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 corporate crises, revealing how PR disasters unfold in real time. From political controversies to celebrity missteps and brand meltdowns, they trace where the story began, how it spiralled, and who ended up...
Latest episodes
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31 min ↗
Can F1's Christian Horner Regain Pole Position?
When you live life in the fast lane and the wheels come off, the results can be spectacularly bad. Just ask Christian Horner.He was sacked as boss of F1's Red Bull amid claims of s…
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31 min ↗
Evri's Battle with WhatsApp PR
Group chats aren't known for holding back. Take a scroll through your own neighbourhood chat and the word 'Evri' probably features quite highly.This week, David Yelland and Farzana…
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28 min ↗
'The Race We Can't Afford to Lose'
The stakes could not be higher. To the winner, global supremacy. To the loser, irreversible decline.That is how the battle for building more data centres is being fought by Amazon.…
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31 min ↗
I'm a Billionaire... Get Me Out of Here!!!
"That's it, I'm leaving." After which, there is often the sound of a door slamming. But in this case, it's more likely to be the sound of a private jet revving its engines.This wee…
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29 min ↗
A Statement from the King
'Never complain, never explain.' Until recently, that could've been the unofficial motto for the Royal Family. Not anymore.David Yelland and Farzana Baduel discuss whether it was w…
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32 min ↗
How to PR the End of the World
When an interviewer's first question is whether your product could kill all humans, you know it's serious.This week, David Yelland and Lauren Beeching look at how the boss of Anthr…
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33 min ↗
The Power of Good Vibes
It's a feeling, it's something you can't quite put your finger on - but you know it when you see it.This week, David Yelland and Farzana Baduel are all about the vibes. The good on…
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27 min ↗
PR's Rich Tapestry
If PR is all about weaving great stories, then the Bayeux Tapestry might just be the perfect example.This week, David Yelland and Farzana Baduel celebrate the comms coup that was 1…
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25 min ↗
Me Against the World
Whether you're a multimillionaire or the son of a King, sometimes it can still feel like everyone is out to get you.And so we turn to Nigel Farage and Prince Harry. Both are dealin…
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33 min ↗
Just Answer the Question
Public life would be an awful lot easier if you never had to answer questions from pesky journalists.Or would it?This week, David Yelland and Farzana Baduel look at Andy Burnham's…
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26 min ↗
King Charles, Tax and Transparency
Declaring your tax isn't straightforward, as anyone's who ever filled out their own return will know.King Charles probably has someone to help with the scraps of paper and receipts…
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28 min ↗
Social Media Ban: Big Tech's 'Tobacco Moment'
The public is against you, politicians are against you and the emotional argument has been well and truly lost.Which is exactly where the likes of TikTok, Instagram and X find them…
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28 min ↗
Hunter Biden: Back from the Brink
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…
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34 min ↗
BP v 'Shouty' Albert
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 Yella…
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28 min ↗
Lower Value Humans
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 c…
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26 min ↗
Did Swatch PR Backfire?
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 w…
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26 min ↗
Knowing When To Quit
There is an art to resigning.Fall on your sword immediately and you might end up enhancing your reputation. Cling on for months in spite of overwhelming evidence you should quit -…
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27 min ↗
The King's Speech
Finding the right words in a high-pressure situation is not easy - especially when the world is watching. But by common consensus, King Charles' speech to Congress was deemed prett…
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29 min ↗
Trouble at the FBI
There are jobs and there are jobs. And then there are jobs like being head of the FBI. So when you're in that role and get accused of excessive drinking and unexplained absences fr…
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29 min ↗
Don't Panic!!!
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…