When It Hits the Fan

Declaring your tax isn't straightforward, as anyone's who ever filled out their own return will know.King Charles probably has someone to help with the scraps of paper and receipts - but he'll still have to deal with a huge amount of scrutiny on becoming the first monarch to reveal their tax bill.This week, David and Farzana discuss why King Charles is going public - and why it was announced almost a week before the details are released. Are the public being softened up with talk of 'transparency' and 'accountability'? They explain that framing the narrative before a story breaks means you have more chance of creating a cushioning effect. On the extended edition on BBC Sounds, what's the PR takeout for Starbucks? The company's faced a huge backlash in South Korea after a marketing campaign seemingly referenced a historical military attack against pro-democracy protesters. How does something like that slip through the net? The finger of blame is being pointed at AI. But that only tells half the story.And after a deeply damaging few weeks, David and Farzana assess how one very public figure is seeking to rebuild their shattered reputation. It's not been easy but Sesame Street's Elmo seems to be winning back a few hearts and minds after his failure to fully come out in support of his home city's basketball team.Producer: Duncan Middleton Editor: Sarah Teasdale Executive Producer: Eve Streeter Music by Eclectic Sounds A Raconteur Studios production for BBC Radio 4

When everything's going really well, there's always a lurking fear that it can't possibly last.This week, David Yelland and Simon Lewis look at how the discussion around weight-loss injections is suddenly, subtly shifting. New research suggests that once you come off them, you put weight back on faster than if you'd shed the pounds in a more traditional way.The findings dominated the news agenda.So is the PR worm ever so slightly turning? David and Simon discuss what happens when a product leaves the ordinary world of day-to-day business and becomes something far bigger - something talked about by everyone.What's crucial is being able to look far enough down the track to see what pitfalls may lay ahead.On the extended edition on BBC Sounds, we're talking black gold. Or rather, how the big oil firms are dealing with President Trump - especially after he claimed he'd briefed them before the US raid to capture Venezuela's President Maduro.David and Simon look at the skills required to PR an oil firm - and why they're more like states than businesses. They'll also explain why big tech has a lot to learn from how oil runs its communications.Also, there is a traitor in our midst - and she's a head of comms. It's no spoiler to say Rachel is one of the stars of the latest series of The Traitors. But what dark and mysterious PR genius is she bringing to the show to make her so successful? Producer: Duncan Middleton Editor: Sarah Teasdale Executive Producer: Eve Streeter Music by Eclectic Sounds A Raconteur Studios production for BBC Radio 4

Most of us are guilty of it. A problem looms or a crisis kicks off and the knee-jerk reaction is often to ignore it and hope it goes away.Newsflash - it rarely does.In this latest episode of our mini-series on PR's Golden Rules, David Yelland and Simon Lewis explain why doing something is usually better than doing nothing.Two great examples from 2025 involve the BBC and the Royal Family. Both faced enormous crises - both faced accusations of not saying or doing the right thing quickly enough.David and Simon explain the perils of being paralysed by group-think in such situations and the difficulties of making yourself heard when you know you've got a solution. And sometimes you have to accept that there isn't necessarily a right or wrong answer - but you just have to say something.Producer: Duncan Middleton Editor: Sarah Teasdale Executive Producer: Eve Streeter Music by Eclectic Sounds A Raconteur Studios production for BBC Radio 4

It may be the season to be jolly but there's not a lot of good cheer going around at the moment. With so much unrelentingly bleak news, how do you persuade anyone that not everything's as bad as it seems? This week, David Yelland and Simon Lewis look at the power of optimism. It's not just a useful PR tool, it's vital. When optimism is authentic, it can inspire and be incredibly infectious. The trouble is, it can also feel totally out of step with people's own experiences.That's why it's such a tricky PR balancing act. You want to take people with you but not make them think you're living in a dream world.When people are crying out for good news, David and Simon look at why the phrase 'positive spin' is almost always used in a derogatory way - even though the very last thing you want is a pessimistic PR team.On the extended edition on BBC Sounds, who's on the list and who isn't? The PR minefield that is Christmas cards. David and Simon discuss whether the festive staple is still a good way of judging where you sit in the business and social firmament.Should you send cards to all your contacts, should they each get a personalised message - and if someone suddenly stops sending one to you, what are you supposed to think? And given the cost of postage - how do you decide who is really worth the price of a stamp?Producer: Duncan Middleton Editor: Sarah Teasdale Executive Producer: William Miller Music by Eclectic Sounds A Raconteur Studios production for BBC Radio 4