BBC Sport’s Gabby Logan has been named Presenter of the Year at the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards; also in Broadcast, ‘Match of the Day’ wins TV Show category for first time; BBC’s Dan Roan picks up Broadcast Journalist award for second time; Conor McNamara claims Commentator category…
By the SJA
Having been shortlisted in the Presenter category for four consecutive years at the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, Gabby Logan has finally got her hands on the trophy.
Logan led the BBC Sport on-screen coverage during a standout summer for England teams at UEFA Euro 2025 and the Women’s Rugby World Cup, while also being an integral member of the Match of the Day hosts’ line-up from August.
Having twice been the SJA Presenter runner-up in recent memory, it proved to be a night of celebration for Logan at the London Palladium at the Canon-sponsored Awards.
The judges described her as “the ultimate storyteller, expertly guiding the nation through two of the country’s most historic moments in sport, as the Red Roses and Lionesses triumphed in 2025.”
Logan was also praised for her “passion for sport and dedication to detail, which allows her to take audiences on a journey and deliver some of the biggest moments in sport.”
Match of the Day had never previously won the TV Show category, but the long-running programme finished up as champions this time around, after a year in which Gary Lineker handed over the anchor reins to Logan, Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates.
“MOTD not only made headlines but shaped them, whether driven by a single presenter or a trio,” said the judges. “After more than 60 years, this programme remains central to the national conversation around the country’s most beloved sport.”
Back on top of the tree for the Broadcast Journalist award was the BBC’s sports news editor, Dan Roan.
Citing his “tenacity and first-class journalism”, the judges were impressed by the interviews he secured, such as with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Eric Trump. Roan previously won the category five years ago and had been in the podium places for every edition of the SJAs since then.
For the first time in his career, the Commentator honours went to Conor McNamara, in large part for his BBC 5 Live Sport commentary in April 2025, when Manchester United beat Lyon 5-4 after extra time at Old Trafford in the Europa League quarter-finals.
@bbc5livesport "HARRY MAGUIREEEEEEEE" 🔊 One year on from this iconic commentary from Conor McNamara 😍 #mufc #manchesterunited #maguire #commentary ♬ original sound – BBC 5 Live Sport
The judges said: “The exceptional words, tone and delivery brought this game to life so vividly – expertly conveying the breathless excitement and roller coaster nature of the night, helping make it such a truly dramatic and special occasion for those fortunate enough to be listening!”
As is traditional, the Pundit of the Year was decided by a vote of SJA members, and from a shortlist of 10, they elected Ally McCoist (talkSPORT / TNT Sports) for the second time in four years.
Unforgettable football club documentaries get Audio and TV awards
In the Audio categories, BBC Sport Scotland’s Romanov: Czar of Hearts did the double of Documentary and Podcast – Limited Series, with Stak’s P1 with Matt & Tommy taking the chequered flag for Podcast – ‘Always On’.
The tale of former Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov was described as “sharp journalism” by the judges, who said Martin Geissler’s nine-part series was a “brilliantly told investigation that unpacks one of football’s wildest stories with real depth, tension and originality.”
Discussing Stak’s Formula 1 pod, the judges said: “P1’s unique blend of driver interviews, entertaining banter, and deep knowledge set them apart in a really competitive field.”
Horse racing made its debut inside the Live Event Coverage winners’ circle, as The Grand National broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Live finished first. In the Show category, talkSPORT’s White & Jordan continued its dominance, collecting the trophy for the fourth time in five years.
Elsewhere in Broadcast, This Is Palermo by Copa 90 was chosen as the Television Documentary of the Year.
Described by the judges as “a love letter to a city, its inhabitants, and to the club that dominates their lives,” the 20-minute film co-directed by Emanuele Biasiol and Ali Cullen was released in November 2025.
“The fervent passion and a devotion that can border on the fanatical are all brought to life in a documentary that held its own in a very competitive category,” added the panel.
