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When It Hits the Fan

BBC Radio 4
Public Relations
Social Media
Crisis Management
Donald Trump
Royal Family
BBC
Prince Harry
Keir Starmer
Journalism
Prince Andrew
Buckingham Palace
The Sun
Elon Musk
Rupert Murdoch
Rishi Sunak
Apple
Fox News
Reputation Management
Nigel Farage
Personal PR

When It Hits The Fan takes you behind the headlines and into the high-stakes world of power, influence and reputation. Each week, it unpacks the PR playbook used by some of the world's most powerful people and asks how the hidden hand of the communications industry shapes what you see, hear and believe.

Hosts David Yelland and Farzana Baduel dive into the week's biggest media storms, scandals and... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes150Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for When It Hits the Fan

Latest Episodes

When you're routinely described as a crackhead and convicted felon who uses sex workers, it's fair to say your reputation can't get much worse.

And so we turn to Hunter Biden. Often labelled the 'black sheep' of the Biden family and a man who's been... more

When PR becomes the story, you know you're in trouble.

And that's where BP finds itself right now - as the dust begins to settle after a tumultuous week for the company.

David Yelland and Lauren Beeching unpick the drama - from the statement annou... more

Ever felt like your boss doesn't quite hold you in the highest esteem?

Pity then, workers at Standard Chartered Bank. CEO Bill Winters described some of them as 'lower value human capital' during a speech to investors. His words came at a time when ... more

Not every product launch comes complete with tear gas, police dogs and angry crowds.

But those were the scenes at various cities around the world as a new Swatch went on sale.

This week, David Yelland and Farzana Baduel discuss whether the chaos th... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Lauren Beeching
Crisis management expert and friend of the show
Independent crisis communications consultant
Episode: BP v 'Shouty' Albert
Gemma Collins
Reality TV personality and mega influencer
Episode: Lower Value Humans
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

Hosts

David Yelland
Host of the show; former editor; co-host with decades of newsroom and PR experience.
Farzana Baduel
Co-host; award-winning communications strategist and crisis management specialist.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 438 ratings
  • Fascinating takes on current affairs

    Since I discovered this podcast, it’s been a ‘must listen’. I subscribe to a lot of politics podcasts, but this one offers something a bit different - often covering different stories, or approaching them from a different angle. Since Simon’s departure, the new co-hosts have added some fresh new perspectives, which has been welcome - but as you’d expect, it will take time for them to build up rapport with David, and to become comfortable with the podcasting format. Currently Farzana appears to b... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    L1584
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • The PR of departures

    Whatever happened to Simon Lewis? No announcement, not a word? Is that good PR? David Yelland is fantastic as was Simon and I loved every episode until the unmentioned departure of Simon and the arrival of a carousel of lackluster stand ins! The pod is exactly half of what it was. I wish the BBC would tell us before I unsubscribe!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Dr W02116
    United Statesa month ago
  • I miss Simon!

    Love the show but Simon’s absence is missed!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Harry000!
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Used to be excellent but dont bother now

    This podcast used to be an entertaining and enlightening adult conversation between two old PR hands. The loss of Simon Lewis and the addition of some truely dreadful women is a disaster. Farzana Baduel is patronising and tedious. Please get rid of her

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    AJP09876
    United States2 months ago
  • Has gone downhill

    Yelland and Lewis were a great duo with unquestionable experience and authority. Since Lewis left, they have struggled to fill the gap with someone of similar insight. A real shame as this was a must-listen show before.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Jcbeddie
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the insider PR perspective and candid, expert analysis of crises.
Criticism centers on uneven chemistry with new co-hosts and variable pacing, but perceived expertise remains a strong draw.
The format is praised for tackling complex topics with clear takeaways useful for professionals and sponsors.
Some listeners feel the show lost some dynamic after a long-time co-host departure but still values practical, real-world insights.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#44
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#102
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#186
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#27
Brazil/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#38
New Zealand/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#60
Singapore/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

BP v 'Shouty' Albert
Q: What impact do social media followers have on firing decisions?
Firing decisions are increasingly influenced by social media dynamics, as employees with large followings can drive rapid content creation and reputational risk, forcing companies to plan content and messaging more carefully before announcements.
BP v 'Shouty' Albert
Q: How did Albert Manifold attempt to control the narrative?
He issued a long, emphatic statement asserting his innocence and framing his leadership as cost-focused, while bringing in high-profile PR support to push a counter-narrative.
BP v 'Shouty' Albert
Q: What makes the BP case unusual in terms of PR strategy?
The case is unusual because the PR narrative became the story itself, with the board recognizing the need to address governance issues while managing the intense media scrutiny and the counter-narratives from Manifold's side.
Lower Value Humans
Q: What should PR teams learn from the bank's handling of the 'lower value human capital' remark?
PR should read the room and anticipate a global audience; use precise, careful wording, prepare for amplification on social platforms, and consider staged messaging rather than one big post, to avoid a cultural moment spiraling into a long-lasting controversy.
Lower Value Humans
Q: Was Gemma Collins the right influencer for the Department for Education campaign?
The hosts debate that influencer reach can cut through noise, but effectiveness depends on credibility, alignment with the message, and timing; in this case the choice sparked controversy and a lack of prepared talking points, suggesting the partnership may have been ill-timed and poorly justified.

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?

Across recent episodes, the show analyzes high-stakes PR and reputation management at the intersection of politics, business, and celebrity culture. Listeners get practical breakdowns of crisis responses, media framing, and strategic storytelling, with frequent case studies ranging from royal communications to corporate scandals and government messaging. The hosts draw on decades of frontline PR experience to illuminate how narratives are shaped, who benefits, and what it reveals about power in today's news cycle. A standout aspect is the blend of veteran insight with timely, real-world examples, making it useful for PR professionals, corporate communicators, and sponsors seeking authentic, informed conversations about reputation management... more

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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. Strong Message Here
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 150 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on When It Hits the Fan?

Recent guests on When It Hits the Fan include:

1. Lauren Beeching
2. Gemma Collins
3. Rhiannon Mills
4. Iwena Griffiths
5. Farzana Baduel
6. Susan Jebb
7. Phil Elwood
8. Tyrone Mings

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