After a week in which some top people in British politics have lost or given up their jobs, David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss the strange case of OpenAI’s Sam Altman, the artificial intelligence superstar whose overnight ousting – and very quick re-employment – sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley. Everton Football Club in crisis – how do you utilise PR in the emotional cauldron that is the Premier League? And we take you into the world of schmoozing that is political PR – it’s the return of the Prawn Cocktail Offensive.This episode was recorded before Sam Altman's surprise return to OpenAI as CEO with a new board.Producer: Eve Streeter
Editor: Sarah Teasdale
Executive Producer: William Miller
Researcher: Sophie Smith
Music by Eclectic Sounds
A Raconteur production for BBC Radio 4

Omid Scobie, RIP PR and Ridley v the historians

When It Hits The Fan takes you behind the headlines and into the high-stakes world of power, influence and reputation. Each week, it unpacks the PR playbook used by some of the world's most powerful people and asks how the hidden hand of the communications industry shapes what you see, hear and believe. Hosts David Yelland and Farzana Baduel dive into the week's biggest media storms, scandals and corporate crises, revealing how PR disasters unfold in real time. From political controversies to celebrity missteps and brand meltdowns, they trace where the story began, how it spiralled, and who ended up in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Bringing sharp insight and insider knowledge.David Yelland is the former editor of The Sun and Farzana Baduel is an award-winning communications strategist and crisis management specialist. Together, they draw on decades of frontline experience shaping narratives, handling reputational firestorms and understanding what really drives the news cycle.