I won't be tuning in, but does Luke have shot at pipping Rory to prize?

THIS year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be staged on the their main channel on Thursday at 7pm.

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SPOTY contenders Rory McIlroy and (right) Luke Littler

In years gone by, the programme was a must-watch show attracting millions of viewers. That is no longer the case.

The BBC does not hold the same big chest of sports rights. It has always worried me that the bookies more often than not seem to get the favourite right long before the live screening. The viewers voting choice is limited to a selected short list of six - three women and three men this year and the voting has such a short window in the two-hour show.

We are constantly told which number is for which sportsperson. Voting should be open after the first mention and should be far more transparent. I would love to see truly independent observers present.

Why are the three presenters all women this year? As the BBC preach equality, should there not be at least one male presenter. The BBC have plenty of talented males.

I do not have a problem with females presenting sport - there are some talented ones - but where are all the males on women's sports coverage?

I do believe in free speech -some no longer do in this country but before anyone accuses me of being anti-feminism, they should check their facts!

I brought in the first English female TV sport reporter, Barbara Slater, followed by the first TV female sports editor in Anne Barker.

I used Gabby Logan (then Gabby Yorath) to present sports shows on Central TV and gave Sarah-Jane Mee her first TV presenting job which was in sport.