It is the first time the televised BBC ceremony has been held outside London.

Birmingham’s flagship National Exhibition Centre has fought off competition from around the country to  host this year’s event in December.

The extra space offered by the NEC, compared to BBC TV Centre, will allow the BBC to sell tickets to the 2006 awards ceremony. Previously, only sports men and women were invited.

NEC Group Ltd chief executive Paul Thandi said: “We are thrilled to bring such a distinguished show as BBC Sports Personality to Birmingham.”

At least 3,000 members of the public will be able to enjoy the experience of the show, to be broadcast live on BBC1 on December 10.

Public tickets will go on sale from the NEC box office at 9am on October 16 priced at £25 each. The box office number is 0870 730 0142.

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