Clare Balding and Alex Scott presented this year’s Sports Personality of the Year on BBC One.

Alex Scott was one of the hosts this year (Image: BBC)

A total of six sports stars have been nominated for Sports Personality of the Year, and BBC viewers have been voting for the past few days for their 2025 winner. The nominees include England footballers Hannah Hampton and Chloe Kelly, darts player Luke Littler, golf legend Rory McIlroy and F1 driver Lando Norris. However, just moments into the Sports Personality of the Year 2025, viewers were quick to issue the same complaint about the programme, which aired at 7pm this evening (Thursday, December 18). Flocking to X, one BBC fan noted: “I always thought #SPOTY was on a Sunday…” A second remarked: “Worst opening montage I’ve ever seen/heard.”

A third added: “So, just found out it’s SPOTY tonight. I used to watch it, going back as far as when Rummy was on it. Not any more, not for quite a few years. Like everything else, the @BBC have absolutely ruined it.”

Another noted: “#Spoty on a Thursday night sad!”Historically, the show had aired on a Sunday evening, but it has been changed to better accommodate the schedules of sporting stars.

Despite the backlash, other viewers were desperate to know who would win, with one person sharing: “I haven’t watched #SPOTY in years – but I hope @McIlroyRory wins it!”

Someone else added: “I would like to see Lando Norris win, but I just think he will get pipped by Rory by the looks of the betting odds, which aren’t usually wrong.”

Thierry Henry won a prestigious award at the event (Image: Getty)

Ahead of the winner’s announcement, various other awards were presented, including the Lifetime Achievement award, which was given to former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry.

The 48-year-old, who retired in 2014, was selected as the winner by senior management at BBC Sport, which considered him one of the greatest players in the Premier League. The sporting star’s young children presented him with the honour during an emotional moment on the show.

“I want to say thank you to everyone who believed in me, and also the ones who didn’t,” the footballer said while accepting the award before adding, “Trust me, the list is long, we don’t have time for that.” He later dedicated the gong to his children in a heartwarming moment, which left viewers in tears.

The winner was revealed at the end of the programme as Rory, who received a rapturous applause from the audience.

Sports Personality of the Year is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.