Sir Mo Farah beat Lewis Hamilton, Anthony Joshua and Harry Kane to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2017 (Details, pics)

Sir Mo Farah has been awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2017 as he won his third consecutive 10,000m World Championships title in London in August.

Farah could not be in attendance to receive the prize from Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish at the end of a glittering ceremony at the city's Echo Arena on Sunday night.

Technical difficulties prevent Sir Mo from giving his victory speech live in the main programme but he did give some remarks on BBC Radio 5 Live. Motorcyclist Jonathan Rea took second place while Para-athlete Jonnie Peacock finished in third.

SPOTY '17 NOMINEES

Sir Mo Farah - Athletics - 1st

Elise Christie - Speed Skating

Chris Froome - Cycling

Lewis Hamilton - Formula One

Anthony Joshua - Boxing

Harry Kane - Football

Adam Peaty - Swimming

Jonnie Peacock - Athletics - 3rd

Jo Konta - Tennis

Jonathan Rea - Motorcycle racing - 2nd

‘I didn’t see that coming. To be honest you’ve got to tell the truth and I thought I wasn’t going to win it,' Sir Mo said from St Mary's University.

Bianca Walkden - Taekwondo‘I didn’t see that coming. To be honest you’ve got to tell the truth and I thought I wasn’t going to win it,' Sir Mo said from St Mary's University.

'We’ve got such amazing sports people in the UK with Jonnie Peacock, Anthony Joshua and Lewis Hamilton. It’s been incredible.‘

When you see the list, you put yourself in there and you think I could maybe finish in the top three maybe.

‘Having come so close after London 2012, I thought that was my closest point to winning Sports Personality of the Year.

'I didn’t think it was going to happen but I guess anything can happen.‘

It was nice to see athletics honoured with the coaches winning their award.‘

It’s nice to see them stepping up to the plate.‘

This was the only thing missing. It means a lot, you work hard win medals and you know what kind of shape you’re in so every race you go into you can analyse it if you get it wrong or right but with this type of award there is nothing in your control.

'Having come so close in 2012 I wanted to win it but I’m so surprised and I just want to thank everyone who’s voted for me and I’m sorry I can’t be there to celebrate.’

Sir Mo's victory was not welcomed by all in attendance as Gary Lough, the husband of Paula Radcliffe, could be seen mouthing the words 'f*****g joke' as he left his seat to applaud.

The Somali-born Londoner also took silver in the 5,000m silver at the World Championships, missing out on a fifth major championships distance double in a row.

Sir Mo, a four-time Olympic champion, then capped a memorable 2017 when he received a knighthood from the Queen at Buckingham Palace in November.

Rea took second as became the first rider to clinch three successive World Superbike titles while Peacock finished in third after he won the T44 100m final at the World Para-Athletics Championships