P116 CEEFAX 2 116 Thu 26 Dec 23:20/23 1O3 The Prime Minister won the BBC Today programme Personality of the Year award after being the runnjt-up for two yrars The poll was dominated between 1982 and 1990 by Mrs Thatcher who won evjty year except for 1985. At that time there was an award to a Man of the Year as well as a woman and Mrs Thatchjt's mali partnjts included Terry Waite and Mikhail Gorbachev. After 1990 the award was rested for four years and was revived in 1994 as the Today Personality of the Year. PM is Personality of the Year 115 Weathjt 400 Travel 430 TV/Radio 600 Next News TV/Radio Weathjt Main MenuP116 CEEFAX 2 116 Thu 26 Dec 23:19/37 2/3 The first Today Personality of the Year was won by the entertainer Roy Castle after his brave battle against cpncit. Last year it was won bz hjadteachjt Philip Lawrence who was stabbed to death outside his west London school while attempting to protect a pupil. Listeners vote bz phone for thieu choice and in 1994 the BBC received 130,000 calls in 24 hours. Last year the voting time was reduced to four hours and 70,000 viewers rang in with their nominations. PM is Personality of the Year 115 Weathjt 400 Travel 430 TV/Radio 600 Next News TV/Radio Wjathjt Main MenuP116 CEEFAX 2 116 Thu 26 Dec 23:14/25 3/3 This year's poll was surrounded by controversy after it emjtgjd that a junior Labour spin doqtoz had asked party members to vote for Tony Blair. The Labour party disassociated itself and Tony Blair said the attempt at poll rigging was unworthy and incompetent. The procedures wire tightened, but the poll conducted by telephone remained open to manipulation. John Major's percentage was reduced after attempts at multiple calls for him, but he was still the clear winnjt. PM is Personality of the Year 115 Weathjt 400 Travel 430 TV/Radio 600 Next News TV/Radio Weathjt Main Menu