Elis James rejoins judging panel for William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2025

William Hill has announced the judging panel for the 2025 William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, confirming that comedian and broadcaster Elis James will rejoin the line-up after a year away.

James will sit alongside panel chair Alyson Rudd, who is taking on the role for a seventh consecutive year, and returning judges Gabby Logan, Dame Heather Rabbatts, Michelle Walder, Mark Lawson and Clarke Carlisle. All six served on last year’s panel.

James, known for hosting BBC’s Elis James’ Feast of Football and contributing to The Guardian’s Football Weekly podcast, stepped away from the panel in 2024 due to touring commitments. He said he was pleased to return, describing the judging process as an opportunity to discuss sports books with a panel with strong sporting knowledge, and noted the award’s potential to boost sales and profile for authors, including those covering less mainstream sports.

Panel and process

Established in 1989, the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award is now in its 37th edition. The judges will draw up a longlist by 25 September, before narrowing it down over the following month to a shortlist, due to be announced on 30 October. The winner will be revealed at an awards ceremony on 25 November.

The winning author will receive the award trophy along with £30,000 in prize money. Authors on the shortlist who do not win will each receive £3,000 and a leather-bound copy of their book.

Panel comments

Lee Phelps, spokesperson for William Hill, said the company was pleased to see familiar faces return to the panel, highlighting the combined experience in sport, media, business and literature that the judges bring to the process.

Rudd said she considered it a privilege to chair the panel, describing it as one that has helped raise standards in sports writing over the years, and praised the current line-up for its knowledge and passion for debating the merits of shortlisted titles.