When It Hits the Fan

What happens when you cross enemy lines and join the other side?As King Charles hires a Sky Royal correspondent for a top comms job at the Palace, David Yelland and Farzana Baduel discuss what happens when journalists switch to PR.Crucially, they need to learn how to go from broadcast to mute. No more fabulously indiscreet anecdotes involving the rich and powerful over dinner - they're now your clients and your job is to protect their reputation.And that's just for starters. There are a whole load of different rules and shifts in power dynamics that can take years to fully understand.Also, on the extended edition on BBC Sounds, why Harry and Meghan have a window of golden PR opportunity - that could slam shut if they don't get their timing spot on. As David and Farzana explain, it's all to do with something called 'brand adjacency'.Producer: Duncan Middleton Editor: Sarah Teasdale Executive Producer: Eve Streeter Music by Eclectic Sounds A Raconteur Studios production for BBC Radio 4

In the good old days, if you wanted some favourable PR for a client, you could call up a journalist and take them out for a jolly good lunch. It's not so easy when the thing you're trying to influence is a bot. So is it possible to spin the likes of ChatGPT?This week David Yelland is joined by Lauren Beeching - a crisis management expert with clients that count their followers in millions.They discuss how AI is changing so much of the nuts and bolts of the PR reputation game - from having to become a tech wizard to work out if 'evidence' is real, to understanding how to influence what AI chatbots say. And on the extended edition on BBC Sounds, the Fan Hitter that almost broke the internet is back. The woman at the centre of the Coldplay KissCam scandal, Kristin Cabot, has done a big interview with Oprah - and discusses the PR advice she was given.She claims she was told, "Stay quiet, everything will blow over in three days."Hindsight is a wonderful thing.Producer: Duncan Middleton Editor: Sarah Teasdale Executive Producer: Eve Streeter Music by Eclectic Sounds A Raconteur Studios production for BBC Radio 4

When your country's PR plan relies on the projection of safety and security, how do you keep that image alive when you're under attack?This week, David Yelland is joined by global PR expert Farzana Baduel to examine how countries in the Gulf have managed their comms since the start of the war in Iran.In Dubai especially, social media influencers have been used as foot soldiers in the reputation battle. But has the relentlessly on-brand, 'we feel safe' messaging been successful? David and Farzana explain why it depends which end of the PR telescope you're looking through.Producer: Duncan Middleton Editor: Sarah Teasdale Executive Producer: Eve Streeter Music by Eclectic Sounds A Raconteur Studios production for BBC Radio 4

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty, BBC podcaster and reputation commentator, explains how big institutions must reach younger audiences. She explores why cutting through noise matters, the role of optics and timing, using youth-focused platforms, and the power of real-time, community-level engagement. Her mantra: do the boring thing in the most interesting way possible.

A sharp look at how 'friends' are weaponized in crisis PR and why loyalty often disappears under pressure. Stories of named and anonymous friends, celebrity and royal cases, and the blurred line between friends, spokespeople and sources. A behind-the-scenes peek at controlled media tactics, tabloid briefings, and how reputations are managed in business and personal scandals.

They debate whether facts can beat raw public anger when TV drama paints an industry as the villain. The show explores how companies should reassure employees and rebuild trust with small wins. It examines PR firms that became the story after controversial files and memos. They also dissect a CEO faux pas to show how careless soundbites can sink credibility.

They debate whether communicating for the Prime Minister is now beyond PR as rapid adviser turnover and collapsing public trust make persuasion harder. They explore how social media and legacy outlets fuel polarisation, and where PR reaches its limits. The conversation shifts to faster, bolder royal communications and the optics of international visits. Finally, they discuss France's state letter on fertility versus deeper policy solutions.

A deep dive into whether reputations can become irreparably damaged by links to scandal. Debate over how the Palace might isolate fallout from the Epstein revelations and what actions could protect the institution. A second thread looks at a high-profile political figure’s rapid fall from influence and how media ties and burned bridges shaped his decline. Also, a surprising spin on tax lists as PR.

They dig into how a family wobble can threaten a global lifestyle brand and the commercial risks when control slips. They explore whether attention can be turned into profit and how impulsive social posts complicate big deals. There's a look at PR networking at Davos and a breakdown of a public spat where humour and facts turned into a business win.

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty, presenter of the BBC podcast Fame Under Fire, joins David Yelland to explore the evolving landscape of PR and reputation management. They dive into the sensational Diddy case, discussing how wild online accusations can shift public perception and benefit defendants. The duo also examines the controversial Candace Owens, highlighting her influence as a 'personal PR powerhouse' and the lessons PR professionals might learn from her tactics. They emphasize the importance of authenticity and adapting to the nuances of social media engagement.