Viewers who tuned in to a Russian television station recently got just that when the female news anchor took off most of her clothes, Sin Chew Jit Poh reported. The evening bulletin started off like a regular news programme, with a soberly-dressed anchor presenting world and local reports. But she then removed her glasses and started stripping slowly. 

She went on reading a news item on United States President Bill Clinton's talks with Nato leaders but no footage of the event was shown. 

Instead, viewers watched the woman's jacket being unbuttoned as she took off layer after layer until she was stripped to her bra. The gimmick pushed viewership up by 10 per cent. But some who had tuned in were turned off. 

In the face of the protests, the show's producer argued that the station was merely playing a prank on its viewers. 

He also hoped that viewers would not take the stunt too seriously. Still, he seems unlikely to tell the show's anchor to grin and bare it.