John Duthie, TV Director / Producer and poker player. Winner of the first Poker Million and the man behind the European Poker Tour. Dave Lloyd caught up with John in the lead up to Christmas and this is how it went…

David Lloyd: Where are you?

John Duthie: The Colony Club

DL: At home then ;-) ….I'm buying, what's yours?

JD: Ginger Ale with Angostura Bitters

DL: Ok, you win first Poker Million and make your way home. The journey and the following days must have been pretty surreal…and that must have been some 'Honey, I'm Home' moment! How long did the whole thing take to register?

JD: Weeks. It wasn't really until all the publicity died down that I realised what had happened. That and the money clearing my bank account!

DL: Where do you keep the trophy?

JD: In the Sitting room along with a few others

DL: Some time prior to the Poker Million, we were in the 250 pot limit Omaha game in the Vic, you were raising blind, before every flop and then betting the maximum on the flop (still blind!). I think I lost that night and you were way, way in front. Is the system still working or did it all come to a horrible end? ;-)

JD: I only do that occasionally when I'm feeling particularly reckless. Sometimes it works, but more often then not I get wrecked!

DL: Talking of systems, how's the roulette going and what's the story on the high stakes Bellagio slots?

JD: Roulette I have taken a break on for a while, having realised that most of my poker winnings were going down that route, and that the Biarritz system wasn't working for me.

The High Limit Bellagio slots was an interesting tale and happened as I was on my way to bed with $200 having done a chunk in the Card room. I had never played slots before and saw this high limit room, went in it and there was no one in there - it was completely empty. So I looked at a few of the machines and saw that the minimum bet was $25 and went up to $1000. Now that's per spin which accounts for the room being empty.

Anyway, I thought I'd pop in my $200 as you do, and I put it in a machine that was $50 a spin i.e. 4 spins. Pressed once, nothing, pressed twice nothing, then on the third spin, a light lit up on top of the machine and it stopped working. I called a supervisor over to complain and she said 'Congratulations!!!' I didn't want to look an idiot so I replied 'Thanks' and waited to hear how much. Having filled out the usual tax forms they gave me $25,000 and I went to bed. I did about $10,000 back on my next trip in the $100 machine and then called it quits.

DL: Other than the European Poker Tour (www.europeanpokertour.com), have you been directing or producing any other TV this year?

JD: I did a series for BBC3 called 'Burn It' which was set in Manchester and produced by red Productions. Other than that, this has really been all consuming and I have had to turn regular drama work down for the time being.

DL: With three EPT events under your belt now, how do you feel its going so far?

JD: Very well. All the events have been great fun and the general reaction from players has been extremely positive and supportive which is more significant and pleasing.

DL: Your next one is scheduled for Deauville in France (February) but there was talk of another date being added to the tour, maybe in January. Has anything or anywhere been finalised yet?

JD: We've just confirmed an event in Copenhagen on January 29th and 30th and all the details will be posted on the site very soon. ( http://www.europeanpokertour.com )

DL: Have any broadcast dates been set yet and if so which TV Channel was smart enough to snap up the European Poker Tour?

JD: Channel 5 and Eurosport are the front runners, but no dates for transmission have been set yet. Iit will more than likely be early March 2005.

DL: The EPT grand final will be held from the March 15-19 in Monte Carlo (and to think you could have done it in Luton!). After that, I guess you'll be buried deep in post production. Will you be finished in time for the WSOP and if so, do you plan on playing in any events there?

JD: Yes, as many as possible, I'm starting to miss playing a lot and have just played in a charity tournament in London (The Poker100) and realised just how much pleasure it gives me. The Grand Final event by the way is open to all players. It is a €10,000 buy-in event and will be held over four days. We are hoping that 200-250 players will attend.

DL: I wasn't the Horseshoe's biggest fan (I couldn't breath, eat, drink or win on the premises :-), what do you think of Harrahs taking the event to the Rio?

JD: I love the Horseshoe and will miss it greatly. I'm starting to get a bit tired of the uptown scene and think that if The Nugget decided to run a really large tournament then everyone would be much happier.

As for the WSOP, well we'll just have to wait and see how greedy Harrahs are in trying to develop the brand, At the moment they seem to be making a royal pigs ear of it and rubbing al the online cardrooms up the wrong way. Some are even threatening not to run satellites for the main event because they aren't going to be allowed to wear their Tshirts.

