Strictly facing ‘make or break moment’ as bosses need to support pros and celebs
Daily Express
The Italian dancer admitted that he “kicked” his celebrity partner Zara during training rehearsals last year.
Speaking to the BBC, Graziano’s spokesman Mark Borkowski said: “There is never a time when kicking, or any sense of that is right. And he knows that. He knows he’s made a mistake. He apologised at the time.”
Graziano issued a statement on his shock departure, saying he “deeply regrets the events that led” to his exit. He claimed his “intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime”.
https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/1941994/strictly-come-dancing-new-series-celebrities-bosses
Strictly Come Dancing confirms first blind contestant
The Guardian
In July, Italian dancer Graziano Di Prima confirmed he was the second professional to leave Strictly amid a BBC investigation into his conduct on the show. He failed to deny kicking the TV personality Zara McDermott, with his spokesperson Mark Borkowski telling BBC News: “There is never a time when kicking or any sense of that is right. And he knows that. He knows he’s made a mistake. He apologised at the time.”
Strictly staff have also spoken out about their treatment on the series as well. Their complaints detail a “toxic” work culture featuring cruelty, sexism and the BBC failing to take their complaints seriously. The BBC responded: “We do not recognise the claims relating to a negative workplace culture.”
How the Huw Edwards scandal might affect the BBC’s reputation
The Guardian
Mark Borkowski, a public relations and reputation management expert, said that time and again the corporation had been caught out by an inability to act swiftly, fuelling a crisis as newspapers and social media commentary fan the flames by filling the information void.
“The problem with the BBC is they are not structurally fast enough and quick enough to deal with these situations when they arrive,” he said. “A vacuum is created, they are ponderous and they struggle to pivot. When you have something as critical as their key anchor announcing the queen’s death and king’s coronation and then disappearing mysteriously off screen, this is a problem. The BBC allowed a vacuum for the story to get much bigger; it should have been dealt with.”
https://www.theguardian.com/media/article/2024/jul/31/how-huw-edwards-scandal-affect-bbc-reputation
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Bombshell Documentary Delayed to Ensure Content Is ‘Factually Correct’
OK! Magazine
Though Meghan left the royal fold in 2020, she is back in the spotlight as she’s developing a cooking series for Netflix. OK! previously reported Meghan is hoping to build a program celebrating the “joys of cooking.”
“This is a profound change of direction for Meghan – in some ways to become like a Martha Stewart. If Meghan can pull it off, it’s a very rich seam to mine,” PR expert Mark Borkowski told an outlet.
“If it succeeds, then it’s a massive leap forward and will take away from a lot of the negativity she’s had. And it will make a lot of people take her very seriously,” he added.
If Meghan’s series performs well, it could repair her career after “Archetypes” was cancelled.
“So, as an income stream, it’s huge… if she gets it right,” Borkowski continued. “But it could be make-or-break for the Duchess if the show is yet another failure.”
“I don’t believe you can have so many failed ventures without people questioning what you’re going to do next,” he concluded.
Strictly’s Graziano Di Prima ‘made mistake’ and kicked Zara McDermott during rehearsals, agent confirms
The Standard
Mark Borkowski said the dancer, who has returned to Italy to work since he was dropped after the incident last year, “made a mistake”.
Di Prima thought the matter had been resolved with BBC bosses but video of the incident is believed to have been brought to the attention of the corporation last week.
The dancer was then removed from this year’s line-up.
Borkowski said: “This week, the news agenda has focused on an isolated incident that Mr Di Prima deeply regrets and apologised for at the time.
“The deluge of commentary, too often without context or nuance, has provoked a pile-on that has left a young man in a very vulnerable state. In this case, like in many others, media and social media have immense power to build and destroy careers.”
‘About as serious a crisis as one could imagine’ – Comms lesson from global IT outage
PR Week
Mark Borkowski, PR consultant and founder of his eponymous PR agency, Borkowski
“While high-profile cybersecurity attacks are nothing new, the escalating Microsoft CrowdStrike software issue signals a pivotal shift in the severity and scale and the disastrous impact it can have on everyone and anyone. As society becomes increasingly dependent on technology, while in tandem, cybersecurity attacks are accelerated by the rapid development of generative AI, the reputation of massive organisations like Microsoft is more fragile than ever.
While the media tries to piece together what happened, those responsible for their reputations in the firing line have a daunting job in managing this crisis. We will soon find out how prepared companies are for such a seismic disaster, but this could be very costly for any company caught on the back foot. This is a vital lesson for those following this story, and it’s essential to ask yourself whether you’re prepared for a crisis to spring up so suddenly because a lot can go wrong in the heat of the moment.
