Evil Genius with Russell Kane

Francis Bacon

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Francis Bacon was a pioneer in his field, whose deeply moving art sold for millions. But his private life reveals a coldness that will make it difficu...

Mary Tudor

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

‘Bloody Mary’ is most famous for burning hundreds of people at the stake for their religious beliefs. Sounding pretty evil so far. But she defied ...

Serge Gainsbourg

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was Serge Gainsbourg a cultural French icon, who pushed the boundaries of music and inspired generations of musicians? Or did he push his ‘artistic ...

Peter Stringfellow

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Peter Stringfellow birthed modern nightclubs and we have a lot of partying to thank him for. But do his questionable values, exploitation and personal...

Kim Philby

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was Kim Philby the ultimate mastermind, who had governments eating out of the palm of his hand and could charm his way out of the hottest waters? Or d...

The Greatest Showman (P.T. Barnum)

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Roll up, roll up... plenty to see here. P.T. Barnum was, in so many ways, The Greatest Showman. But his success as a circus pioneer came at a great gh...

Griselda Blanco

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

She was the Queen of Cocaine, the master of shootouts and the only ‘man’ Pablo Escobar was ever afraid of. In this episode, Peter Rethinasamy, Lau...

Agatha Christie

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was Agatha Christie a creative legend, who dominated an entire genre and continues to captivate a global audience? Or does her choice of language, tit...

Al Capone

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was Al Capone a brutal villain who took no prisoners? Or a Robin Hood type figure who seized an opportunity in a tale of rags to riches? Jack Skipper,...

Evil Genius: Returning Soon

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Evil Genius is back soon with more good, bad, ugly - and very, very funny. Hear it first on BBC Sounds.

Evil Animals - Vampire Bats

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Vampire Bats: should we give these misunderstood goth pigeons another shot? Or ghost them for good?Join comedian Russell Kane, zoological corresponden...

Evil Animals - Maggots

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Maggots: should we love these sweet, misunderstood baby flies? Or dread these gruesome creepies?Join comedian Russell Kane, entomologist Erica McAlist...

Evil Animals - Snakes

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Snakes. Are they slithering wronguns or super sleek legends?Join comedian Russell Kane, zoologist Yussef Rafik and comedian Felicity Ward as they deep...

Evil Animals - Cats

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Domestic cats. They divide opinion. But are they really just gorgeous fluffballs or the devil incarnate?Join comedian Russell Kane, zoologist, vet &am...

Evil Animals - Bottlenose Dolphins

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bottlenose Dolphins. Smiley acrobatic boffins or nature’s smug psychopaths? Evil or Genius?Join comedian Russell Kane, zoologist Billy Heaney and co...

Evil Animals - Hamsters

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join comedian Russell Kane as he gets to the bottom of hamsters (not that bottom). Are they cute little chaos merchants or agents of psychological war...

Welcome to Evil Animals...

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join comedian Russell Kane for Evil Animals. The feral sibling of Evil Genius.Russell is joined by special guests: comedian Laura Smyth, zoologist Jul...

Jackie Kennedy

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was Jackie Kennedy a stoic American icon? Or the greatest airbrusher of 20th Century history? Did she use her limited power in inventive ways to leave...

Nostradamus

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Did he predict he'd be a subject on Evil Genius? Did he predict anything at all? Nostradamus is put under the microscope in this week's episode. Was h...

Catherine The Great

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Catherine the Great - was she as magnificent as her moniker suggests? Was she a reforming pioneer of a burgeoning empire, or an expansionist who reneg...

Florence Nightingale

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was Florence Nightingale a nursing pioneer, or a terror with a spreadsheet? Could the mother of modern nursing really have been a glorified doctor's r...

Marilyn Monroe

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was Marilyn Monroe a genius who beat the system to become a star? Or was she a career driven narcissist who perpetuated the sexism of old Hollywood? A...

Father of bodybuilding, Joe Weider

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You might not have heard of Joe Weider, but he was the man who invented modern bodybuilding. Formalised training, published magazines, birthed massive...

