Scots Presenter Pulls In 90M Viewers On Russian TV

Jan 27 2008 By Kurt Bayer

A SCOTS sports presenter is the new face of Russian President Vladimir Putin's TV station.

John Hopkins, 29, has joined Russia Today, nicknamed CNNski.

Football-mad John is sports news anchor on the English-language government channel, which launched in 2005.

Up to 90 million viewers across Europe, North America and South Africa watch John, from Milngavie, near Glasgow.

He said: "Moscow is a long way from Milngavie but it is very exciting. Having learned my trade in the UK, this is a big career move for me."

Ex-St Andrews University student John was a news and sports reporter for Carlisle-based ITV Border before winning the job.

He moved to Moscow with English girlfriend Merewyne Snowden-Youde, 29, and spends his spare time learning about Russian football and ice hockey while getting to grips with the language.

They live in a flat 20 minutes' walk from Red Square.

John said: "I am taking Russian lessons. It is a very difficult language to learn but I am very keen."

Putin is a huge sports fan - especially judo and fishing - and he will keep a close eye on the success of his fledgling TV station. The President is to step down in May.

John said: "Scotland will always be my first love but I feel very lucky to be here.

"It's a big year for Russian sport with the European football championships and they expect to do well at the Olympics in Beijing.

"There are great sports stories here and it is a very exciting place to be now."

The station is the first 24-hour Englishlanguage news channel to present Russian events and views across the world.