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When It Hits the Fan

BBC Radio 4

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 in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Bringing sharp insight and insider knowledge.

David Yelland is the former editor of The Sun and Farzana Baduel is an award-winning communications strategist and crisis management specialist. Together, they draw on decades of frontline experience shaping narratives, handling reputational firestorms and understanding what really drives the news cycle.

  • 155 episodes
  • Updated July 15

Episodes155

  • July 15 · 26 min

    PR's Rich Tapestry

    David Yelland and Farzana Baduel on a PR coup one thousand years in the making.

  • July 8 · 24 min

    Me Against the World

    David Yelland and Farzana Baduel discuss why powerful people often play the victim card.

  • July 1 · 33 min

    Just Answer the Question

    David Yelland and Farzana Baduel discuss whether refusing to take questions is good PR.

  • June 3 · 33 min

    BP v 'Shouty' Albert

    David Yelland and Lauren Beeching look at the spectacular PR fallout from a sacking at BP.

  • May 27 · 28 min

    Lower Value Humans

    David Yelland and Farzana Baduel on why words really matter, especially around job cuts.

  • May 13 · 26 min

    Knowing When To Quit

    David Yelland and Farzana Baduel on the PR art of knowing when to resign.

  • May 6 · 27 min

    The King's Speech

    David Yelland and Farzana Baduel on why the King's speech to Congress was high-risk PR.

  • April 29 · 29 min

    Trouble at the FBI

    David Yelland and Farzana Baduel on how to fight claims of going missing in action.

  • April 1 · 28 min

    Don't Panic!!!

    David Yelland and Farzana Baduel discuss how to keep the public calm in a crisis.

  • March 18 · 22 min

    Can You Spin ChatGPT?

    David Yelland and Lauren Beeching look at the secretive world of influencing the chatbots.

  • March 11 · 27 min

    A Gulf in Communications

    David Yelland and Farzana Baduel look at the role of influencers during the war in Iran.

  • March 4 · 19 min

    The Generation Game

    David Yelland and Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty on the struggle to cut through to Gen Z.

  • February 25 · 25 min

    Friends: The One About PR

    David Yelland and Simon Lewis look at the use of friends in reputational combat.

  • February 18 · 30 min

    Heart v Head PR

    David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss how to fight a PR battle in the face of raw emotion.