Sunset+Vine’s production of the UEFA Women’s Euro, televised by BBC Sport, won the TV Live Event Coverage category, while The Overlap with Gary Neville’s exclusive interview with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, which aired in March 2025, collected the award for Content Creator Exclusive.
The Content Creator of the Year is Alex Bailess, who in 2025 produced over 200 videos about women’s football that blended tactical insight with storytelling, in fun, engaging formats.
The judges said: “From breaking down matches to celebrating diverse stories of adversity and achievement, Alex reached millions across social media and TV, inspiring new and seasoned fans alike.”
@alex_bailess Day (weekend) in the life of a Sky Sports Reporter covering the WSL first game week of the season – matchday coverage, @Sky Sports WSL studio live broadcast & an interview with @Ffion Morgan 🎙️⚽ #woso #womensfootball #womenssuperleague #skysportswsl ♬ DAISIES – Justin Bieber
For the second year, there were three YouTube awards. Claiming the Channel honours was Rio Ferdinand Presents by New Era Ingenious, with the judges praising its famous ex-footballer host for “embracing the platform’s style and energy,” while the best in Show was Bundesliga by That’s Football, which the panel recognised for its “breadth and versatility… driven by Mark Goldbridge’s personality.”
Named as Newcomer of the Year was The Beast Mode On Podcast by Footballco with Adebayo Akinfenwa, which the judges felt achieved “the rare feat of speaking directly to its core YouTube audience while also breaking into the mainstream.”
The winners of the two ‘Ones to Watch’ categories in Broadcast had previously been announced and were presented with their awards on the night. Matchroom Boxing presenter / reporter Jamie Ward (On Air) and Sky Sports digital designer Alice Daniell (Off Air) were the recipients.
AUDIO DOCUMENTARY
Head Before Wicket – talkSPORT; Iconic: The Rise of the Women in Red – BBC Cymru Wales; Mohamed Salah: Egyptian King – BBC Sport; Romanov: Czar of Hearts – BBC Sport Scotland; The Ashes 2005: Settling the Score – BBC; The Underground World of Illegal Streaming – The Athletic
Bronze: Iconic: The Rise of the Women in Red – BBC Cymru Wales; Silver: Head Before Wicket – talkSPORT; Winner: Romanov: Czar of Hearts – BBC Sport Scotland
AUDIO LIVE EVENT COVERAGE
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 – IMG / BBC Radio 5 Live; British & Irish Lions Tour 2025 – talkSPORT; The Grand National – BBC Radio 5 Live; UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 – talkSPORT; UEFA Women’s Euros 2025 – BBC Radio 5 Live; Usyk v Dubois II – talkSPORT
Bronze: British & Irish Lions Tour 2025 – talkSPORT; Silver: UEFA Women’s Euros 2025 – BBC Radio 5 Live; Winner: The Grand National – BBC Radio 5 Live
AUDIO SHOW
GameDay – talkSPORT; Not by the Playbook – BBC; Premier League Sunday – BBC; Saturday’s 5 Live Sport – BBC Radio 5 Live; talkSPORT Drive – talkSPORT; Test Match Special – BBC; White & Jordan – talkSPORT
Bronze: Premier League Sunday – BBC; Silver: Test Match Special – BBC; Winner: White & Jordan – talkSPORT
BROADCAST JOURNALIST
Alex Aljoe – Freelance; Dan Roan – BBC Sport; Patrick Davison – Sky Sports; Rob Harris – Sky News; Sirayah Shiraz – Freelance; Steve Scott – ITV News