Robert Maxwell

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was Robert Maxwell the defiant outsider who came from nothing to join Britain's elite? Or was he a bullying maniac whose power went unchecked? Was he ...

Wicked: Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West)

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was she a tyrant in a tall hat — or the original girlboss, defying gravity and public opinion? Was she a product of her environment who experienced ...

Napoleon

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Napoleon Bonaparte. Was he a tiny tyrant who ruled with an iron first? Or a military mastermind who revolutionised warfare forever? Russell Kane reads...

Christine Keeler

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Christine Keeler - was she the genius who used what she had to bring down the government? Or did she play fast and loose with national security. Russe...

Harper Lee

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was Harper Lee a literary genius who helped spark the civil rights movement in America? Was she a selfish recluse who put her own interest above anyon...

OJ Simpson

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was OJ Simpson an inspiring American rags-to-riches story, or a fame-hungry abuser? Michael Odewale, Sara Barron and Rachel Fairburn take a sip of ‘...

Evil Genius: Returning Soon

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Evil Genius is back soon with more good, bad, ugly - and very, very funny. Hear it first on BBC Sounds.

Lawrence of Arabia

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Did Lawrence of Arabia beautifully befriend the Arabs in WWI or savagely betray them? Should the king of guerrilla warfare be held accountable? What w...

Lady Macbeth

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Was Lady Macbeth a cold-hearted killer or a grieving mother? Did she manipulate her husband or help him achieve his goals? Or was she simply in a very...

John D. Rockefeller

01 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Money makes the world go round... but does it make heroes or villains? Our guests Phil Wang, Lindsey Santoro and Katie Norris examine the life of the ...

Oliver Cromwell

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Oliver Cromwell is a highly controversial figure, not least because he banned Christmas (fun sponge alert). Our guests Kerry Godliman, Helen Bauer and...

Jim Morrison

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jim Morrison was a rock icon, a tortured poet and a leather-trouser addict. His outrageous performances on stage and dangerous behaviour behind closed...

Marlene Dietrich

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Marlene Dietrich was undoubtedly an icon - with an impressive string of films, lovers and mic-drop quotes. Her work in the Second World War was inspir...

Miles Davis

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The 'Prince of Darkness' Miles Davis was a jazz revolutionary with a famously husky voice and a passion for fashion. Musical genius? Yes. Deeply flawe...

Eva Perón

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Former First Lady of Argentina, Eva Perón, was idolised by her nation and is still worshipped to this day. Our guests Kerry Godliman, Glenn Moore and...

Simone de Beauvoir

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Simone de Beauvoir was one of the first thinkers to call the concept of gender 'total bollocks' (not quite her words). Her feminist work was groundbre...

J. Edgar Hoover

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Edgar Hoover was an American icon who revolutionised crime-fighting and transformed the FBI into the powerhouse it is today. But do his problemat...

Anne Boleyn

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Was Anne Boleyn a cold-hearted killer or a badass feminist? What saucy activity did she allegedly import from France? And was this iconic queen the ul...

Rasputin

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How did an illiterate peasant from Siberia find himself dining with an Emperor? Did Rasputin really have magical healing powers or was he a cunning fr...

George Harrison

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Daliso Chaponda, Catherine Bohart and Rachel Parris explore the enigma of the Quiet Beatle. Deeply spiritual hippie or deeply selfish hippiecrite? Pro...

Princess Margaret

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Geoff Norcott, Felicity Ward and Sophie Duker debate - wearing a crown, or going down? Taking in Geoff's hatred of dressing gowns, how it's a difficul...

Karl Lagerfeld

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kerry Godliman, Darren Harriott and Helen Bauer spill the tea on the Chanel fashion guru. He might have been the greatest designer of his generation b...

Ronald Reagan

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Grainne Maguire, Athena Kugblenu and Robin Morgan decide, Reagan? Or wrong 'un? Plus, could we replace a leader with an actual puppet, like Ed the Duc...

