"An enjoyable tour through the history of the BBC's iconic annual sporting feast."
Peter Donaldson’s And the Winner Is runs, throws and dribbles us through the entire 70-year history of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) and those pivotal moments that have defined British sporting culture. Donaldson allows every award to act as an anchor point to its specific year—a trigger to recall not only the achievements of the recipient but the wider landscape of British sport, shaped by triumphs, challenges, and social shifts.
Perhaps this is the nature of an institution such as SPOTY: it doesn’t just record history; it becomes history—a document for future generations that not only marks accomplishments but provides insight into what, in each yearly frame, counted as greatness.
Donaldson’s academic yet entertaining approach to SPOTY’s roll of honour places the BBC’s show as a backdrop to the moments of magic brought to life by athletes across generations. He naturally highlights the athletes who have taken centre stage but also acknowledges the many others who competed just as fiercely. For example, I was surprised to learn that despite Roger Bannister’s iconic four-minute mile in 1954, the award went to Christopher Chataway, his pacemaker.
The book is a thorough tribute to SPOTY, but also our national values—grit, dedication, and a bit of that British underdog spirit—that we have all cherished at one time or another in our sporting heroes. We also see how SPOTY has evolved alongside society itself, expanding its scope to include more voices, more achievements, and more diverse athletic stories.
And the Winner Is is not only a nostalgic journey and a celebration of Britain’s sporting spirit, but also the deep connection between athlete and audience. Donaldson has produced the ideal gift for anyone who sits through the whole SPOTY show each year, smile on face.
| Primary Genre | Sports |
| Other Genres: |
