BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015 nominee predictions: Andy Murray, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Tyson Fury

The nominees for the BBC Sports Personality of the year award will be announced tonight [Monday] following a glittering 12 months for British sport. Gary Lineker will confirm the 10 contenders for the prestigious prize after being whittled down by an elite panel.

BBC Sport executives including director Barbara Slater, former nominees including Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, former England international footballer Jermaine Jenas and newspaper journalists from The Times, The Guardian and The Sun among others have selected the high- quality nominees who showcase the best British sport has had to offer in 2015.

Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton won the award last year and is expected to be among the contenders this year after strolling to the F1 title for a second straight year, but he will have a plethora of company. World Athletics champions Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill lead the field, Chris Froome claimed a second yellow jersey at the Tour de France while Tyson Fury produced one of the greatest boxing shocks in defeating Wladimir Klitschko to become world champion.

But with a healthy list of potential contenders, IBTimes UK has compiled its own list ahead of the ceremony on 20 December. Sharpen your knives.....

Lizzie Armitstead

The 26-year-old won Great Britain's first Olympic medal at London 2012 and she began her preparations for Rio by continuing her dominance of the road race scene. After retaining her World Cup title she added the rainbow jersey to her Commonwealth gold in Richmond, Virginia after a stunning race to the line with rival Anna van der Breggen – becoming the fourth Briton to do so.

Stuart Broad

Amid an often harrowing year for the England cricket team, the Nottinghamshire seamer played a pivotal role in the hosts regaining the Ashes against Australia. The urn was all-but secured via a breathtaking spell from Broad, with figures of 8 for 15 reducing the tourists to rubble.

Jessica Ennis-Hill

Thirteen months on from giving birth to son Reggie and in her first major heptathlon competition since London 2012, Ennis-Hill stormed to world championship gold in Beijing to end the perfect fairytale. Denied victory in 2011 by Tatyana Chernova - who was subsequently found guilty of doping - the Briton was not to be denied during the two-day event and produced a virtuoso showing to lay down a marker ahead of Rio.

Lewis Hamilton

Cruised to a third drivers' world title, and second in succession, with three races to spare during a sterile Formula 1 season. Hamilton prevailed in a thrilling rivalry with Nico Rosberg in 2014, but he dominated his Mercedes teammate this time around with 10 race wins including three in a row to take the title in Austin. A new contract until 2018 is expected to see that success sustained.

Mo Farah

Amid arguably one of the worst years in athletics' long sporting history, of which Farah was embroiled in controversy for his links with coach Alberto Salazar, the long-distance champions produced the perfect repost. The 'triple-double' saw Farah won 10,000m and 5,000 gold in the space of eight day to become the first man to achieve the feat.

Chris Froome

As rival riders crashed out around him, unfounded doping accusations were thrown in his direction, and spit and urine was hurled in his face by fuming fans Froome kept his cool to win a second Tour de France. The release of Froome's power data may not have silenced the doubters but there was no questioning his dominance in the mountains.

Tyson Fury

The Manchester-born boxer capped a fine year for British boxing by ending Wladimir Klitchko's nine-year reign as heavyweight champion with a shock win in Dusseldorf. Fury joined British heavyweight royalty in Bob Fitzsimmons, Lennox Lewis, Frank Bruno and David Haye after claiming the WBA, IBF and WBO titles, while he also remains unbeaten.

Andy Murray

Won 11 matches as part of the Great Britain team which won its first Davis Cup title for 79 years, including the clinching rubber against David Goffin in Ghent. Individually, finished the year at a career-high world number two for the first time while also reaching the Australian Open final.

Adam Peaty

British swimming's revival continues to be shepherded by Peaty, who after dominating at the Commonwealth and European championships last year became the first Briton to win three golds at a single World Championships in Russia. World records in the 50m and 100m breaststroke also achieved in 2015 means the 20-year-old heads to Rio as one of the main medal hopes.

Max Whitlock

Having dominated in Glasgow last year, things did not go all according to plan for Whitlock on his return to the Scottish second city, having failed to reach the all-around final and taking just silver on the floor. Whitlock excelled on the pommel horse however, becoming the first ever British world gymnastics champion. A maiden success in the team event, where Britain won silver, also created history.