Explore every episode of the podcast Evil Genius with Russell Kane
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series 12: Ronnie Biggs | 17 Jun 2026 | 00:38:17 | |
He’s one of the most famous criminals in British history, but was railway enthusiast Ronnie Biggs really just a petty crook who fell on his feet? From his 36 years on the run, to his brief stint as a punk icon, Louise Young, Limahl Germain and Peter Rethinasamy must decide whether the man who put the ‘Great’ into ‘Great Train Robbery’ was evil, or genius. Additional material: Miriam O’Byrne, Angela Channell and Katie Sayer Researcher: Miriam O’Byrne Recording Engineer: Dom Boucher Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith The producer was Katie Sayer. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds. | |||
| Series 12: Joan of Arc | 10 Jun 2026 | 00:38:33 | |
A teenage nerd with anger management issues, Joan of Arc has been immortalised as a figure of resistance across the generations. But was the Maid of Orleans really just a pick-me girl with a dodgy haircut? Ola Labib, Edd Hedges and Lily Phillips must decide whether Joan of Arc was a virgin martyr, or a virgin loser. Additional material: Christina Riggs, Angela Channell and Katie Sayer Researcher: Christina Riggs Recording Engineer: Gareth Wood Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith The producer was Katie Sayer. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds. | |||
| Series 12: Lord Lucan | 15 Apr 2026 | 00:37:39 | |
It’s one of the most famous missing persons cases of all time, and has baffled detectives for over 50 years. So will Russell Kane and co fare any better at getting to the truth about Lord Lucan? Rachel Fairburn, Pierre Novellie and Slim help in the hunt for the missing aristocrat, via luxuriant moustaches, northern tea and soggy biscuit. Additional material: Miriam O’Byrne and Katie Sayer Researcher: Miriam O’Byrne Recording Engineer: Dom Boucher Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith The producer was Katie Sayer. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Sounds. | |||
| Series 5: Che Guevara | 19 Mar 2021 | 00:47:08 | |
Comrades Ria Lina, Esther Manito and Michael Odewale dissect the Argentine revolutionary. | |||
| Series 5: Dr Seuss | 12 Mar 2021 | 00:46:15 | |
The controversial children's author.How will Josh Jones, Ola Labib & Joanne McNally vote? | |||
| Series 5: Billie Holiday | 04 Mar 2021 | 00:42:38 | |
Sophie Duker, Daliso Chaponda and Kemah Bob riff over jazz singer Billie Holiday, who sang Strange Fruit. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 5: Kellogg | 25 Feb 2021 | 00:41:51 | |
Fern Brady, Alison Spittle and Alex Edelman on John Harvey Kellogg, man of cornflakes. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 5: Boudicca | 18 Feb 2021 | 00:37:19 | |
Grainne Maguire Athena Kugblenu and Tony Law assess the Queen of East Anglia AKA Boudicca | |||
| Series 5: Charles Darwin | 11 Feb 2021 | 00:40:32 | |
Jayde Adams, Angela Barnes and Neil Delamere on the scientist who came up with evolution and explained how life works. No biggie. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 5: Alfred Hitchcock | 04 Feb 2021 | 00:48:46 | |
Catherine Bohart, Tom Parry & Heidi Regan keep you in suspense. Hitchcock:evil or genius? | |||
| Series 5: Henry VIII | 28 Jan 2021 | 00:40:53 | |
Grainne Maguire, Felicity Ward and Alex Kealy decide, was Henry more monarch or murderer? | |||
| Series 5: Malcolm X | 21 Jan 2021 | 00:46:06 | |
Darren Harriott, Sikisa and Johnny Cochrane examine the civil rights leader. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 5: Alexander Hamilton | 14 Jan 2021 | 00:42:05 | |
Sara Barron, Ivo Graham & Jenny Bede on the American Founding Father, the real man behind the hit musical Hamilton. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 12: Nancy Mitford | 08 Apr 2026 | 00:37:36 | |
