Inside the Downing Street spin room

Host Jack Blanchard speaks to some of the most powerful Downing Street spin doctors of the past decade — and asks whether they’re really as angry as the ‘Malcolm Tucker’ stereotype suggests.
James Slack, the prime minister’s official spokesman between 2017 and 2021, gives a rare insight into the brutal experience of chairing the Downing Street Lobby briefing — going head to head with dozens of hostile political journalists every day.
Lee Cain recalls the “insane” experience trying to spin for a newspaper-obsessed Boris Johnson — during a global pandemic — and explains why the No. 10 director of communications job is too big for any one person.
Another former No. 10 director of comms, Katie Perrior, recalls her own challenges trying to spin for a media-shy Theresa May, and explains why it’s so important that communications is given top billing by any prime minister.
And Craig Oliver, who held the No. 10 director of comms job longer than anyone else, recalls the triumphs and the failures of trying to set the media narrative for David Cameron’s government.