The 2024 Sports Personality of the Year returned to BBC; however, within minutes, viewers took to social media with complaints.
The annual Sports Personality of the Year returned to the BBC in 2024, recognising and celebrating the accomplishments of some of the biggest names in sport.
As the event unfolded, Clare Balding, Alex Scott, and Gabby Logan opened the awards to roars of applause from the audience of fans and famous faces.
However, within minutes, viewers took to social media to complain about the all-women presenters and blast the broadcaster for having no men in the line-up, despite their long-standing careers in sport, before presenting its events.
Among the backlash, one wrote: “#SPOTY no male presenters? What happened to the politically correct inclusively? Guess it only works one way.”
Clare Balding, Alex Scott and Gabby Logan presented the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (Image: BBC)
Another slammed: “It wasn’t a lot of years ago that I’d never miss a minute of #SPOTY. Now I can’t stand to watch a minute of @BBCSport’s WOKEy approach. Total c***.”
As a fouth blasted: “Whatever happened to males sports presenters? #BBC #SPOTY.”
Despite the backlash, others supported the broadcasters decision to have all-women presenters including a fan who hit back: “SPOTY began in 1954, first female presenter was, I believe, Sue Barker in 1994 and now, in 2024, we have an all female presenting line up for the first time ever. Maybe you need a lie down.”
A sixth viewer added: “They’ve had three men for decades. Loads of sports shows have been nothing but men for decades and yet as soon as it’s women it’s a problem? Women do quite a lot of sport.”
The BBC Sport Personality of the Year presenters seemed to ruffle feathers (Image: BBC)
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As well as the presenting line-up, there was another major change to the Sports Personality of the Year which sparked a schedulling shake-up.
The event has continued taking place mid-week after breaking from its Sunday evening BBC slot in 2022.
This decision was initally made to avoid a clash with the Qatar World Cup final that year, and since then the broadcaster have continued to schedule the event for Tuesday evening.
This year’s celebration sees Keely Hodgkinson, Luke Littler and Jude Bellingham among the contenders for the highly coveted 2024 Sports Personality of the Year Award.