Observing and learning from the missteps of corporations across various industries isn’t just prudent – it’s essential for fortifying your own defences against the inevitable storms in the volatile landscape of modern business.”
‘About as serious a crisis as one could imagine’ – Comms lessons from global IT outage | PR Week
‘Meghan Markle needs to pull this off, she’s had too many failures’ PR guru says her $100m Netflix show is make-or-break
The Sun
A PR expert has claimed that the show will be “make-or-break” for the Duchess of Sussex, whose had projects “flop” in the past due to them being “overhyped.”
He said: “This is a profound change of direction for Meghan – in some ways to become like a Martha Stewart. If Meghan can pull it off, it’s a very rich seam to mine.
“If it succeeds, then it’s a massive leap forward and will take away from a lot of the negativity she’s had. And it will make a lot of people take her very seriously.
“So, as an income stream, it’s huge… if she gets it right. But it could be make-or-break for the Duchess if the show is yet another failure.
“I don’t believe you can have so many failed ventures without people questioning what you’re going to do next.”
Phillip Schofield cuts a casual figure as he steps out for a stroll amid speculation he is plotting a TV comeback
Mail Online
Mark Borkowski, arguably Britain’s leading PR guru, told MailOnline that there should now be ‘no surprise’ if Mr Schofield makes a TV return, perhaps even in 2024.
But amid rumours execs at ITV and the BBC are not receptive, Phil must convince them that he can ‘win back the trust’ of audiences and be more ‘likeable’ after the scandal involving a younger male colleague and his falling out with Holly Willoughby.
‘Never write off Phillip Schofield’, Mr Borkowski told MailOnline: ‘He’s making all the right noises and hanging out with his A-List mates. He’s rehabilitating and people like an underdog and a comeback story’.
Mr Borkowski said: ‘There are no surprises here – and don’t write off Phillip Schofield.
PR guru Mark Borkowski says his tepid return to the public eye has come after a year away to disappear and get himself together.
Novak Djokovic, Elon Musk and others should grasp this: fame and public affection are not the same thing
The Guardian
There is a truth, not quite universally acknowledged, but worth knowing by anyone who achieves public prominence. Being famous and successful doesn’t necessarily equate to being liked. Just ask Novak Djokovic.
One of the most recognisable people in the world for almost two decades, on the tennis court Djokovic often carries the aura of an invincible demigod. But in the court of public opinion, he has often shown himself to be a mere mortal.
So why the discrepancy between fame, success and popularity?
Former This Morning presenter Philip Schofield arrives by helicopter ahead of the Grand Prix at Silverstone
Mail Online
Almost a year after quitting the ITV daytime show, he was spotted laughing and joking with his close friend Declan Donnelly and his wife Ali Astall after reportedly enjoying a four-hour dinner.
A few days later he ended his social media blackout of nearly a year by reigniting his Instagram with a sweet photo of his pet pooch Alfie watching Formula One on television.
Within seconds his daughters had liked the photo, as well as his former co-host Josie Gibson in what appears to be clear signs of support.
PR guru Mark Borkowski says his tepid return to the public eye has come after a year away to disappear and get himself together.
Calling him a rare talent, Mr Borkowski said: ‘He’s testing the waters. But audiences are very forgiving.’
Philip told the BBC in an emotional interview last June the affair had finished his career and revealed that the fallout had left him feeling suicidal.
Meghan Markle completes filming Netflix cooking show
The Express Tribune
The Duchess of Sussex has reportedly completed filming her Netflix cooking and lifestyle show.
“It all went well and it is in the can,” a Hollywood source revealed to the Daily Beast Wednesday.
PR consultant Mark Borkowski spoke to the outlet that the upcoming series “could be a relaunch to something new and interesting” for Markle.
The ex-actress, aged 42, and her husband, Prince Harry, entered into a Netflix agreement in 2020, scheduled to conclude by the end of 2025.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2476634/meghan-markle-completes-filming-netflix-cooking-show
Meghan Markle’s Netflix cooking show wraps filming: ‘This could be a relaunch’
Page Six
The Duchess of Sussex reportedly wrapped filming her Netflix cooking and lifestyle show.
“It all went well and it is in the can,” a Hollywood source told the Daily Beast Wednesday.
PR consultant Mark Borkowski told the outlet that the forthcoming series “could be a relaunch to something new and interesting” for Markle.
The former actress, 42, and her husband, Prince Harry, signed a deal with Netflix in 2020 that is set to expire at the end of 2025.
https://pagesix.com/2024/07/03/royal-family/meghan-markles-netflix-cooking-show-wraps-filming/
We finally have a status update on Megan Markle’s new cooking series
Grazia Magazine
The Duchess has wrapped filming, with sources predicting the show to be a “relaunch”
Speaking on the show, a source revealed that filming “all went well and it is in the can,” signalling that shooting has wrapped and the non-fiction programme will move into post-production. As per well-known PR specialist Mark Borkowski, the untitled series could be a “relaunch” for the former actress.
