JONATHAN SUTHERLAND BBC
Everyone still comes together on a Sunday to watch it JONATHAN SUTHERLAND ON SPORTSCENE’S APPEAL
AS A fan growing up in Shetland, BBC Scotland Sportscene presenters Archie Macpherson and Dougie Donnelly were voices of influence to Jonathan.
So, when he was asked to take on the job himself, he was absolutely thrilled.
Jonathan, 41, said: “It’s a national institution, which everybody who likes football in Scotland has grown up with and I didn’t want to wreck it. There was a feeling of responsibility. It’s an unbelievable dream come true to do this for a living.”
He got a degree in politics and worked for BBC Radio Shetland before joining Sportsound in 2003. But Jonathan‘s life changed when he landed the big gig.
He said: “People recognise you in the street and that takes a bit of getting used to.
“Most people just talk about football. You always get taxi drivers wanting to find out what team you support. For the record, I’m an Aberdeen fan but Scotland is where my passion lies.”
Jonathan works with game pundits Steven Thompson and Michael Stewart and says he is proud to fly the flag for Scottish football. He said: “People wondered if, in the digital age, Sportscene was still going to be Scotland’s main football show. I’ve been on a mission to make it No1 and the most relevant football show in Scotland. I feel we have managed to do this.
“Everyone in Scottish football still comes together on a Sunday night to watch it.”
ButJonathan stlll has one fan to win over. He said: “My son isn’t a football fan, he plays hockey. I ask him what is his least favourite TV programme and says, ‘Sportscene’.” ● Sportscene is on BBC Two Scotland tomorrow at 10.30pm.