When It Hits the Fan

Is the BBC 'hopeless at PR'?


Listen Later

"They make really stupid basic mistakes and they are hopeless at PR."

If you're a podcast about PR, then that quote - made about the BBC this week - is a good place to start when assessing the reputation of the Corporation.

This week, David Yelland and Simon Lewis examine the crisis engulfing the BBC. One which began with a leaked memo, resulted in two huge resignations and now has President Trump threatening to sue for $1bn.

How did we get here and did the BBC make some cardinal PR mistakes along the way?

Maybe the BBC could do with putting in a call to the man dubbed 'Drastic Dave'. On the extended edition on BBC Sounds, David and Simon look at the risks and rewards of parachuting a 'superstar CEO' into a struggling company. In this case, it's Dave Lewis - who's now tasked with turning round drinks business Diageo. The company has seen an immediate bounce in its value, but how long can that PR honeymoon period last?

And what happens if you need to get hold of your CEO - superstar or otherwise - but they're not picking up? The answer, according to the boss of Heathrow, is to give them an extra loud phone.

Thomas Woldbye says that's what he's now got - after sleeping through several alerts when the airport was hit by a huge power failure back in March. David and Simon recall moments from their own careers when they had to decide if, when and how to wake the boss.

Producer: Duncan Middleton

Editor: Sarah Teasdale
Executive Producer: Eve Streeter
Music by Eclectic Sounds
A Raconteur Studios production for BBC Radio 4

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

When It Hits the FanBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4

4

24 ratings


More shows like When It Hits the Fan

View all
Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast by Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

353 Listeners

The Media Show by BBC Radio 4

The Media Show

35 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

70 Listeners

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson by BBC Radio 4

Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

109 Listeners

Newscast by BBC News

Newscast

651 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

764 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,157 Listeners

The News Agents by Global

The News Agents

1,056 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics: Leading by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics: Leading

808 Listeners

The News Agents - USA by Global

The News Agents - USA

403 Listeners

The Rest Is Entertainment by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Entertainment

960 Listeners

Electoral Dysfunction by Sky News

Electoral Dysfunction

107 Listeners

Political Currency by Persephonica

Political Currency

123 Listeners

Radical with Amol Rajan by BBC Radio 4

Radical with Amol Rajan

47 Listeners

Strong Message Here by BBC Radio 4

Strong Message Here

60 Listeners