Marie Antoinette

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel Parris, Daliso Chaponda and Catherine Bohart on the original drama queen. Was the Last Queen of France just a spoiled child with huge hair who ...

Homer Simpson

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sophie Duker, Felicity Ward and Geoff Norcott decide whether the yellow patriarch is Duff Beer or just duff. Also, what do Geoff Norcott and Homer hav...

Jerry Springer

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Desiree Burch, Josh Jones and Sara Barron - will their final thought on the chat show host be evil? Or genius? Plus, why does Desiree have Jerry Sprin...

IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Stevie Martin, Johnny Cochrane and Maisie Adam deconstruct the Swedish furniture king and his eccentric billionaire lifestyle. Producer: Beth O’Dea ...

The Kray Twins

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Helen Bauer, Darren Harriott and Kerry Godliman take on the infamous gangster double act. Ronnie and Reggie ruled the East End of London in the 1960s ...

Attila the Hun

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Robin Morgan, Gráinne Maguire and Athena Kugblenu ask: you OK, hun? Was Attila all that bad? Is a spike up the bum really the worst way to go, which ...

Elizabeth Taylor

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Desiree Burch, Sara Barron and Josh Jones provide more laughs than Liz had husbands. That's seven, by the way. Or eight if you count Richard Burton tw...

Count Dracula

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Maisie Adam, Stevie Martin and Johnny Cochrane prise open the coffin to assess the undead legend in the cold light of day. Superhero powers, seductive...

David Bowie

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kerry Godliman, Esther Manito and Rhys James decide – Starman or laughing gnome?Producer Sally Heaven

Marvin Gaye

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Maisie Adam, Ania Magliano and Marlon Davis wonder what was goin' on with the soul singer.

Cleopatra

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kerry Godliman, Esther Manito and Rhys James debate - was the Egyptian a pain in the asp?

Christopher Columbus

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sara Barron, Helen Bauer and Darren Harriott on the man who's credited with finding North America. But never actually got there. And firmly believed t...

Johnny Cash

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Thanyia Moore, Pierre Novellie and Lauren Pattison ask if the country star did in fact walk the line. Producer Beth O'Dea Evil Genius with Russell Kan...

Mary Whitehouse

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Felicity Ward, Ria Lina and Peter Rethinasamy decide: is the campaigner prophet or prude?

Andy Warhol

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Darren Harriott, Helen Bauer and Sara Barron on the weird and wonderful founder of pop art. And for the first time, one of the panellists falls violen...

Marlon Brando

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Maisie Adam, Marlon Davis and Ania Magliano's decision will be an offer he can't refuse.

Meat Loaf

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel Fairburn, Johnny Cochrane and Stevie Martin slice up the Bat Out Of Hell singer. Was he right in saying "no superstar will ever look like me ag...

Bruce Lee

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Felicity Ward, Ria Lina and Peter Rethinasamy decide if Lee deserves a one-inch punch

The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit creator JRR Tolkien

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Thanyia Moore, Lauren Pattison and Pierre Novellie are on a quest for the man who created the Ring. Is he more Sauron or Gandalf? Producer Beth O'Dea....

Batman

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Stevie Martin, Rachel Fairburn and Johnny Cochrane ask how super the superhero really is. Is the caped crusader the sexiest superhero of all? Or a wei...

Lara Croft, Tomb Raider

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sikisa, Sarah Callaghan and Ivo Graham dig the dirt on Tomb Raider, Lara Croft

Richard Nixon

17 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Athena Kugblenu, Lou Sanders and Nathan Caton decide: Evilgate or Geniusgate?

Frida Kahlo

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Gráinne Maguire, Harriet Braine and Hal Cruttenden paint a not-so-pretty picture of the Mexican artist.This episode was recorded before the Russian i...

Sigmund Freud

03 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sophie Duker, Rhys James and Evelyn Mok analyse the father of psychoanalysis

Allen Ginsberg

24 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Gráinne Maguire, Harriet Braine and Hal Cruttenden beat up beat poet Allen Ginsberg.

