They were collated into lists of 10 candidates, which are published below. In some cases, less than 10 names were submitted. Each name counted as one vote towards the final shortlist.

A public vote by phone and text will decide the winner during Sunday's show on BBC One, which is being broadcast for the first time from the NEC in Birmingham.

The nominations are listed in alphabetical order by surname.

Birmingham Mail Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Peter Crouch Sir Alex Ferguson Tony McCoy Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Phil Taylor Jane Tomlinson

The Observer Jenson Button Joe Calzaghe Paul Casey Ricky Hatton Tony McCoy Colin Montgomerie Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Beth Tweddle

Mail on Sunday Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Colin Montgomerie Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Shelley Rudman Beth Tweddle David Weir

The Guardian Harry Aikines-Aryeetey Ross Brawn Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Sean Long Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Beth Tweddle

Daily Record Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Sir Alex Ferguson Sven-Goran Eriksson Ricky Hatton Colin Montgomerie Andrew Murray Walter Smith Marc Warren Ian Woosnam

Wales on Sunday Joe Calzaghe Paul Casey Nicole Cooke Caitlin McClatchey Andy Murray Brian Noble Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Beth Tweddle Ian Woosnam

Sunday Mirror Jenson Button Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Amir Khan AP McCoy Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips John Terry Beth Tweddle

Daily Mail Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Gail Emms Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Nathan Robertson Shelley Rudman Beth Tweddle

Belfast Telegraph Paul Casey Darren Clarke Steven Gerrard David Healy Jessica Kuerten Colin Montgomerie Monty Panesar Zara Phillips John Terry Ian Woosnam

Sunday Telegraph Jenson Button Joe Calzaghe Paul Casey Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Tim Don Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Beth Tweddle

Evening Standard Rowan Alexander Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Graham Poll Phil Taylor David Walliams Ian Woosnam

Daily Star Jenson Button Paul Casey Darren Clarke Peter Crouch Ricky Hatton Amir Khan Andy Murray Monty Panesar John Terry Beth Tweddle

Independent on Sunday Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Owen Hargreaves Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Mark Ramprakash Shelley Rudman Paul Scholes Beth Tweddle

BBC - Online Public Vote Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Peter Crouch Mick Gault Monty Panesar Steve Peat Zara Phillips Phil Taylor Beth Tweddle

Coventry Evening Telegraph Ian Bell Jenson Button Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Peter Crouch Padraig Harrington Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Phil Taylor

The Herald Paul Casey Ricky Hatton Chris Hoy Caitlin McClatchey David Murdoch Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Gregor Tait Beth Tweddle

Sunday Mercury Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Gail Emms Craig Fallon Dean Macey Andy Murray Matt Neal Monty Panesar Shelley Rudman Beth Tweddle

Daily Telegraph Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Padraig Harrington Rebecca Lyne Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Mark Ramprakash Beth Tweddle

Sunday Express Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Andrew Flintoff Owen Hargreaves Chris Hoy Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Beth Tweddle Steve Williams

The Times Joe Calzaghe Paul Casey Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Owen Hargreaves Tony McCoy Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Beth Tweddle

BBC Sport panel* Jenson Button Joe Calzaghe Paul Casey Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Tony McCoy Zara Phillips Shelley Rudman Phil Taylor Beth Tweddle

Daily Post Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Graeme Dott Steven Gerrard Andy Murray Monty Panesar Phil Taylor Beth Tweddle Ian Woosnam

The People Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Owen Hargreaves Tony McCoy Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Phil Taylor Beth Tweddle

News of the World Jenson Button Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Andrew Flintoff Amir Khan Aaron Lennon Gary Neville Kevin Pietersen John Terry Ian Woosnam

Zoo Jenson Button Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Andrew Flintoff Owen Hargreaves Ricky Hatton Amir Khan Andy Murray Monty Panesar Ian Woosnam

Sunday Times Joe Calzaghe Dee Caffari Nicole Cooke Matt Hampson Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Graham Poll Hope Powell Beth Tweddle Ian Woosnam

Express & Star Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Tony McCoy Colin Montgomerie Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Shelley Rudman Beth Tweddle

BBC - Postal Public Vote Jenson Button Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Darren Kenny Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Shelley Rudman Phil Taylor Beth Tweddle

Western Mail Ian Bell Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Ryan Giggs Colin Montgomerie Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Ian Woosnam

Daily Express Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Gail Emms Ricky Hatton Tony McCoy Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Beth Tweddle

The Sun Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Andrew Flintoff Owen Hargreaves Ricky Hatton Andy Murray Monty Panesar Phil Taylor John Terry David Walliams

Metro Jenson Button Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Nicole Cooke Amir Khan Dean Macey Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Beth Tweddle

Nuts Ian Bell Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Steven Gerrard Ricky Hatton Paul Hunter Andy Murray Monty Panesar Wayne Rooney Phil Taylor

Daily Star Sunday Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Joe Cole Ricky Hatton Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Andrew Strauss John Terry Ian Woosnam

Independent Nicole Cooke Ricky Hatton Colin Montgomerie Andy Murray Monty Panesar Mark Ramprakash Beth Tweddle

The Mirror Joe Calzaghe Darren Clarke Andy Murray Monty Panesar Zara Phillips Beth Tweddle Belfast Newsletter Darren Clarke

*BBC Sport Panel - Gary Lineker, Sue Barker, Adrian Chiles, Alan Hansen, Steve Cram, Jonathan Davies, Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, Suzi Perry, Clare Balding, Hazel Irvine.

THE FINAL SHORTLIST