David Yelland
Encyclopedia
David Yelland is a British
writer, a former journalist
and editor of The Sun
and a partner at Brunswick Group LLP, a global financial public relations
and communications company in London
. He regularly appears on radio and television.
) in Brigg
, Lincolnshire
from 1976–81, followed by Coventry University
, where he obtained a BA
in Economics. He was a founding member of the Social Democratic Party
. He later studied at the Harvard Business School
in 2003, sponsored by News International
.
in 1995, as well as a speech writer for Rupert Murdoch
.
from mid-1998 to January 2003. His predecessor was Stuart Higgins
and his successor was Rebekah Wade
.
Yelland says his favourite headline was "Is this the most dangerous man in Britain?" about Tony Blair
, and his worst moments were publishing topless photos of Sophie Rhys-Jones (now HRH The Countess of Wessex) and running a front-page editorial asking whether Britain was being run by a "Gay Mafia
". During his editorship he regularly feuded with Piers Morgan
of the Daily Mirror.
in 2004. He joined Brunswick in 2006. At Brunswick, he advises businesses on media and crisis management. His clients have included Lord Browne, Burberry, Ocado, Lord Foster, Tony Ball (ex-Sky), Warner Music Group, Brookfield Multiplex, Tesco, Coca-Cola, and Cadbury-Schweppes.
in April 2010.
He married Tania Farrell in January 1996 at City Hall, New York City, but the couple divorced in 2004. Their son, Max, was born in August 1998. Tania died from breast cancer in September 2006.
Yelland said in 2009 that he checked into rehab
for alcoholism
in 2005, since when he has not drunk alcohol. He said his novel was written both for children and adults, and a further theme is that of a young boy who has lost his mother. The book is dedicated to the memory of Tania and to Max.
Yelland was adopted at birth by Michael and Patricia Yelland of York. He has a younger brother, Paul. Yelland subsequently traced his birth father, an Irish peace campaigner and folk singer named John Sheridan. Yelland's natural mother was a children's writer from Harrogate, who died before he could meet her. In childhood he suffered alopecia
and after wearing a series of wigs decided to go without when he was 31 and living in New York.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is a board member of the NSPCC
and in 2007 was appointed a Life Patron of the charity. He supports Manchester City. He is a board member of the National Campaign for the Arts.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
writer, a former journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and editor of The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
and a partner at Brunswick Group LLP, a global financial public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
and communications company in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He regularly appears on radio and television.
Education
Yelland was educated at Brigg Grammar School (now known as Sir John Nelthorpe SchoolSir John Nelthorpe School
The Sir John Nelthorpe School is a comprehensive school on Grammar School Road in Brigg, North Lincolnshire.-Admissions:The is for ages from 11 to 18. The is on Wrawby Road.-Grammar school:...
) in Brigg
Brigg
Brigg is a small market town in North Lincolnshire, England, with a population of 5,076 in 2,213 households . The town lies at the junction of the River Ancholme and east-west transport routes across northern Lincolnshire...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
from 1976–81, followed by Coventry University
Coventry University
Coventry University is a post-1992 university in Coventry, West Midlands, England. Under the terms of the Further and Higher Education Act of 1992, the institution's name was changed from Coventry Polytechnic to Coventry University...
, where he obtained a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Economics. He was a founding member of the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (UK)
The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
. He later studied at the Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
in 2003, sponsored by News International
News International
News International Ltd is the United Kingdom newspaper publishing division of News Corporation. Until June 2002, it was called News International plc....
.
Journalism
Yelland's first journalism post after university was at the Buckinghamshire Advertiser. He was a trainee with Westminster Press, then part of Pearson, and worked on a series of regional papers including the Northern Echo and the North West Times in Manchester. Yelland was hired as business editor on The Sun in 1992 by then-editor Kelvin McKenzie, and became deputy editor of New York PostNew York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
in 1995, as well as a speech writer for Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
.
Editorship of The Sun
He was editor of the British tabloid newspaper The SunThe Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
from mid-1998 to January 2003. His predecessor was Stuart Higgins
Stuart Higgins
Stuart Higgins is a British public relations consultant and former newspaper editor.Higgins began his career as a reporter for a news agency, then began working for The Sun in 1979. He soon became the newspaper's Royal Correspondent, during which time he tested security at Highgrove House...
and his successor was Rebekah Wade
Rebekah Wade
Rebekah Mary Brooks is a British journalist and former newspaper editor. She was chief executive of News International , having previously served as the youngest editor of a British national newspaper as editor of the News of the World and the first female editor of The Sun...
.
Yelland says his favourite headline was "Is this the most dangerous man in Britain?" about Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
, and his worst moments were publishing topless photos of Sophie Rhys-Jones (now HRH The Countess of Wessex) and running a front-page editorial asking whether Britain was being run by a "Gay Mafia
Gay Mafia
The Gay Mafia or Velvet Mafia is a term that is pejorative when used to describe the amalgamation of gay rights groups in politics and the media. The "Gay Mafia" and "Velvet Mafia" are typically associated with the upper echelons of the fashion and entertainment industries, and the terms are also...
". During his editorship he regularly feuded with Piers Morgan
Piers Morgan
Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan , known professionally as Piers Morgan, is a British journalist and television presenter. He is editorial director of First News, a national newspaper for children....
of the Daily Mirror.
Public relations
Yelland became senior vice-chairman of the PR consultancy firm Weber ShandwickWeber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a public relations firm.-History:Weber Shandwick is a formation of three previous companies:*The Weber Group - Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1987, leveraging emerging technologies such as the mobile phone and the internet into the world of communications, which made the company a...
in 2004. He joined Brunswick in 2006. At Brunswick, he advises businesses on media and crisis management. His clients have included Lord Browne, Burberry, Ocado, Lord Foster, Tony Ball (ex-Sky), Warner Music Group, Brookfield Multiplex, Tesco, Coca-Cola, and Cadbury-Schweppes.
Writing
Yelland has written a children's novel about a 10-year-old who tries to hide his father's alcoholism, titled The Truth about Leo, which was published by Penguin BooksPenguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
in April 2010.
Personal life
Yelland is married to Charlotte Elston, director of communications at BBC Worldwide.He married Tania Farrell in January 1996 at City Hall, New York City, but the couple divorced in 2004. Their son, Max, was born in August 1998. Tania died from breast cancer in September 2006.
Yelland said in 2009 that he checked into rehab
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
for alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
in 2005, since when he has not drunk alcohol. He said his novel was written both for children and adults, and a further theme is that of a young boy who has lost his mother. The book is dedicated to the memory of Tania and to Max.
Yelland was adopted at birth by Michael and Patricia Yelland of York. He has a younger brother, Paul. Yelland subsequently traced his birth father, an Irish peace campaigner and folk singer named John Sheridan. Yelland's natural mother was a children's writer from Harrogate, who died before he could meet her. In childhood he suffered alopecia
Alopecia
Alopecia means loss of hair from the head or body. Alopecia can mean baldness, a term generally reserved for pattern alopecia or androgenic alopecia. Compulsive pulling of hair can also produce hair loss. Hairstyling routines such as tight ponytails or braids may induce Traction alopecia. Both...
and after wearing a series of wigs decided to go without when he was 31 and living in New York.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is a board member of the NSPCC
NSPCC
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is a United Kingdom charity campaigning and working in child protection.-History:...
and in 2007 was appointed a Life Patron of the charity. He supports Manchester City. He is a board member of the National Campaign for the Arts.