SPOTY LIVE: Luke Littler snubs event as Arsenal legend handed BBC award | Other | Sport

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony will be screened live this evening, with six sportspeople in the frame to win the trophy. But Luke Littler will snub the event, despite making it onto the shortlist to land the main prize.

Rory McIlroy is the odds-on favourite to claim this year’s award after winning the Masters in April to complete a career Grand Slam. Lando Norris is expected to be McIlroy’s main rival, with the racing driver clinching his maiden F1 title earlier this month. And Chloe Kelly is also in with a chance of winning the award after helping England lift the UEFA European Women’s Championship trophy in July.

Kelly’s England team-mate Hannah Hampton is also in the reckoning for the prize, as is Ellie Kildunne, who played a starring role as England won the Women’s Rugby World Cup in September. Meanwhile, Arsenal icon Thierry Henry is set to be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award, 11 years after retiring from football.

Express Sport will have updates in the build up to the ceremony and during the ceremony itself, so follow our live blog below.