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When It Hits the Fan

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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes141Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPolitics

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Artwork for When It Hits the Fan

Latest Episodes

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

Getting your message out is obviously a cornerstone of PR. But where you put that message is becoming even more important.

This week, David Yelland is joined by Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty from the BBC podcast Fame Under Fire. Together they look at t... more

When you’re in a crisis, you discover very quickly who your friends are. Or perhaps more accurately, who your friends aren’t.

This week, David Yelland and Simon Lewis examine how different types of friends are deployed to the PR front line when it c... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

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
Dorothy Byrne
Former editor at Channel 4 and current president of Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge.
Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge
Episode: Dorothy Byrne special
Mick Lynch
Leader of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
RMT
Episode: Mick Lynch special
Gerald Ratner
Former CEO of Ratner's, famous for his jewel business that collapsed after one ill-fated joke.
Ratner's
Episode: Gerald Ratner 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 423 ratings
  • 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 Kingdom3 months ago
  • V interesting, & David worked at The Sun.

    Such an interesting and lovely conversation about topical events and the PR around it… David Yelland will say he worked at The Sun about 6 times per ep though.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    pauliegram01
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Excellent

    Interesting and informative podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Helly UK
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Riveting!

    Bite size experience delivered in a way that shows their natural expertise, give generously. Love it! :)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sarah J Fenwick
    United Kingdom7 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
#34
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#75
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#95
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#163
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#233
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#38
Ireland/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

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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 News Agents
2. Radical with Amol Rajan
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 141 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. Susan Jebb
2. Phil Elwood
3. Tyrone Mings
4. Marianna Spring
5. Mike Lynch
6. Matthew Freud
7. Dorothy Byrne
8. Mick 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.

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