Bungling Gary Lineker appears to let slip SPOTY 2019 champion early as he introduces Ben Stokes as ‘main award winner’
BUNGLING Gary Lineker appeared to name Ben Stokes as the winner of this year’s Sports Personality of The Year – an hour before the official announcement was due.
The Match of The Day presenter was introducing England’s heroic Cricket World Cup stars onto the stage when he seemed to let slip tonight’s result.
As Eoin Morgan and Jason Roy walked on stage with Stokes, Lineker called the batter the “main award winner”.
Fans online were quick to spot the apparent spoiler.
One said: “Bit of a shocker from Lineker getting Eoin Morgan’s name wrong and announcing Stokes as #SPOTY winner!”
Another said: “Gary Lineker just referred to Ben Stokes as the ‘main award winner’ then had to change it to ‘contender’ and now he’s all flustered. Whoops!”
One added: “Gary Lineker introduced Ben stokes as the winner.”
Stokes is the bookies favourite for the award, after becoming a national hero for his part in the dramatic super over win at Lord’s over New Zealand.
And if that wasn’t enough, he was at it again just a month later as he struck one of the greatest Test innings of all time against Australia at Headingley to keep the Ashes alive.
Just behind is Asher-Smith, after a huge 2019 saw her win THREE medals at the World Championships.
She smashed the national record in both the 100m and 200m, before rounding things off with a silver in the 4x100m.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2019
It was a good start for Asher-Smith as her trainer John Blackie was named as the Coach of the year.
Asher-Smith joked how the two are in talks about whether she is allowed to have Christmas Day off.