE! An actor said so, so it must be true.