- History
- Europe
- Politics, Institutions, and Public Opinion
- Comparative Politics
- Revitalizing History
Andrew Roberts speaks with David Yelland, former editor of The Sun and co-host of BBC Radio 4’s popular podcast “When It Hits the Fan,” about the hidden machinery of modern power: public relations, political messaging, media influence, and crisis management. Yelland reflects on Rupert Murdoch, the decline of tabloid power, the rise of tech platforms and algorithms, Trump’s “flood the zone” media strategy, royal communications, corporate spin, Ukraine, Gaza, COVID, and why the people shaping the message are often as important as the leaders delivering it.
Recorded on May 1, 2026.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
David Yelland is a journalist and former editor of The Sun and founder of Kitchen Table Partners. He was formerly an executive at Brunswick Group until 2015. Since 2023, he has co-presented the BBC Radio 4 podcast series When It Hits the Fan with Simon Lewis.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Secrets of Statecraft is a bimonthly podcast hosted by Distinguished Visiting Fellow Andrew Roberts that explores the effect that the study of history has had on the careers and decision-making of public figures. The podcast also features leading historians discussing the influence that the study of history had on their biographical subjects. The title is taken from Winston Churchill’s reply on Coronation Day 1953 to a young American who had asked him for life advice, to whom he said, “Study history, study history, for therein lie all the secrets of statecraft.”
