97. Dylan Jones on a violent childhood, recovery from rape and life shaping headlines

Dylan Jones is a true titan of the world of media … someone who has helped shape the cultural landscape of the UK for the last four decades.  

A lad from High Wycombe who rose to become one of the best connected and sharpest operators here and in the US … along the way editing GQ magazine 22-year years, writing or editing over 25 books and picking up a cabinet full of awards including an OBE.  He is now Editor in Chief of London’s Evening Standard.  

Dylan’s latest book – his memoir These Foolish Things, tells the story of this successful, glamourous life in rich detail, but is also a moving, revealing story of success in spite of a number of deeply personal crises.   Dylan’s childhood was blighted by physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his ex-RAF officer father – beatings that left him with a stammer and scars you don’t see.  Having escaped to seek freedom and a life in London, Dylan – as a 17-year-old – was raped.  

Throughout this courageous and, at times difficult, conversation, Dylan’s resilience and, as he puts it, ‘very particular’ approach to crisis shines through.  

Links 

Dylan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DylanJones/?hl=en-gb

Charities

Hoffman process: https://www.hoffmaninstitute.co.uk/about-the-process/

Rape Crisis: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/find-a-centre/

Books

These Foolish Things (2024): https://www.amazon.co.uk/These-Foolish-Things-Dylan-Jones/dp/1408719851

Stream/buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm

Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk

Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682

This podcast is brought to you by Crisis What Crisis? Productions and Coulson Partners

Host – Andy Coulson   

CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Mabel Pickering, Linus Difford

With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global      

For all PR and guest approaches please contact – podcast@coulsonpartners.com