Rephonic
Artwork for When It Hits the Fan

When It Hits the Fan

BBC Radio 4
Office Parties
Job Resignation
Imposter Syndrome
Public Relations
Baroness Mone
Post Office Horizon Crisis
Executive Pay
Reputation Management
UK Banking Crisis
Omid Scobie
Workplace Dynamics
Royal Family
Alcohol
Prince Harry
Personal Communication
Boeing
Social Media
Christian Horner
Openai
Everton Football Club

Inside the world of crisis managers and spin doctors as David Yelland and Simon Lewis watch the week's biggest PR disasters unfold. In each episode our hosts go behind the scenes of the latest news stories and find out how, where and when it all began to hit the fan.

When It Hits The Fan is hosted by two of the most influential and experienced people in the game; David Yelland is the former edito... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes143Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for When It Hits the Fan

Latest Episodes

These are busy days in the world of crisis comms. Keeping calm is vital - keeping the public calm is even more vital.

David Yelland and Farzana Baduel explain what's going on behind-the-scenes everywhere - from supermarkets and airlines to energy co... more

What happens when you cross enemy lines and join the other side?

As King Charles hires a Sky Royal correspondent for a top comms job at the Palace, David Yelland and Farzana Baduel discuss what happens when journalists switch to PR.

Crucially, they... more

In the good old days, if you wanted some favourable PR for a client, you could call up a journalist and take them out for a jolly good lunch. It's not so easy when the thing you're trying to influence is a bot. So is it possible to spin the likes of ... more

When your country's PR plan relies on the projection of safety and security, how do you keep that image alive when you're under attack?

This week, David Yelland is joined by global PR expert Farzana Baduel to examine how countries in the Gulf have m... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Rhiannon Mills
Royal correspondent-turned communication secretary for King Charles
Sky News / King Charles' communications team
Episode: When Poachers Turn Gatekeepers
Iwena Griffiths
Editor of the Today programme
BBC
Episode: When Poachers Turn Gatekeepers
Farzana Baduel
Global PR superstar guest on Fan Hitters segment
Global PR expert
Episode: A Gulf in Communications
Susan Jebb
Professor of Diet and Population Health at Oxford and chair of the Food Standards Agency.
University of Oxford
Episode: Is the Worm Turning on 'Fat Jabs'?
Phil Elwood
A prominent public relations professional in Washington DC
Episode: PR is a virus
Tyrone Mings
English professional footballer and Aston Villa defender
Aston Villa
Episode: Thames Water’s PR gamble, Tesla backlash and William’s Villa in The Sun
Marianna Spring
BBC social media and disinformation correspondent
BBC
Episode: When It Hits The Fan x The Today Podcast x Newscast
Mike Lynch
British entrepreneur often referred to as Britain's Bill Gates
Autonomy Corporation
Episode: Sunak's D-Day blunder, is Farage using dog whistles?, and Mike Lynch
Matthew Freud
PR expert and head of Freud Communications, known for advising powerful figures in media and politics.
Freud Communications
Episode: Matthew Freud special

Hosts

David Yelland
Co-host and seasoned crisis comms professional with background as editor; brings deep experience in political and corporate PR.
Simon Lewis
Co-host with a background in corporate crisis, government, and media strategy; often presents as the more analysis-driven counterpart.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 429 ratings
  • Oh dear

    I thought this programme couldn’t get anywhere worse than whenever they were fawning all over the royals but what is this fresh hell? Terrible. I’m done.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    andrethescribe
    United Kingdom15 days ago
  • What’s happened to this podcast?

    This podcast used to be a favourite but since Simon Lewis’ departure it’s become really boring - the discussions are generic instead of interesting insights into current issues. It’s a real shame.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TallouS
    United Kingdom23 days ago
  • But you do …

    •EPISODE “Generation Game”: Annoying Host Catchphrase: “I don’t want to say …” (and then she says it).

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    (Gibberer)
    Australiaa month ago
  • Fascinating insight

    Always enjoy these two, they have a good rapport obviously borne out of respect and emotional intelligence. Lots of quality advice on display here, trying to absorb it all

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BizzoH
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Oh dear

    Have loved this fascinating programme for a long time but listening to them fawning over the king made me want to vomit. No thanks.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    andrethescribe
    United Kingdom4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A mix of admiration and critique around coverage of royal topics and elitist perspectives.
The hosts' chemistry and experience shine; practical, useful PR insights.
Balanced critique with high credibility; engaging and insightful even on complex topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#67
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#148
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#51
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#61
South Korea/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#105
Ireland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#149
New Zealand/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

5. Know How To Go Off the Record
Q: Did you just, were you told to just sit in that room and do that?
Simon describes the overwhelming experience of being thrust into the role without much guidance, relying on practice with a mutual friend.
Dynasty PR: Can the Trumps learn from the Royals?
Q: Why do PR people love anniversaries?
Anniversaries provide a new angle for media coverage and are seen as excellent opportunities for celebration and promotion.
Dynasty PR: Can the Trumps learn from the Royals?
Q: What is Eric Trump's PR objective?
He seems to be creating a narrative of inevitability that another Trump will sit in the Oval Office, separating himself from his siblings in terms of political aspirations.
You're Banned!
Q: Did Prince Harry's PR team miss something on pre-interview advice?
Yes, they should have scheduled the interview to allow more time for reflection after his court loss, as immediate interviews can lead to emotional responses.
Quick Wins: How to avoid being typecast
Q: Are there personal PR techniques to change the narrative of being typecast in a role?
The hosts urge listeners to expand their networking efforts and consider new roles, even if they aren't promotions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About When It Hits the Fan

What is When It Hits the Fan about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two veteran crisis communicators dissect the week's biggest PR disasters, revealing behind-the-scenes decisions, messaging pivots, and the human dynamics that drive reputational outcomes. With decades of experience at the helm, the discussion blends high-profile case studies (royal, corporate, and political) with practical takeaways on crisis management, media relations, and audience targeting. Expect candid assessments of what worked, what backfired, and how brands and institutions navigate rapid, sometimes hostile, media cycles. A standout feature is the hosts' willingness to expose how power, influence, and strategic storytelling shape public perception in real time, making it a valuable listen for professionals who craft or critique cri... more

Where can I find podcast stats for When It Hits the Fan?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for When It Hits the Fan. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to When It Hits the Fan and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does When It Hits the Fan get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for When It Hits the Fan, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for When It Hits the Fan?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for When It Hits the Fan, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does When It Hits the Fan have?

To see how many followers or subscribers When It Hits the Fan has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to When It Hits the Fan?

These podcasts share a similar audience with When It Hits the Fan:

1. The Media Show
2. The News Agents
3. Newscast
4. Radical with Amol Rajan
5. The Rest Is Politics

How many episodes of When It Hits the Fan are there?

When It Hits the Fan launched 3 years ago and published 143 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact When It Hits the Fan?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for When It Hits the Fan?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for When It Hits the Fan from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for When It Hits the Fan?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of When It Hits the Fan. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on When It Hits the Fan?

Recent guests on When It Hits the Fan include:

1. Rhiannon Mills
2. Iwena Griffiths
3. Farzana Baduel
4. Susan Jebb
5. Phil Elwood
6. Tyrone Mings
7. Marianna Spring
8. Mike Lynch

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days