“She is being repped by the most powerful talent agency in the world, who will have gathered the right people around her,” Borkowski said. “If she has listened and learnt and is comfortable in this new role as a kind of sub-Martha Stewart, sub-Oprah, this could be a relaunch to something new and interesting,” he added.
“The bottom line is that whatever Meghan Markle does will always generate massive interest, she brings eyeballs and that means there is a long line of people who would still want to align with her.” He noted that Markle’s stature “will always attract somebody who will want to leverage her brand.”
https://graziamagazine.com/articles/meghan-markle-cooking-show/
Phillip Schofield discreetly puffs on an e-cigarette while waiting for a train – despite all smoking at stations being prohibited
Mail Online
Daughters Ruby, 27, and Molly, 30, as well as This Morning co-host Josie Gibson raced to like the post within minutes in a clear sign of support.
And his beloved daughter Molly is now his publicist after she quit the talent agency that once represented her father.
PR guru Mark Borkowski says his tepid return to the public eye has come after a year away to disappear and get himself together.
Calling him a rare talent, Mr Borkowski said: ‘He’s testing the waters. But audiences are very forgiving.’
Phillip told the BBC in an emotional interview last June the affair had finished his career and revealed that the fallout had left him feeling suicidal.
How Fred Sirieix secures biggest job yet as BBC Olympics presenter
Mail Online
As publicist Mark Borkowski surmised to MailOnline, ‘Fred’s got that rare blend of warmth and professionalism.
‘Viewers love him because he feels genuine – he’s not just a talking head; he’s someone who seems like he’d actually remember your name and favourite wine.’
The French chef and presenter quickly became a fan-favourite when he made his debut on dating show First Dates in 2013.
Leading PR guru Mr Borkowski added the maitre d’ had qualities that made viewers take to him.
He said: ‘Ah, Fred Sirieix – who would’ve thought that a charming maître d’ from “First Dates” would glide into the hallowed halls of BBC’s Olympics coverage?
‘It’s the kind of career trajectory that gives hope to every reality TV personality with a smidgen of charisma and a dab hand at handling awkward moments.
‘Fred’s success boils down to a few key ingredients. Authenticity is key.
‘Second, he’s an absolute wizard at making people feel comfortable. Watching Fred navigate the awkward, sometimes cringeworthy moments on “First Dates” is great TV.
‘Lastly, the BBC are always hunting for safe, polished and personable presenters. He brings a touch of French or even continental flair without arrogance, making him good fit for a global event like the Olympics.
‘Fred’s ascension is a classic tale of savvy career management and natural talent. He’s not just riding the wave of reality TV fame.
‘If there’s a lesson here, it’s that authenticity, combined with a keen understanding of one’s own strengths, can propel anyone with a great team and a social media presence.
‘Oh, and being a nice guy helps.’
How Fred Sirieix secures biggest job yet as BBC Olympics presenter (msn.com)
Commercially it’s performing well but is the BBC doing a good job?
Management Today
How well, badly or averagely managed is the BBC? That is a hard question to answer, primarily because of the broadcaster’s hybrid public-private status likened by British PR guru Mark Borkowski to being “half-pregnant”.
This means, he says, “the BBC is damned if it does” – by, for example, expanding its online presence – and “damned if it doesn’t” – by relying on the TV licence fee which generates £3.7bn (65%) of its revenue.
The fact that the BBC is constantly assailed by critics across the political spectrum is sometimes taken as proof it is doing a good job. Some of the claims are absurd (in the Daily Mail, Peter Hitchens recently alleged that Nick Robinson’s “Big Issue beard” and lack of tie were a calculated insult to interviewee Rishi Sunak). That said, such flak could also provide useful cover for managers who are not as effective as they might think.
The toxic atmosphere of British politics, and the digitally-driven restructuring of the media – which has made the roles of publisher and broadcaster virtually interchangeable – could turn the review of the BBC’s charter and funding in 2027 into a day of reckoning. Before then, Borkowski says the corporation must do two things: win the PR war by eloquently defending its place in British culture and keep “creating content that unites and engages the nation”, whether that be Strictly Come Dancing, Traitors or its coverage of Wimbledon.
Commercially it’s performing well but is the BBC doing a good job? | Management Today
Meghan Markle’s foot soldiers at risk of becoming uncontrollable
Geo News
Royal experts have just warned the public about the dangers that Meghan Markle’s foot soldiers pose when it comes to their
PR expert Mark Borkowski issued this warning about the Duchess’ fanbase.