Satirist, socialite, and Bright Young Thing Nancy Mitford led a life that was almost as scandalous as the contents of one of her novels. But was she just an art-deco Kardashian with a talent for typing and a complicated family? Or did her way with words disguise a deeper ruthlessness within? Laura Smyth, Josh Jones, and Sunday Times Fiction Editor Laura Hackett are tasked with diving between the covers to decide - was Nancy Mitford: Evil, or Genius? Additional material: Christina Riggs and Katie Sayer Researcher: Christina Riggs Recording Engineer: Dan Nagy Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith The producer was Katie Sayer. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Sounds. | |||
| Series 4: Karl Marx | 17 Jun 2020 | 00:49:49 | |
Olga Koch, Eshaan Akbar and Geoff Norcott give the political thinker Marx out of ten. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 4: Charlie Chaplin | 11 Jun 2020 | 00:40:11 | |
Jon Richardson, Catherine Bohart & Shappi Khorsandi look at the film star in close-up. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 4: Freddie Mercury | 16 Apr 2020 | 00:44:07 | |
Tom Allen, Evelyn Mok and Isma Almas share what Queen's singing superstar means to them. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 4: Emmeline Pankhurst | 09 Apr 2020 | 00:39:53 | |
Will Sarah Keyworth, Athena Kugblenu and Luisa Omielan use their votes wisely? | |||
| Series 4: Elvis | 02 Apr 2020 | 00:42:22 | |
Will Colin Murray,Johnny Cochrane and Neil Delamere have suspicious minds about The King? | |||
| Series 4: Picasso | 26 Mar 2020 | 00:43:32 | |
Tom Allen, Suzi Ruffell and Harriet Braine paint a wonky picture of the great artist. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 4: Nina Simone | 19 Mar 2020 | 00:42:05 | |
Are Athena Kugblenu, Njambi McGrath and Harriet Dyer feeling good about Nina Simone? | |||
| Series 4: WG Grace | 12 Mar 2020 | 00:43:04 | |
Ivo Graham and Aatif Nawaz bowl over non-cricket fans Russell Kane and Joanne McNally. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 4: Adi Dassler, founder of Adidas | 05 Mar 2020 | 00:43:14 | |
Darren Harriott, Nathan Caton and Joanne McNally put the boot in to the sportswear giant. | |||
| Series 4: George Best | 27 Feb 2020 | 00:43:56 | |
Colin Murray, Chloe Petts and Neil Delamere give the greatest footballer a good kicking. | |||
| Series 12: Ozzy Osbourne | 01 Apr 2026 | 00:36:26 | |
The Godfather of heavy metal, a legendary reality star and Birmingham’s favourite son - Ozzy Osbourne certainly has the makings of a genius. But was there something darker lurking beneath the leather trench coat? Lindsey Santoro, Hasan Al Habib, and Alexandra Haddow are tasked with examining whether the Prince of Darkness lives up to his name. Additional material: Christina Riggs, Ruth Husko and Katie Sayer Researcher: Christina Riggs Recording Engineer: Dom Boucher Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith The producer was Katie Sayer. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Sounds. | |||
| Series 3: Oscar Wilde | 07 Nov 2019 | 00:40:04 | |
Jen Brister, Larry Dean & Esther Manito consign Oscar Wilde to the gutter or the stars. | |||
| Series 3: Lou Reed | 31 Oct 2019 | 00:35:25 | |
Sophie Duker, Laura Lexx & Neil Delamere take a walk on the wild side with the rock star. Recorded at the Edinburgh Fringe. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 3: Whitney Houston | 24 Oct 2019 | 00:36:39 | |
Dane Baptiste, Jodie Mitchell and Athena Kugblenu decide, will they always love Whitney? | |||
| Series 3: Bernard Manning | 17 Oct 2019 | 00:41:34 | |
Jessica Fostekew, Marlon Davis and Leo Kearse ask if the popular comedian is still funny. Recorded at the Edinburgh Fringe. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 3: Salvador Dali | 10 Oct 2019 | 00:32:23 | |
Jen Brister, Esther Manito and Larry Dean wax their moustaches ready to talk Salvador Dali | |||
| Series 3: Winston Churchill | 03 Oct 2019 | 00:37:05 | |
Daliso Chaponda, Ivo Graham & Jessica Fostekew discuss the man voted the Greatest Briton. Recorded at the Edinburgh Fringe. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 3: Fidel Castro | 26 Sep 2019 | 00:39:26 | |
Comrades Heidi Regan, Konstantin Kisin and Eleanor Morton consider Fidel Castro. | |||
