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BBC Radio 4


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.


When It Hits the Fan

David Yelland and Simon Lewis assess one of the biggest fan-hitters in the history of the media industry - Rupert Murdoch’s failure to win the legal battle to control who takes the reins of his media empire. What does this defeat mean for the world’s most famous media mogul and his legacy?

Also, in the wake of the shocking, fatal shooting of healthcare executive Brian Thompson in New York and the online reaction to it, how might this tragic event reshape the way business leaders relate to the world?

And – when Disney CEO Bob Iger says he’s up at 4am, should we take notes? Why do so many business leaders go public with their early-bird morning routines?

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

Murdoch loses 'succession’ battle, killing of a US CEO and why tycoons get up at 4am

Quick Wins from the When It Hits the Fan team is our how-to guide to being better at your own PR and navigating the world of work like a pro. In these special short episodes, David Yelland and Simon Lewis give you lots of useful tips that might just change your working life – and it’ll only take a few minutes of your time.

In this episode: how to survive the office party. Should the "hub and spoke" or the SAS-style approach be your strategy for the night? David and Simon share their work wisdom on how to make sure you emerge with only good stories to tell.

Producer: Sophie Smith
Executive Producer: Eve Streeter
Music by Eclectic Sounds
A Raconteur Studios production for BBC Radio 4

Quick Wins: Office Parties

David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss the use of 'royal sources' in Prince Andrew's China crises and reflect on the big ideas that have shaped our world in 2024. What are the common themes that might help us understand and navigate our increasingly uncertain world a bit better? 

They discuss how the Royal Family is the canary in the PR mine when it comes to dealing with the coming era of algorithms that work to channel negativity and disinformation, as well as the consequences of social media algorithms for all of us. 

What does this mean for what happens next in 2025? How best to get a clear message out in a polluted ocean of information? In our changing world, the enduring power of storytelling and connection will be needed more than ever.

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

2024: the big ideas that shaped our year

Quick Wins is our how-to guide to personal PR from the When It Hits the Fan team. David Yelland and Simon Lewis share their expert advice on how to navigate the working world like a pro. In these special short episodes, you'll lots of useful tips that might just change your working life – and it’ll only take a few minutes.

In this episode they discuss how to recover from embarrassment at work. Mastering the art of the apology is key and remember, it may feel like the end of the world but no one's thinking about it as much as you are.

Producer: Ella Blaxill
Executive Producer: Eve Streeter
Music by Eclectic Sounds
A Raconteur Studios production for BBC Radio 4

Quick Wins: How to recover from embarrassment

Quick Wins is a series of short episodes from the When It Hits the Fan team to help you navigate your own personal PR.

In this episode, David and Simon answer a listener's question on how to use storytelling when presenting to your boss. They run us through their dos and don'ts when it comes to telling stories and presenting like a pro.

Producer: Ella Blaxill
Executive Producer: Eve Streeter
Music by Eclectic Sounds
A Raconteur Studios production for BBC Radio 4

Quick Wins: How to use storytelling

Quick Wins is our how-to guide to personal PR from the When It Hits the Fan team. David Yelland and Simon Lewis share their expert advice on how to navigate the working world like a pro. In these special short episodes, you'll lots of useful tips that might just change your working life – and it’ll only take a few minutes.

In this episode David and Simon answer a listener's question on how to leave a job when you've only just started. They explain how to tactfully u-turn and quit before anyone notices.

Producer: Ella Blaxill
Executive Producer: Eve Streeter
Music by Eclectic Sounds
A Raconteur Studios production for BBC Radio 4

Quick Wins: How to quit a new job

Step inside the world of crisis managers and spin doctors, as David Yelland and Simon Lewis watch the week’s biggest PR disasters unfold.

Introducing When It Hits the Fan

David Yelland and Simon Lewis lift the bonnet on the world of crisis managers and spin doctors as they watch the week’s biggest PR disasters unfold. 

In each episode, David and Simon 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, who was head of communications for the late Queen and Prime Minister Gordon Brown, as well as for major corporations like NatWest, 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.

In this episode, they discuss what's going on at the government in the wake of the crumbling concrete crisis. Spanish football - what do you do when the boss just won't step down? And as Harry arrives in the UK for a fleeting visit on his way to the Invictus Games in Germany, they ask how long it will be before things hit the fan again.

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

Crumbling concrete, Harry returns and the Spanish FA

David Yelland and Simon Lewis lift the bonnet on the world of crisis managers and spin doctors as they 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. 

In this episode, David and Simon discuss Elon Musk and how to manage the PR of the world’s most powerful people. What was the most unexpected “sorry not sorry” interview of the week - Liz Truss or Luis Rubiales? And what do you do if you’re the French President, Emmanuel Macron, and you get booed in front of 80,000 rugby fans? 

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

Elon Musk, 'sorry not sorry' and being booed

David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss why parts of an ecosystem of powerful men right at the top of social media are supporting Russell Brand in the wake of the allegations of sexual assault against him. 

They assess the departure of BP’s chief executive Bernard Looney and the implications for one of the UK's most iconic companies. 

And Simon draws on his experience at Buckingham Palace and Number 10 to shed light on Britain's 'golden triangle' and the relationship between the top of the civil service and the palace.

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

Russell Brand, BP and Britain's 'golden triangle'

David and Simon analyse what is arguably the biggest PR moment in British electoral history - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's decision to leave the D-Day celebrations in Normandy early. Simon takes us behind the scenes at Number 10 to try to work out exactly how things went so wrong for the PM. 

Nigel Farage - he's been accused of 'dog whistle' politics. What are they, and how do they work?

And - the acquittal of tech tycoon Mike Lynch. What are the lessons to be learned from surviving the nine circles of media hell?

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

Sunak's D-Day blunder, is Farage using dog whistles?, and Mike Lynch

Sunak's D-Day blunder, is Farage using dog whistles?, and Mike Lynch

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