Anthony Joshua is favourite to be crowned Sports Personality of the Year after a hugely successful 2017.

The Watford heavyweight became world champion after stopping Wladimir Klitschko to claim the WBA, IBF and IBO titles in front of 80,000 spectators at Wembley in April.

After a rematch with the Ukrainian fell through due to Klitschko’s retirement, Joshua extended his perfect record to 2-0 by knocking out Carlos Takam last month.

While Joshua leads the way for the prestigious gong, he faces stern competition from leading lights of world sport who complete the 12-strong shortlist.

Lewis Hamilton, who won his fourth Formula One world championship, looks to be his closest challenger and Chris Frome also has a strong claim for thHe award.

Frome won his fourth Tour de France as well as becoming the first British rider to win the Veulta a Espana.

In doing so he became only the fourth cyclist in history to win both the Tour and Veulta in the same year, and the first since 1995.

Mo Farah is also in the running after claiming his third consecutive 10,000m world championship gold, while Andy Murray, who helped Britain to the Davis Cup, will hope to defend his title.

His fellow tennis star, Johanna Konta, joins him on the shortlist after reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals.

Paralympian Jonnie Peacock is rewarded for his triumph in the T44 100m World Para-athletics championships.

Adam Peaty could well be an outside bet to win the prize after winning the 50m and 100m breaststroke world titles.

He also broke his own world record twice in one day at the World Aquatic Championships in Hungary in July.

The list of nominees is completed by Jonathan Rea (motorcycling), Anya Shrubsole (cricket), Bianca Walkden (taekwondo), Harry Kane (football), Elise Christie (short track speed skating).