Britain’s Davis Cup winners take BBC award — Sports Personality

The former England football star told HuffPostUK before the awards that it was right Tyson Fury was on the shortlist for the high-profile accolade, because he was “a world champion, at the end of the day”.

Some 7,500 people are expected to pack into the SSE Arena for the star-studded ceremony.

Tyson Fury has apologised for any offence his controversial comments about women and homosexuality may have caused. “In 1998, things happened where I wish they hadn’t but they did”, he said.

However, he stopped short of saying the BBC should have excluded the boxer.

‘An excellent boxer Tyson Fury may be, however his extremely callous and erroneous remarks about our community make him an unworthy candidate to be recognised among the UK’s excellent sporting personalities and ambassador’.

Other famous faces shortlisted for the evening’s main award included long jumper Greg Rutherford, Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, footballer Lucy Bronze, runner Mo Farah and Otley cycling ace Lizzie Armitstead. It’s just a bit of fun for me.

During his speech, the 28-year-old explained that his wife Kim, who is often seen cheering him from the sidelines, could not attend as “she’s expecting a baby in a few weeks and is unable to travel”. “I was lucky to live my life as a jockey through it and for that I will be for ever grateful”.

About 30 protesters, joined by Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister, expressed their anger that Fury was still in the running for the prize outside the arena.

But he still won more than 70,000 votes, notes Arnold. and those people “voted for someone who thinks it is OK to joke about violence against women”, she says.

There were also big names from the world of horse racing including JP McManus, Aiden O’Brien, Ruby Walsh and Charlie Swan.

And the SPOTY Award 2015 went to… One Direction’s Niall Horan presented Bailey with the trophy alongside two-time Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington. Kevin Sinfield (278,353); 3.

He added: “You never can please everybody but I have tried my whole career to be myself as much as I could”.

Sport’s Unsung Hero: Damien Lindsay, a Belfast youth football coach.

However, there can be little doubt that Murray will want to do even better next year and get back to winning Grand Slams.

He said he was humbled by the honour.

“It’s an event I’ve watched for years on TV and as someone who is a not only a GAA player, I’m an avid sports fan too, to be here is fantastic” he said. It has been 79 years since we won the Davis Cup.