BBC Sports Personality of the Year - 2008

Live from the Echo Arena in Liverpool, Sue Barker, Gary Lineker and Jake Humphrey present a celebration of the best moments from an extraordinary year of sport. The evening climaxes with the presentation of the most prestigious award in British sport when the Sports Personality of the Year is crowned, an award chosen by the viewers from a shortlist of 10 contenders. This year's race promises to be the closest for years. 2008 was the year when Great Britain celebrated its best Olympics for 100 years, with 47 medals, 19 of them gold. All of the stars from Beijing will be in attendance, including triple gold medallist Chris Hoy and double gold medal winner Rebecca Adlington, as well as Ben Ainslie, Bradley Wiggins, Christine Ohuruogu, Nicole Cooke, Rebecca Romero and Victoria Pendleton. The British Paralympic team also enjoyed outstanding success in Beijing, with 42 golds, including two for teenage swimming sensation Ellie Simmonds. The event is the biggest in the 55-year history of Sports Personality of the Year. The glittering cast list also includes many of the world's biggest sporting names, including many former winners such as Joe Calzaghe, Lord Sebastian Coe, Sir Steve Redgrave and Dame Kelly Holmes. As well as the main award of Sports Personality of the Year, other awards include the Lifetime Achievement Award, which will honour one of the world's true sporting legends. And further awards will be made to the Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Overseas Sports Personality, Young Sports Personality of the Year, Sports Unsung Hero and the Helen Rollason Award for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity. This is a special edited version of the original programme.