When It Hits the Fan

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

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

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

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