| Series 3: Muhammad Ali | 19 Sep 2019 | 00:43:50 | |
Darren Harriott, Laura Davis, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd on the boxer called The Greatest. Recorded at the Edinburgh Fringe. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 3: Queen Victoria | 12 Sep 2019 | 00:34:14 | |
Dane Baptiste, Jodie Mitchell and Athena Kugblenu weigh up Queen Victoria. | |||
| Series 3: Amy Winehouse | 05 Sep 2019 | 00:38:43 | |
Suzi Ruffell Joanne McNally and Maisie Adam take on Amy at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Evil Animals, Series 2: Sea Otters | 18 Mar 2026 | 00:32:41 | |
Join comedian Russell Kane as he and his guests deep dive those fluffy marine mammals – sea otters. They may look cute and cuddly, but with their strong teeth and powerful bite, there’s more to them than meets the eye. Helping Russell decide whether sea otters are evil or genius are comedian, writer and actress Laura Smyth and Dr. Natalie Cooper, Merit Researcher at the Natural History Museum. Additional material by: Eve Delaney, Ruth Huskisson & Christina Riggs Researcher: Catherine Beazley Sound Recordist: Gareth Wood Digital Editor: Jerry Peal Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith Producer: Simon Nicholls Evil Animals with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds. | |||
| Series 2: James Brown | 14 Feb 2019 | 00:30:00 | |
Lou Sanders, Johnny Cochrane and Tom Lucy find out how James Brown Got On Up to no good. | |||
| Series 2: Walt Disney | 07 Feb 2019 | 00:26:17 | |
Fern Brady, Tiff Stevenson and Kae Kurd have an animated chat, about animator Walt Disney | |||
| Series 2: Enid Blyton | 31 Jan 2019 | 00:28:28 | |
Danielle Ward, Rachel Fairburn & Danny McLoughlin have a jolly old time with Enid Blyton | |||
| Series 2: Joan Crawford | 24 Jan 2019 | 00:27:50 | |
Amy Annette, Marcus Bronzy and Inel Tomlinson find the upsides in having an arch-nemesis | |||
| Series 2: Bill Hicks | 19 Jan 2019 | 00:28:49 | |
Tiff Stevenson, Fern Brady and Kae Kurd weigh up the comedian Bill Hicks | |||
| Series 2: Coco Chanel | 10 Jan 2019 | 00:32:41 | |
Elf Lyons, Ken Cheng and Sadie Harrison debate Coco Chanel and lying about your age. | |||
| Series 2: Frank Sinatra | 03 Jan 2019 | 00:39:06 | |
Lou Sanders, Johnny Cochrane and Tom Lucy bandy words about singing and civil rights. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 2: Joan Rivers | 27 Dec 2018 | 00:44:47 | |
Desiree Burch, Catherine Bohart and Alan Carr chat being outrageous and having no limits. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 2: Charles Dickens | 13 Dec 2018 | 00:37:13 | |
Amy Annette, Marcus Bronzy and Inel Tomlinson read up on author Charles Dickens | |||
| Series 2: Darth Vader | 06 Dec 2018 | 00:21:17 | |
James Acaster, Jayde Adams and Romesh Ranganathan ask if he's just misunderstood. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Evil Animals, Series 2: Spiders | 11 Mar 2026 | 00:32:16 | |
Join comedian Russell Kane as he and his guests spill the beans on spiders. Consistently ranked amongst the most creepy and crawly, we ask are spiders abusive arachnids or kooky cuties? Helping Russell decide whether spiders are evil or genius are top comedian Josh Jones and leading entomologist & England Manager for Buglife, Dr. Karim Vahed. Additional material by: Eve Delaney, Ruth Huskisson & Christina Riggs Researcher: Catherine Beazley Sound Recordist: Gareth Wood Digital Editor: Jerry Peal Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith Producer: Simon Nicholls Evil Animals with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds. | |||
| Series 2: Pablo Escobar | 29 Nov 2018 | 00:29:18 | |
Danielle Ward, Rachel Fairburn and Danny McLoughlin weigh up drug lord Pablo Escobar. | |||
| Series 2: Sid Vicious at Latitude Festival | 22 Nov 2018 | 00:31:13 | |
Grainne Maguire, Jen Brister and Shappi Khorsandi talk about what comedy owes to punk. Producer Beth O'Dea | |||
| Series 2: JFK | 15 Nov 2018 | 00:34:04 | |
Elf Lyons, Ken Cheng and Sadie Harrison poke around JFK: John F. Kennedy, US President. | |||