When It Hits the Fan

Inside the world of crisis managers and spin doctors as David Yelland and Simon Lewis watch the week's biggest PR disasters unfold.

Radio 4,95 episodes

Episodes

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PR is a virus
David Yelland is joined by PR guru Phil Elwood, who blames their industry for everything.
30 Apr 2025,24 mins
China's meme warfare, rats and rockets
David and Simon discuss if China is out-PRing the US, rats' media appeal and Jeff Bezos.
23 Apr 2025,29 mins
Quick Wins: How to avoid being typecast
David Yelland and Simon Lewis share tips on how to avoid being the office dogsbody.
10 mins
Quick Wins: How to deal with redundancies
David and Simon share their tips on how to manage making people redundant.
08 Apr 2025,10 mins
The truth about ‘no comment,’ managing expectations and cost-effective PR
David and Simon discuss 'no comment' and the traits that make a great PR pro.
01 Apr 2025,20 mins
Heathrow special: inside the crisis
David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss the PR optics of sleeping CEOs.
25 Mar 2025,26 mins
Thames Water’s PR gamble, Tesla backlash and William’s Villa in The Sun
David and Simon discuss the Thames Water documentary, Elon Musk and Prince William.
18 Mar 2025,28 mins
Carney’s Canada v Trump, Abrdn’s U-turn and Ambassador Suzuki
David and Simon discuss Canada’s PR fightback, a reverse ferret and Japanese diplomacy.
11 Mar 2025,28 mins
Trump, Zelensky, the King and Mummy Pig
David and Simon discuss the US and Ukraine, a wise use of royal PR and Peppa Pig's news.
04 Mar 2025,28 mins
PR in the disinformation bubble, Mandelson’s doorstep and breaking cover
David and Simon discuss lines in the sand, when to say nothing and spilling the beans.
25 Feb 2025,28 mins
BP’s PR battle, Jamie Dimon’s rant, and two men and a baby
David and Simon discuss corporate raiders, remote working and the Elon Musk baby drama.
18 Feb 2025,28 mins
Inside the woke war room, puff quote PR and WhatsApp comms
David and Simon discuss 'sunsetting' diversity goals, book blurbs and group chat PR.
11 Feb 2025,28 mins
Rachel Reeves’ PR pivot, how to talk to Trump and Bill Gates’ memoir
David and Simon discuss the chancellor's vibe shift, dealing with Donald, and Bill Gates.
04 Feb 2025,28 mins
Inside the Sun's historic apology to Prince Harry
David and Simon discuss Prince Harry's settlement with the publishers of The Sun.
28 Jan 2025,28 mins
Power and influence in the (medieval) court of Trump
David Yelland and Simon Lewis decode Donald Trump’s inauguration.
21 Jan 2025,28 mins
California in crisis and is the UK running out of gas?
David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss Blake Lively, LA insurers and Centrica’s PR.
14 Jan 2025,28 mins
Quick Wins: How to quit a new job
David and Simon share their advice on how to leave a job when you've only just started.
07 Jan 2025,7 mins
Quick Wins: How to use storytelling
David and Simon share their advice on using the power of storytelling.
31 Dec 2024,7 mins
Quick Wins: How to recover from embarrassment
David and Simon share their tips on navigating embarrassing situations in the workplace.
24 Dec 2024,8 mins
2024: the big ideas that shaped our year
David and Simon reflect on Prince Andrew's China crisis and the defining trends of 2024.
17 Dec 2024,28 mins
Quick Wins: Office Parties
David Yelland and Simon Lewis share their advice on how to survive the office party.
13 Dec 2024,7 mins
Murdoch loses 'succession’ battle, killing of a US CEO and why tycoons get up at 4am
David and Simon discuss Murdoch's lost legal case, Brian Thompson and early risers.
10 Dec 2024,28 mins
Gregg Wallace, ‘casting doubt’ PR and Ed Davey’s Christmas single
The MasterChef crisis, Australia’s social media ban and is Ed Davey a PR genius?
03 Dec 2024,28 mins
Jaguar’s rebrand, John Prescott and Meet the Rees-Moggs
Jaguar’s risky rebrand, Prescott’s precarious PR and Jacob Rees-Mogg’s reality TV debut.
26 Nov 2024,28 mins
Has business lost the argument? X versus Bluesky, and Coleen’s jungle PR
Why business should get political, migrating from X, and a PR coup.
19 Nov 2024,28 mins
Why Trump means boom times for PR, and a Rivals spat
The power of PR under a second Trump presidency and how public Rivalry can backfire.
12 Nov 2024,28 mins
Telling the truth, being on TV and the best PR comebacks
David and Simon answer listeners' questions on honesty, flies on the wall and comebacks.
05 Nov 2024,28 mins
Inside prestige PR, Starbucks and a cheese heist
David and Simon discuss the art of influence, Starbucks messaging and Neal’s Yard Dairy.
29 Oct 2024,27 mins
Could PR have helped Liam Payne?, Thomas Tuchel and the Trump biopic
David and Simon discuss protection in PR, leaning into an own goal, and The Apprentice.
22 Oct 2024,28 mins
Kamala Harris, Man City v the Premier League and LinkedIn
David and Simon discuss the power of opening up, football PR and unvarnished job updates.
15 Oct 2024,28 mins