His comments have been shared during a candid interview with Newsweek.
During that time the expert warned of the implications of Meghan Markle’s fanbase and the way they support the Duchess.
According to the expert, “This is more about the danger of foot soldiers who are uncontrollable because they enjoy their own coverage.”
He also referenced Meghan Markle’s decision to unveil her dog treats an hour before Kate Middleton made her very first return to the public eye following a month’s long hiatus due to cancer.
In the eyes of Mr Borkowski “It’s a danger in terms of spreading rumours, in terms of their own fame and their own ego and their own self-determination.”
Not to mention “a danger to truth,” which he went on to add before signing off.
Meghan Markle’s foot soldiers at risk of becoming uncontrollable (geo.tv)
Expert reveals how Kanye’s ‘tit-for-tat war with Kim’ is at heart of his ‘human canvas’ wife Bianca Censori’s most outrageous look to date – and issues warning to the Australian
Daily Mail Online
Bianca Censori was likely ‘paraded’ with new bubblegum pink hair and her most ‘extreme’ outfit yet on the orders of husband Kanye West because of a personal public relations war with Kim Kardashian, a global expert told MailOnline today.
Britain’s leading PR guru Mark Borkowski believes the Australian’s shocking state of undress in Paris is part of a tit-for-tat media battle with her partner’s socialite ex-wife.
And although Kanye West arrived separately at the exclusive Italian restaurant Gigi last night, Mr Borkowski believes Bianca’s new hair and dress has all the hallmarks of a stunt by the rapper in response to Kim’s new white-blonde hair.
Bianca’s outfit, made from such flimsy sticky tape it began falling apart, also looked remarkably like Kim’s 2016 outfit that also barely covered her breasts.
Mr Borkowski said: ‘Just when you think everything is all over, there is a moment in time when Kim Kardashian changes the colour of her hair and his muse, his Venus de Milo, is paraded with pink hair in Paris going to a dinner.
‘This is a statement and Kanye West sees the media as his canvas and sees this as an opportunity to paint his picture. Bianca is his artwork and his muse and the person he influences to create a statement’.
‘I think this is a well sculptured PR stunt but artists create art and this is what Kanye West is doing’.
Mr Borkowski said that the stunt again raises questions about whether Bianca is being exploited.
He said: ‘There is a Soviet saying that “History is Uncertain”. I think Bianca Censori might look back at these moments and think at the time she has consented to it but maybe there is some other element we might never know about.
‘We have a history of this and how a truth that is hidden now, is reinterpreted years later’.
Meghan Markle Labeled ‘Delusional,’ Allegedly ‘Irritated’ About Not Being Wealthier than Other UK Celebs
The Western Journal
Mark Borkowski, a PR consultant, said Meghan’s “bottom line” is whether what she delivers matches the waiting, according to Newsweek.
“If there’s all this hype and it’s just a couple of bottles of spring water and a mediocre jam at a high price, then imagine what’s going to come down on them from a great height,” he said
“They’re banking on curiosity. We’re asking questions, we’re waiting, so the longer they don’t tell us what it is, the greater the expectation on what it’s going to be,” Borkowski added.
Borkowski also told Newsweek that supporters of Harry and Meghan are playing a dangerous game by spreading rumors on social media about Catherine, Princess of Wales.
“No one believes in the depths of this battle that still goes on that either party would want to seize upon health issues to fight a war,” he said. “I think there are some lines of demarcation. Particularly the health of the king and Kate. I don’t think they’re deploying their troops.”
“This is more about the danger of foot soldiers who are uncontrollable because they enjoy their own coverage,” Borkowski said.
“It’s a danger in terms of spreading rumors, in terms of their own fame and their own ego and their own self-determination. A danger to truth. They’re part of an army of people on social media who are driving more and more conspiracy theories,” he said.
Meghan Markle is making things harder on herself, says PR expert
Express Online
Meghan Markle soft launched her lifestyle blog in March, but it’s yet to go live, and the longer she waits, the more people are going to expect from her, says one PR expert.
The website, American Riviera Orchard, is paired with an Instagram page, which already has 615,000 followers.
Mark Borkowski, PR consultant and author of Improperganda, spoke to Newsweek, who said: “The bottom line is, it’s about delivery.”
He added: “If there’s all this hype and it’s just a couple of bottles of spring water and a mediocre jam at a high price, then imagine what’s going to come down on them from a great height.”
“They’re banking on curiosity. We’re asking questions, we’re waiting, so the longer they don’t tell us what it is, the greater the expectation on what its going to be.”
Meghan Markle is making things harder on herself, says PR expert | Royal | News | Express.co.uk