Keely Hodgkinson is SNUBBED by the BBC as broadcaster refuses to show their Sports Personality of the Year's world record attempt on main channel

The BBC has delivered a snub to its Sports Personality of the Year, Keely Hodgkinson, by refusing to broadcast her world record attempt on one of its main channels. Hodgkinson will race for the first time since winning Olympic 800 metres gold last summer when she headlines the inaugural Keely Klassic – the event she has helped devise - in Birmingham on Saturday. The 22-year-old is bidding to break the world indoor 800m record that has stood since the very day she was born and event organisers expected her attempt to be screened on BBC Two.

However, Hodgkinson’s race at 4.30pm will now only be streamed on BBC iPlayer. On BBC Two at that time is a repeat of the film Mr Malcolm’s List, which was shown on the Beeb as recently as October, followed by an old episode of Flog It!, the antiques show which stopped broadcasting in 2020. BBC One is also showing repeats of Escape to the Country and Blue Planet II at the time of the Keely Klassic, before Final Score.

The Beeb’s decision to relegate the new indoor athletics event to its digital platforms means casual observers are likely to miss the homecoming of Britain’s golden girl. Keely Hodgkinson will race for the first time since winning Olympic 800m gold in an event she helped devise on Saturday. But the BBC Sports Personality of the Year's world record attempt will not be shown on one of the broadcaster's main channels.

The 22-year-old Team GB star will be in action at the inaugural Keely Klassic in Birmingham. Hodgkinson’s Olympic final last August was the BBC’s most watched event of Paris 2024, with 9.1million viewers tuning in to see her become Britain’s first 800m gold medallist since Kelly Holmes in 2004. She was then crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year in December. The BBC also showed the majority of last year’s Diamond League meetings – World Athletics’ flagship series - on its main channels, including July’s London event, when Hodgkinson smashed her own British record.

However, the Atherton athlete’s other landmark win of last year, when she defended her European title in Rome in June, was only available to watch on the BBC red button and iPlayer after a digital-only rights deal was struck at the 11th hour. As well as Hodgkinson’s return to action, Saturday’s Keely Klassic will see Georgia Bell race on home soil for the first time since she won Olympic bronze in the 1500m. The 31-year-old is attempting to break Laura Muir’s British record in the event.

World indoor pole vault champion Molly Caudery is also competing following her disappointment at not making the Olympic final. Around a third of tickets are still on sale for the event at the 7,000-capacity Utilita Arena, with Hodgkinson promising an ‘experience like no other for athletes and fans’. When approached for comment, the BBC refused to explain why it has chosen not to show the Keely Klassic on a main channel, but pointed out that it was accessible to a digital audience across the UK.