BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024 viewers slam huge change minutes into show

Keely Hodgkinson, Luke Littler and Jude Bellingham are among the contenders for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award but viewers have already been left frustrated by the event

Viewers have been left stunned by the BBC's decision to once again hold Sports Personality of the Year on a Tuesday night.

As the show kicked off in Salford, fans took to social media to fume over the event once again taking place midweek. Traditionally the programme was broadcast on a Sunday evening but saw that streak broke when it moved to a Tuesday in 2022.

That decision was made to avoid a clash with the final of the Qatar World Cup. Last year saw the decision to continue on a Tuesday evening and that has been repeated once again in 2024.

It has been suggested the change was made to ensure more stars were able to attend the ceremony. However, this year has seen contenders Joe Root and Jude Bellingham unable to attend - despite being in the running for the top prize.

That duo are in competition with Olympic gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson, teenage darts sensation Luke Littler, Paralympic cycling champion Sarah Storey and gold medal triathlete Alex Yee. While their achievements will all be celebrated, the timing of the award left viewers both angered and confused.

One social media user said: "Sports personality of the year on a Tuesday - what in hell is this. Sunday night is the night for this. Another tradition ruined…change is not good."

Another added: "Sports Personality of the Year on a TUESDAY?". A further comment said: "Sports Personality of The Year on a Tuesday night. I’m sure this always used to be on a Sunday night weekend before Christmas."

One damning comment added: "Never really ever understood the point of Sports Personality Of The Year, the title itself suggests it more about the person rather than the sport or the achievement. Understand it even less when it's held on a Tuesday night."

"WTF is Sports Personality of the Year doing on a Tuesday evening," said another. "Times are changing my friend."

"I remember fondly, in my childhood, 'Sports Review of the year' on Sunday nights, and it was about sport, and it was fun," said a further user.

"I'm just trying to come to terms with SPOTY being on a Tuesday night!!! It was always the Sunday night before Christmas Day! I'm old."

"Absolute nonsense that #SPOTY is on a Tuesday night," another complained. "#SPOTY on at 7pm on a random Tuesday?! What the? This used to be a key feature of the festive BBC schedule!"

In addition to the main award, the BBC give out a number of others on their special awards show. Those included World Sport Star of the Year, Helen Rollason Award, Young Sports Personality of the Year, Unsung Hero as well as Coach of the Year, Team of the Year and Lifetime Achievement award.