Sue Barker quits as Sports Personality of the Year host

After 19 years, Sue Barker quits Sports Personality of the Year to “downsize” her commitments.

07:59 19 September 2013

After 19 years, Sue Barker has announced that she will step down as the host of BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year. However, she will remain part of the programme as she will join this year’s judging panel for the awards, which celebrates success of UK’s sportsmen and women.

The show will be broadcasted live on December 15 on BBC One and BBC One HD. Presenters include Gary Lineker, Clare Balding, and Gabby Logan.

Barker will remain as the host of other BBC Sport programmes, which include Wimbledon and Winter Olympics.

She said: "It has been an honour to present BBC Sports Personality of the Year for the last 19 years and I have loved every minute of it.”

"The BBC have asked me to stay but I had made the decision to downsize my commitments a while ago and I knew that the time would be right after what was always set to be a magical 2012.

"I will still be very much involved with the show, though, and I'm looking forward to the 60th anniversary celebrations. I also of course look forward to continuing my other presenting work on the BBC."