Bronze: Steve Scott – ITV News; Silver: Alex Aljoe – Freelance; Winner: Dan Roan – BBC Sport
COMMENTATOR
Alison Mitchell – Freelance; Conor McNamara – Freelance; Darren Fletcher – TNT Sports; John Murray – BBC Radio 5 Live; Peter Drury – Sky Sports; Sam Matterface – ITV Sport / talkSPORT; Seb Hutchinson – ITV Sport
Bronze: Peter Drury – Sky Sports; Silver: John Murray – BBC Radio 5 Live; Winner: Conor McNamara – Freelance
AUDIO PODCAST – ‘ALWAYS ON’
Football Clichés – Football Clichés; No Balls – BBC; P1 with Matt & Tommy – Stak; Rugby Union Weekly – BBC Radio 5 Live; Sky Sports Cricket Podcast – Sky Sports; The Guardian Football Weekly – The Guardian; The Sports Agents – Global Media Group
Bronze: The Sports Agents – Global Media Group; Silver: Sky Sports Cricket Podcast – Sky Sports; Winner: P1 with Matt & Tommy – Stak
AUDIO PODCAST – LIMITED SERIES
After The Lights Go Out – talkSPORT; Bloodgate – BBC Radio 5 Live; Defiant – Stak; FIFA Club World Cup Podcast – IMG; Romanov: Czar of Hearts – BBC Sport Scotland; The Red Lions – The Times & Sunday Times
Bronze: After The Lights Go Out – talkSPORT; Silver: Bloodgate – BBC Radio 5 Live; Winner: Romanov: Czar of Hearts – BBC Sport Scotland
PRESENTER
Ed Chamberlin – ITV Sport; Gabby Logan – BBC Sport; Kelly Cates – BBC Sport / Sky Sports; Mark Chapman – BBC Sport / Sky Sports; Mark Pougatch – ITV Sport; Simon Thomas – Sky Sports
Bronze: Ed Chamberlin – ITV Sport, and Simon Thomas – Sky Sports; Silver: Mark Chapman – BBC Sport / Sky Sports; Winner: Gabby Logan – BBC Sport
PUNDIT
Ally McCoist – talkSPORT / TNT Sports; Brian O’Driscoll – TNT Sports; Ian Wright – ITV Sport; Jamie Carragher – Sky Sports; Karen Carney – ITV Sport / TNT Sports; Michael Vaughan – BBC; Nasser Hussain – Sky Sports; Nico Rosberg – Sky Sports F1; Roy Keane – ITV Sport; Ruby Tui – Whisper Cymru
Bronze: Jamie Carragher – Sky Sports; Silver: Ian Wright – ITV Sport; Winner: Ally McCoist – talkSPORT / TNT Sports
TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY
Cricket’s Forgotten Team – BBC Sport; Football, Cancer & Me – Sky Sports News; Football’s Financial Shame: The Story of the V11 – Noah Media Group for BBC Storyville; King of Lies – Matthew Lorenzo Productions, Dash Pictures and Sky; Saints Ascending: Uncovering the next Henry Pollock – BBC; Sir Chris Hoy: Cancer, Courage & Me – BBC; This is Palermo – COPA90
Bronze: Football’s Financial Shame: The Story of the V11 – Noah Media Group for BBC Storyville; Silver: Sir Chris Hoy: Cancer, Courage & Me – BBC; Winner: This is Palermo – COPA90
TELEVISION LIVE EVENT COVERAGE
British & Irish Lions v Australia – 2nd Test Sky Sports; Cheltenham Festival Day One – ITV Sport; Euro 2025 – ITV Sport; Ricky Hatton’s Funeral – Sky Sports News; The 2025 Ryder Cup – Sky Sports; UEFA Women’s Euro – Sunset+Vine
Bronze: Euro 2025 – ITV Sport, and The 2025 Ryder Cup – Sky Sports; Silver: Ricky Hatton’s Funeral – Sky Sports News; Winner: UEFA Women’s Euro – Sunset+Vine
TELEVISION SHOW
CNN World Sport – CNN; Match of the Day – BBC Sport; Monday Night Football – Sky Sports; Premier League Friday – Sky Sports News; Sunday Supplement – Sky Sports News; The Opening Show – ITV Sport
Silver: Monday Night Football – Sky Sports, and The Opening Show – ITV Sport; Winner: Match of the Day – BBC Sport
