When It Hits the Fan

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When It Hits the Fan Podcast

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Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Factual: Politics

News

Who's in the news for all the wrong reasons? With David Yelland and Simon Lewis.

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

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 editor of the Sun and alongside him is Simon Lewis, former trouble-shooter for the Queen and Gordon Brown, as well as for major corporations like the Nat West, Vodafone and British Gas. Together they bring decades of experience in both creating and managing crises. They'll share all they know about what's keeping those big stories in and out of the news.

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When It Hits the Fan: Can Starmer do PR?, the Green Party and being Taylor Swift's ex

Can Starmer do PR?, the Green Party and being Taylor Swift's ex

BBC Radio 4 - When It Hits the Fan, Can Starmer do PR?, the Green Party and being Taylor Swift's ex

David and Simon discuss Keir Starmer's PR, the Greens' election tactics and Joe Alwyn.

David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss Keir Starmer's PR campaign, the Greens' election tactics and Joe Alwyn.

David Yelland and Simon Lewis administer the Fan Hitter PR slide rule to Sir Keir Starmer's election campaign. How has the Labour leader dealt with some of his stickier PR moments around his previous endorsement of Jeremy Corbyn, questions on tax and his dad's job as a toolmaker provoking laughter in Grimsby? Also, even though they are currently ahead in the polls, Labour - like the England football team - has to deal with the perennial PR problem of expectation management. Perhaps they could both learn a thing or two from the Royal Family?

Also, the Green Party's election campaign. How do you keep people listening when your core message - climate change - could be seen as alarmist? One solution is to focus your comms locally, which is what the Greens are doing. As is Nigel Farage...

And finally, actor Joe Alwyn has spoken out about his previous relationship with Taylor Swift. What can we learn about being dragged into the media spotlight on account of who you love – and then break up with? How best to deal with the global glare of Swifty scrutiny?


Producer: Eve Streeter
Editor: Sarah Teasdale
Executive Producer: William Miller
Music by Eclectic Sounds
A Raconteur production for BBC Radio 4

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Can Starmer do PR?, the Green Party and being Taylor Swift's ex

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