When It Hits the Fan Is the BBC 'hopeless at PR'?
Nov 12, 2025
The discussion kicks off with the BBC's PR blunders, highlighted by leadership resignations and a scandalous leaked memo. David and Simon dissect the corporation's slow response and its implications. They then turn to 'Drastic Dave,' now leading Diageo, exploring the immediate impact of his arrival on stock value. A funny yet insightful debate unfolds on the best practices for waking a CEO during a crisis, wrapped in anecdotes. Come for the PR insights, stay for the entertaining banter!
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Episode notes
Crisis Rooted In Editorial Failures
- The BBC's crisis is fundamentally caused by editorial failures, not PR alone.
- Slow public response amplified the damage and turned editorial issues into a reputational catastrophe.
Answer Fast To Avoid A Secondary Story
- Respond quickly with a clear public statement rather than staying silent for days.
- Delay creates its own negative story and raises suspicion of inertia or cover-up.
Paralysis From Political Framing
- Internal debates (e.g., whether to treat the attack as a political put-up job) can paralyse public response.
- Assuming an attack is politically motivated risks underresponding to legitimate editorial accusations.
