THE BBC Sports Personality of the Year award has been running since 1954, the brainchild of Paul Fox, and, by its very nature, has to be all things to all men and women. It is also in extremely safe hands.

After a three-year stint as deputy, Carl Doran became executive editor of the show in 2006. It was his call to take SPOTY on the road, and, similarly, much of the innovation was his. However, this means the responsibility of being custodian of tradition is also his. Doran is happy with the current balance.

“It’s a huge event that’s on BBC1, and we do lots of things around it, both in the lead up and on the evening itself,” he said.

“But we are aiming at a wider audience, not just sports fans, but, people who are interested in going to bigger sporting events in general, such as Olympic Games. They might not follow a particular sport, but the see the appeal and the attraction of big events that just happen to be of a sporting nature.

“As a show, because we are in such a large arena with a massive audience there on the night, a mixture of the sports stars and the general public, we want to make it as entertaining as possible and do other things, such as performances from the likes of Noel Gallagher and Rag ’n’ Bone Man.

“In terms of the sporting talent, we want to be as inclusive as possible and include all the major sports, and recognise all the sporting achievements that our athletes and competitors have reached. If that doesn’t sound easy, it isn’t.

“But that’s what comes when you are putting together what is certainly a very broad and appealing programme.

“I don’t think we can please all of the people all of the time and I don’t think everyone will be happy with the nominations or the eventual winners. But for me, having been involved with the programme for so long, it only shows how much people care about a programme which has been going a considerable length of time. And that is fabulous for me, because I care about it, too.

“I take that feeling and passion as a compliment to the event and the show.

“At times, there will be complaints and controversies. That is part of any show or programme where winning is based on opinion. And opinions run high.

“But regardless, sport is the main focus. The programme is based around the year of sport and celebrating that. Where we do a musical performance, we often have all the great images and people from the sporting year.

“It’s just a more entertaining and appealing way of showing the highlights of the year, and a fun way of doing things. “We have Jonathan Rea from Northern Ireland so he could come on with his motorbike. That’s something we’ve done before.

“Or the likes of Beth Tweddle and Max Whitlock, the gymnasts, they performed their routines. “Sport is very entertaining anyway. All we are trying to do is make the show as different and enjoyable as possible with a few surprises thrown in.”

I reminded Carl of several things during our chat, specifically when he mentioned surprises. Forty years ago, three-times Grand National winner Red Rum appeared in the studio, which turned out to be a classic interlude, as the horse listened intently to the voice of jockey Tommy Stack coming down the line and into the studio.

Could we have a horse this year to commemorate that nostalgic moment?

“Actually, someone suggested last year that because Nick Skelton was in the running after the Olympics that his horse could have made a guest appearance, but I didn’t fancy it.

“We have been ambitious taking SPOTY on the road but having horses, that’s beyond me. And to be honest, whoever thought having Red Rum in the studio was a good idea was a far braver man than me,” joked Doran.

Murray winning was always an adventure

CARL Doran revealed that while Andy Murray was always a worthy winner of the Sports Personality of the Year award, delivering the famous trophy to the Scot wasn’t always that simple. Murray took the honours in 2013, and again in 2015 and last year, which caused Carl and his team one or two problems, even right up to making the presentation.

“When you look down the list of potential winners, you take a deep breath and think just who might not be able to be there,” said Doran.

“These people are high achievers and the reason they are is because they dedicate themselves to their careers, and if that means being away somewhere in December, then so be it.

“Thankfully, the vast majority are available and want to attend. But of course, Andy Murray has been in Florida a couple of times, so we’ve had to adapt and had great fun doing it.

“We’ve worked closely with Andy on documentaries, so he’s a good friend, but we also can call on the ‘Lennox Lewis factor’ to help and he has become a great friend to the show.

“A few years back, all Lennox had to do was hand a trophy over but completely missed his cue. That was a comedy moment - although maybe not at the time.

“Then last year Lennox flew from Jamaica to Miami in case Andy won, only to miss his flight.