CONTENT CREATOR
Alex Bailess – Freelance; Charlotte Daly – Daily Mail; Emma Middleton – BBC Sport; Jon Mackenzie – The Athletic; Jordan Macauley – The Long Play; Miles Addy – The Content Club; Sanny Rudravajhala – Freelance
Bronze: Sanny Rudravajhala – Freelance; Silver: Miles Addy – The Content Club; Winner: Alex Bailess – Freelance
CONTENT CREATOR EXCLUSIVE
Anthony Joshua Interview – Charlotte Daly, Daily Mail; Changing Lives Through Football: A Day With Arsenal Legends In Sierra Leone – GFN Network Limited London; Counter Pressed Meets: Nikki Doucet, CEO of WSL Football – Counter Pressed; Jürgen Klopp: Would You Go Back To Manage LFC…? – The Diary of a CEO; Sir Jim Ratcliffe – The Overlap With Gary Neville; Wayne Pinnock exclusive – Lillian Okolie, The Inside Lane; Wayne Rooney: Where United’s Decline Began – Rio Ferdinand Presents
Bronze: Wayne Rooney: Where United’s Decline Began – Rio Ferdinand Presents; Silver: Changing Lives Through Football: A Day With Arsenal Legends In Sierra Leone – GFN Network Limited London; Winner: Sir Jim Ratcliffe – The Overlap With Gary Neville
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Daily Mail Boxing – Daily Mail; Rio Ferdinand Presents – New Era Ingenious; SPORTbible – SPORTbible (LADbible Group); talkSPORT – talkSPORT; talkSPORT Boxing – talkSPORT; The United Stand – The United Stand
Bronze: talkSPORT Boxing – talkSPORT; Silver: The United Stand – The United Stand; Winner: Rio Ferdinand Presents – New Era Ingenious
YOUTUBE NEWCOMER
CJ Needham (Deluded Gooner) – Freelance; Playbook Boxing YouTube – The Gold Studios; Counter Pressed – Spotify; Sky Sports – WSL Channel Sky Sports; Talk of the Devils – The Athletic; The Beast Mode On Podcast – Footballco with Adebayo Akinfenwa
Bronze: Sky Sports – WSL Channel Sky Sports; Silver: Counter Pressed – Spotify; Winner: The Beast Mode On Podcast – Footballco with Adebayo Akinfenwa
YOUTUBE SHOW
Daily Mail Boxing – Daily Mail; Fan Debates – SPORTbible (LADbible Group); Rio Ferdinand Presents – New Era Ingenious; talkBOXING – talkSPORT; Bundesliga – That’s Football; The Athletic’s Week In Football – The Athletic
Bronze: Fan Debates – SPORTbible (LADbible Group); Silver: Rio Ferdinand Presents – New Era Ingenious; Winner: Bundesliga – That’s Football
ONES TO WATCH – ON AIR
Elizabeth Conway – BBC Sport; Ellen Ellard – Freelance; Emily Herbert – Freelance; Jamie Ward – Matchroom Boxing; Nicky Anderson – Stak; Uma Gurav – Freelance
Bronze: Ellen Ellard – Freelance; Silver: Emily Herbert – Freelance; Winner: Jamie Ward – Matchroom Boxing
ONES TO WATCH – OFF AIR
Alice Daniell – Sky Sports; Beau McCormick-Roddis – talkSPORT; Romario Webster – talkSPORT; Rupa Ghelani – Sky Sports; Sophie Penney – Global Media Group; Susan Fagbohun – ITV Sport
Bronze: Sophie Penney – Global Media Group; Silver: Rupa Ghelani – Sky Sports; Winner: Alice Daniell – Sky Sports
Read more about the Broadcast section in the shortlists announcements article.
Not yet an SJA member? Join the Association for the annual membership fee of £30. Full info here.
The SJA is interested in your sports media industry news and views. Keen to reach an engaged audience, including over 70,000 followers across social media? We welcome your enquiries – contact us here. We also offer advertising and sponsorship opportunities.