THE BBC has announced that Liverpool will host the sporting calendar, BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2017.

Presenters Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan will be back to present and celebrate the best sporting achievements from the past year in front of an audience of nearly 11,000, while broadcasting live to millions on BBC One, from Echo Arena Liverpool on Sunday, December 17.

Last year, Wimbledon men’s singles champion Andy Murray picked up the coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award for a record third time in front of a 12,000-strong audience at Birmingham's Genting Arena.

Director of BBC Sport Barbara Slater said: “2017 marks a very exciting year of sport. From England winning the Six Nations to Chelsea winning the Premier League, Arsenal scooping the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium to Anthony Joshua’s nail-biting knock out fight against Wladimir Klitschko.

“With plenty more highlights still to come we’re going to be spoiled for choice and the nominee list will once again be genuinely difficult to pull together.”

Ian Ayre, chair of The ACC Liverpool Group, which includes Echo Arena Liverpool said: “We are honoured to host BBC Sports Personality of the Year for a second time in Echo Arena Liverpool.

“It was a great success when it was held here during the venue’s inaugural year and we are pleased to welcome back this prestigious event to Liverpool – a city with such an illustrious sporting heritage.”

The ceremony will be shown on BBC One and BBC One HD. Tickets will go on sale later this year.

For more information, please visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sports-personality