Monday 10 December at 10:10 : Hot favourite Lewis Hamilton has been beaten to one of Britain's top annual sporting plaudits.

The McLaren rookie was strongly tipped to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, but the award instead went to 35-year-old Joe Calzaghe, who is the world super-middleweight champion.

The Welsh boxer attracted more than 28pc of the public vote compared to Hamilton's 19pc. In his debut season of formula one, the 22-year-old won four races and failed to win the drivers' title by a single point.

"He's a worthy winner. I just wish he was here so I could meet him," Hamilton said at the awards evening, after Calzaghe was presented with his trophy in Las Vegas.

The British tabloid Daily Star, tongue-in-cheek, observed: "Sports fans proved they love a winner".