Cricketer Ben Stokes is supported by glamorous wife Clare Ratcliffe before sharing a sweet kiss as he's crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year

He led the England cricket team to World Cup glory last summer. 

And Ben Stokes was rewarded for his hard work on Sunday when he won the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year award in Aberdeen alongside his glamorous wife Clare Ratcliffe.

The bearded cricketer, 28, opted for a black three-piece suit which boasted a grey waistcoat, while Clare opted for a shimmering off the shoulder evening gown. 

Good job: Cricketer Ben Stokes, 28, was rewarded for his hard work on Sunday when he won the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year award alongside his glamorous wife Clare Ratcliffe

Good job: Cricketer Ben Stokes, 28, was rewarded for his hard work on Sunday when he won the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year award alongside his glamorous wife Clare Ratcliffe

Clare complemented her tiered dress with a showy shoulder bag, while her raven tresses flowed over her shoulders. 

A delighted Ben beamed alongside his wife as he posed on the red carpet before he was announced as the winner of the prestigious sporting trophy. 

The couple, who have two children together, looked every inch the celebrity pair both on the red carpet and when they sat among other famous guests. 

After he was announced as the winner, Ben showed his love for his wife by giving her a kiss on the lips.  

Cute: After he was announced as the winner, Ben showed his love for his wife by giving her a sweet kiss on the lips

Cute: After he was announced as the winner, Ben showed his love for his wife by giving her a sweet kiss on the lips 

I belong here: The bearded cricketer opted for a black three-piece suit which boasted a grey waistcoat, while Clare opted for a shimmering off the shoulder evening gown

I belong here: The bearded cricketer opted for a black three-piece suit which boasted a grey waistcoat, while Clare opted for a shimmering off the shoulder evening gown

Presenter Gary Lineker was accused of 'giving the game away' after introducing Ben as the 'main award winner' of this year's show - an hour before the cricketer was crowned and before voting had even started. 

The presenter apologised for his gaffe, drawing laughs from the Aberdeen crowd, and clarified that Stokes was a contender and not the winner. 

Ben was the bookie's favourite to win the award, which is voted for by the public, after a stellar year which saw him lead England to World Cup glory. 

In winning the award, he came head of second-placed Lewis Hamilton and third-placed Dina Asher-Smith.  

So happy: A delighted Ben beamed alongside his wife as he posed on the red carpet before he was announced as the winner of the prestigious sporting trophy

So happy: A delighted Ben beamed alongside his wife as he posed on the red carpet before he was announced as the winner of the prestigious sporting trophy

Will I win?: Ben looked relaxed before it was announced he had been crowned the winner

Will I win?: Ben looked relaxed before it was announced he had been crowned the winner

The show started at 7pm and voting only began after each contender had been introduced on-screen. 

There were still contenders left to be introduced when Lineker called the cricketer the 'main award winner'.

And after he was eventually crowned, some viewers blasted the BBC and claimed the prize was 'fixed'.

One said: 'Lineker let slip and announced him as the winner some time before voting had even been opened. I smell a fix here.'

Woops: Presenter Gary Lineker was accused of 'giving the game away' after introducing Ben as the 'main award winner' of this year's show - before voting had even started

Woops: Presenter Gary Lineker was accused of 'giving the game away' after introducing Ben as the 'main award winner' of this year's show - before voting had even started 

I deserve it: Ben was the bookie's favourite to win the award, which is voted for by the public, after a stellar year which saw him lead England to World Cup glory

I deserve it: Ben was the bookie's favourite to win the award, which is voted for by the public, after a stellar year which saw him lead England to World Cup glory

Good sport: After receiving the award, Ben said congratulated the other nominees and graciously said their achievements were 'sensational'

Good sport: After receiving the award, Ben said congratulated the other nominees and graciously said their achievements were 'sensational'

Another said: 'How can you say the votes for BBC Sports Personality of the Year is counted by an independent party and not fixed when Gary Lineker accidentally announced Ben Stokes as the winner earlier on in the programme! Massive fix! What's the point in voting?'

While a third commented: 'Well well well, who would have guessed it. We didn't need to guess it was already decided as Lineker said right at the begining. Fix or what?'

Addressing the row triggered by Lineker's comments, a BBC spokesperson said: 'Gary's comment was human error and he corrected himself as soon as possible on air. It's impossible for Gary, or anyone else, to know the winner before voting opens.' 

Delighted: Ben sat alongside Clare, and the couple watched as he was announced as the winner

Delighted: Ben sat alongside Clare, and the couple watched as he was announced as the winner

Loved up: James Cracknell, 47, and Jordan Connell, 34, took to the red carpet for the first time together at the BBC SPOTY

Loved up: James Cracknell, 47, and Jordan Connell, 34, took to the red carpet for the first time together at the BBC SPOTY

Love: The pair looked smitten as they took to the red carpet, gazing into one another's eyes and giggling like two teenagers

Love: The pair looked smitten as they took to the red carpet, gazing into one another's eyes and giggling like two teenagers

Dina Asher-Smith
Katrina Johnson-Thompson

Athletes: Fastest British woman in recorded history Dina Asher-Smith attends alongside 2019 World Championship gold medalist Katrina Johnson-Thompson

Shimmering: Welsh politician, television presenter and former wheelchair racer Tanni Grey Thompson arriving for the ceremony

Shimmering: Welsh politician, television presenter and former wheelchair racer Tanni Grey Thompson arriving for the ceremony 

Natural: Ellie Simmonds, a Paralympic swimmer who won two gold medals despite being just 13, at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing

Natural: Ellie Simmonds, a Paralympic swimmer who won two gold medals despite being just 13, at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing

The host himself took to Twitter and refuted claims of a fix. 

He said: 'I wish I was that smart. I just f**ked up. The voting hadn’t even opened at that stage. Apologies.'

After receiving the award, Ben said: 'First of all, congratulations to all the nominees, what you have managed to achieve as individuals and what you have managed to do for your sport is seriously sensational.

Breaking boundaries: Khadijah Mellah, 18, the first hijab-wearing jockey in a competitive British horse race

Breaking boundaries: Khadijah Mellah, 18, the first hijab-wearing jockey in a competitive British horse race

Baller: English netball player Ama Agbeze arriving for the BBC Sports Personality of the year ceremony

Baller: English netball player Ama Agbeze arriving for the BBC Sports Personality of the year ceremony 

'Obviously it's an individual award but I play in a team sport and the best thing about that is you get to share special moments with team-mates, backroom staff and management who make days like we had in the summer possible.

'I'm up here receiving this award but without the efforts you put in this summer, I wouldn't up here be doing that. So thank you so much.'

British snowboarder Aimee Fuller
BBC journalist Sally Nugent

Talent: British snowboarder Aimee Fuller (left) alongside BBC journalist Sally Nugent 

First: Jenny Jones, a snowboarder who became the first Briton to win an Olympic medal in a snow event after winning bronze in slopestyle at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

First: Jenny Jones, a snowboarder who became the first Briton to win an Olympic medal in a snow event after winning bronze in slopestyle at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

Tough tackler: Lucy Bronze, right-back for French club Olympique Lyonnais and the England national team

Tough tackler: Lucy Bronze, right-back for French club Olympique Lyonnais and the England national team

Not true: And after he was eventually crowned, some viewers blasted the BBC and claimed the prize was 'fixed'

Not true: And after he was eventually crowned, some viewers blasted the BBC and claimed the prize was 'fixed'

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