Sports Personality of the Year LIVE: Latest updates and results as Beth Mead wins award ahead of Ben Stokes

And here is Ben Stokes, who is back home following England’s series victory over Pakistan: “Managed to land back in the country this morning. It’s been an amazing three months to look back on. Pakistan was another progression for our Test team. To say we’re the only team to whitewash Pakistan is incredible. Hopefully this team can keep setting records and make people want to watch Test cricket.

“We’re trying to get BazBall cancelled, but taking the job was an opportunity for me to do something new. Allowing people to go out and play with freedom, not worrying about failure.

“Speaking out about my situation [mental health], I take real pride in hearing I’ve helped a lot of people. When you go through bad times it makes the good times better.”

Ben Stokes

Stokes was voted Sports Personality of the Year in 2019 and is in the running again after a hugely successful year. He guided England to the T20 World Cup, holding his nerve under huge pressure, and has overseen three Test series victories since being appointed captain in April. On Tuesday, he helped England write history by becoming the first team to win 3-0 in Pakistan.

“Ben Stokes, Cricket Superman, swooping in whenever there’s a game that needs rescuing. Even the seemingly superhuman, face very human challenges. Just months after returning to cricket, Stokes was asked to lead England’s Test team. He decided the only way was up. Full throttle. No brakes. In a good of tradition and convention he sparked a revolution. Unthinkable. Unmissable. This is the year cricket’s Superman convinced other men they could fly.”

“I did fear that he would never play, I’m so glad he has. Ben Stokes is a force of nature,” says Joe Root.

Jos Buttler: “Huge pride in the whole group. Like everyone in the room tonight you have dreams but to go on and achieve the World Cup was special.”

There was more success for England’s T20 team, though, as they won the World Cup to add to their 50-over title. Jos Buttler’s team defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win the World Cup, and the England side are in Salford tonight.

England’s Red Roses had a brilliant year, winning 30 matches in a row to reach the Women’s Rugby World Cup final. They could not make it a perfect 31, however, as hosts New Zealand defended their title in front of 41,000 fans in a thrilling final.

There’s a musical interlude now as Tom Grennan sings over a montage of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

“Good evening everyone from Jamaica, I’m sorry I can’t be there. For me, it’s an honour to be among the greats who have won this award, Pele, Ali.

“I want to wish everyone Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.”

“He was unmissable, uncatchable. The world has seen nothing like Usain Bolt.”

The world’s fastest man and 19-time global sprint champion is the lifetime achievement award winner!

“I feel accomplished. I’ve accomplished all I wanted to in my sport so it’s a great feeling to know that with determination and sacrifice that I could achieve what I want. That’s what I say to people, believe in yourself and go out and do your best.

“For me [breaking the 100m record] was about confidence. I was so confident and prepared that I could go out and break the record. I was focussed and about going out to prove myself.”

Jake Wightman, chatting to Gabby Logan on how things have changed since his 1,500m gold medal: “Sadly, winter starts again and you start where you were. It’s a big milestone ticked off in my career. On the final straight there was only fear, the shcok on my face was ‘I’ve actually done this’.

“I wish I could say I heard my Dad commentating, but I didn’t. It was special, though, for him to be part of the atmosphere.

“Tokyo was scarring for me, coming away with 10th. Throughout the winter, you realise that you can sulk or be motivated. We went to some hard graft where I did a lot more mileage. Throughout the easter and summer, that hard work started to pay off.”

Jake Wightman on winning 1500m world championship gold in Oregon, becoming Britain’s first champion in the event for nearly 40 years, as his father Geoff was commentating on the race in the stadium:

“I spoke to my Dad the day before and his advice was, ‘How often do you get to stand on the start line of a global final that you have to run to win’.

“The main thing you guage off is the noise of the crowd and I just assumed it was because Jakob Ingebrigtsen was coming. I think everyone in the athletics world was shocked by it as well, including my Mum and Dad.

“I’m glad he could enjoy and share in as much of the emotion as I can, because it has been his journey as much as mine.”