Tyson Fury has had his lawyers deliver a letter to the BBC ordering them to remove his name from the Sports Personality of the Year shortlist after his “polite” video request was ignored.

The WBC heavyweight champion posted a video earlier this month on Instagram claiming that he did not want to be included on the six-person shortlist as he is the “people’s champion”.

The BBC have continued to include Fury’s name alongside the other contenders for this year’s award, which features seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, jockey Hollie Doyle, snooker world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and cricketer Stuart Broad.

The broadcaster also confirmed that they would not remove Fury from the shortlist, with a vote during this Sunday’s ceremony set to decide the winner of the prestigious award.

But Fury revealed on Monday that he has taken further action to try and have himself taken off the shortlist, with his legal team sending a letter to the BBC in an attempt to force their hand.

“I have asked nicely in a video to be taken off the list and they decided that they were not going to take me off the list,” Fury said on ITV’s Good Morning Britain.

“So I have had my lawyers send them a letter demanding that I am taken off the list and let’s hope they listen and take me off the list.”

The BBC initially rejected Fury’s first request, though they have not yet issued a response to his legal letter.