It will be a great shame if Harrahs destroy this very significant event, but my prediction is that they will and that the World Series will become a thing of the past and be replaced by either The Bellagio Spring Festival or something at The Nugget.

DL: I remember playing at Harrahs when they ran the Carnival of Poker in 2000, it wasn't a pleasant experience although when they held it at the Rio the year before, everyone was raving about it. I only hope they get this one right. Taking your thoughts into account, how many runners for this years' main event?

JD: Because of the antagonism between the online cardrooms and Harrahs, I predict that it will be less than last year. Maybe 2,000

DL: When you're not wrapped up in work or playing events on the circuit, where are you playing these days?

JD: I play a lot on PokerStars because I like their software, admire their integrity and the tournaments are the best on the internet.

DL: What games have you been playing in?

JD: I mainly play the No Limit Texas games : 5-10, 10-20 and 25-50. Also I enjoy playing heads up and the Sit&Go 1 and 2 table action is good, because not everyone has time to play for hours on end.

DL: Are you putting the hours in?

JD: I play most weeks for at least three 4-5 hour sessions. The PokerStars Sunday tourney is a regular for me.

DL: What name do you use?

JD: Blessed

DL: Winning?

JD: No.

DL: Back in the card room. Cash game, dealer's choice, your button - What are we playing?

JD: 5 card Pot Limit Omaha

DL: If you could pick up any card room in the world and plonk it back down within a ten minute stroll from your home, which one would it be?

JD: Probably Binions. I just love the spit and sawdust and the oldtimers from Texas.

DL: You manage to find yourself on a slow boat to China, hosting the liveliest poker games known to mankind. Who would you want with you for company and why?

JD: Very good question. Padraig Parkinson and Kevin O'Connell because you never know what's going to happen next. Barney Boatman, because the conversation is always good. Paul Woolfe, because he's entertaining and is also a good loose aggressive player.

Mike Laing - because he's just completely crazy. Annie Duke - because she's provocative, puts up a fight and makes you think. Devilfish- because his one-liners make Bernard Manning look like Mother Teresa and Vicky Coren to stare at.

DL: Onboard, they've organised a charity karaoke night, you have to sing or forfeit $10,000…what's your big number?

JD: Lucky Man by The Verve

DL: So - Lucky Man for you and The Drugs Don't Work for me (lol). While we're talking about music, what was the last album you bought?

JD: Scissor Sisters

DL: Your desert island favourites - Tell me three songs you'd have to take with you?

JD: Freebird - Lynnid Skynnid
My Funny Valentine - Sinatra
Coconut - Nilsson

DL: All time favourite movies, five please?

JD: On the Waterfront; The Godfather II; Goodfellas; Taxi Driver and Apocalypse Now

DL: And a good one you've seen this year?

JD: Shrek 2

DL: Your favourite line / lines of dialogue (any movie or TV)

JD:And when we die, and you are sent to heaven for doing your conscience, and I am sent to hell for not doing mine, will you come with me, for fellowship? (Paul Scofield - A man for all seasons)

DL: See that, you bring culture to the table. Thomas More quoted in the Sporting Life, half the poker players I know, will assume he's a jockey……

Outside of 'Burn It', have you seen anything good on TV lately?

JD: No

DL: You've been asked to produce 'I'm a Poker Player, Get Me Out of Here!' Who are the first five names on your list?

JD: Devilfish; David Young; Bruce Atkinson

DL: Do you follow any sports or particular teams and do you ever bet on them?

JD: No

DL: What would you say is the most unusual bet you ever made?

JD: Bellaggio slots probably.

DL: Who or what makes you laugh out loud?

JD: Devilfish

DL: You're in charge of the English Poker Team. Do you award the players 'Caps' (like in football), 'Kiss Me Quick Hats' or 'Monogrammed Hankies' (with knots tied in the four corners)?

JD: Hankies

DL: You're trapped in an elevator with a poker player. He begins what is obviously a bad beat story. Do you put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder whilst looking on with great concern, or do you fall to the floor feigning an epileptic fit?

JD: I'd pretend I was getting out on the 1st floor and wait for the next lift.

DL: In one sentence or three words, what's the best advice you could give to someone just starting out in poker?

JD: Develop your own unique style.

DL: Finally, there is, as everyone knows, a poker Santa…what will you be asking him for this Christmas?

JD: A very lucrative personal sponsorship deal.

DL: Thanks John, it's been a pleasure!

JD: Thanks to you too David and have a good Xmas.