Genghis Khan

17 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Esther Manito, Robin Morgan and Sarah Mills discuss whether the warrior was actually woke

Notorious B.I.G.

10 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Lou Sanders, Nathan Caton and Athena Kugblenu decide whether they're hypnotized by Biggie

Wernher von Braun; the rocket scientist who put man on the moon

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sikisa, Sarah Callaghan and Ivo Graham take a look at the man behind the Apollo missions.

Virginia Woolf

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sophie Duker, Rhys James and Evelyn Mok decide if Virginia is more Woolf or puppy dog.

Cecil Rhodes: the man behind the row about controversial statues

20 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Johnny Cochrane, Thanyia Moore and Olga Koch knock down the man behind the big statues controversy - should statues of evil geniuses from history stay...

Elizabeth I

13 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Robin Morgan, Esther Manito & Sarah Mills on the Virgin Queen. Pure evil or pure genius?

Prince

06 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Olga Koch, Thanyia Moore and Johnny Cochrane uncover some truths about The Purple One. Producer Beth O'Dea

Evil Genius with Russell Kane returns Thu 6th Jan!

30 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Russell and panel are back, kicking off with The Purple One himself...music icon, Prince.

James Bond

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rob Beckett, Athena Kugblenu & Heidi Regan decide whether to use the ejector seat on Bond

Diego Maradona

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Will Jon Richardson, Johnny Cochrane and Susie McCabe give Maradona the red card?

Che Guevara

19 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Comrades Ria Lina, Esther Manito and Michael Odewale dissect the Argentine revolutionary.

Dr Seuss

12 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The controversial children's author.How will Josh Jones, Ola Labib & Joanne McNally vote?

Billie Holiday

04 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sophie Duker, Daliso Chaponda and Kemah Bob riff over jazz singer Billie Holiday, who sang Strange Fruit. Producer Beth O'Dea

Kellogg

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Fern Brady, Alison Spittle and Alex Edelman on John Harvey Kellogg, man of cornflakes. Producer Beth O'Dea

Boudicca

18 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Grainne Maguire Athena Kugblenu and Tony Law assess the Queen of East Anglia AKA Boudicca

Charles Darwin

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

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

Alfred Hitchcock

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Catherine Bohart, Tom Parry & Heidi Regan keep you in suspense. Hitchcock:evil or genius?

Henry VIII

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Grainne Maguire, Felicity Ward and Alex Kealy decide, was Henry more monarch or murderer?

Malcolm X

21 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Darren Harriott, Sikisa and Johnny Cochrane examine the civil rights leader. Producer Beth O'Dea

Alexander Hamilton (from the musical)

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sara Barron, Ivo Graham & Jenny Bede on the American Founding Father, the real man behind the hit musical Hamilton. Producer Beth O'Dea

Evil Genius returns Thursday 14 January!

08 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Russell and panel take on US Founding Father Alexander Hamilton - of the musical fame..

Karl Marx

17 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Olga Koch, Eshaan Akbar and Geoff Norcott give the political thinker Marx out of ten. Producer Beth O'Dea

Charlie Chaplin

11 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jon Richardson, Catherine Bohart & Shappi Khorsandi look at the film star in close-up. Producer Beth O'Dea

we're taking a break

23 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

a message from Russell Kane

Freddie Mercury

16 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Allen, Evelyn Mok and Isma Almas share what Queen's singing superstar means to them. Producer Beth O'Dea

Emmeline Pankhurst

09 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Will Sarah Keyworth, Athena Kugblenu and Luisa Omielan use their votes wisely?

Elvis

02 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Will Colin Murray,Johnny Cochrane and Neil Delamere have suspicious minds about The King?

Picasso

26 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Allen, Suzi Ruffell and Harriet Braine paint a wonky picture of the great artist. Producer Beth O'Dea

Nina Simone

19 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Are Athena Kugblenu, Njambi McGrath and Harriet Dyer feeling good about Nina Simone?