Andy Murray wins 2015 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award

Andy Murray, 28, won 11 of 12 points during Britain's successful campaign.

However, there can be little doubt that Murray will want to do even better next year and get back to winning Grand Slams.

And his inclusion on the short-list of world heavyweight champion boxer sparked a major outcry.

England footballer Lucy Bronze, who scored two goals at the World Cup earlier this year, said while she recognized Fury's comments had overtaken the event, she hadn't let it put her off attending.

He said: " Not everyone, obviously, has to agree with what he said, but I do agree and believe that he has the right to say it. That's freedom of speech and people have the right to disagree with what he says as well".

He said: "To any young people watching tonight's show - all that I can say is make the sacrifices because it is worth it".

"And now we're ranked No. 1 in the world". Almost 140,000 people had signed a petition asking for Fury to be axed from the Sports Personality shortlist.

Andy Murray beat Kevin Sinfield and Jessica Ennis-Hill to win the BBC award for the second time.

The world No. 2, who was picking up the honor for the second time, led Great Britain to their first Davis Cup title since 1936 last month.

At the front of the building, as thousands of members of the public filed past, shouts and chants from a pro-gay, pro-woman group could be heard about Tyson and his recent controversial comments.

A sustained campaign by the rugby league community paid off as Sinfield - the first nominee from his sport - piped his fellow Yorkshire athlete into second place.

"It's all very tongue-in-cheek, it's all fun and games to me".

"But in terms of sporting achievements, and I'm not going to talk about things he has said, it was hard to look past Tyson Fury as well".

He said: "I didn't expect this".

British tennis star Andy Murray has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Michael O'Neill took the Coach of the Year Award after leading Northern Ireland to Euro 2016.

Olympic long jumper Greg Rutherford's girlfriend has revealed she received rape threats from fans of boxer Tyson Fury ahead of the Sports Personality of the Year ceremony on Sunday evening.

Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Stormont Sport Minister Carál Ní Chuilín met the protesters and expressed solidarity with them.