Evil Genius with Russell Kane

Latest Episodes:

Evil Animals, Series 3: Vultures Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Comedian Russell Kane spills the beans on Vultures (not literally).

Helping Russell decide whether Vultures are evil or genius are zoologist and author Lucy Cooke and comedian, writer and actress Desiree Burch.

Written by: Eve Delaney & Ruth Huskisson Additional material by: Catherine Beazley & Angela Channell 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.

Evil Animals, Series 3: Wasps Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

Comedian Russell Kane dishes the dirt on Wasps. Are Wasps malicious menaces or misunderstood marvels?

Helping Russell decide whether Wasps are evil or genius are Professor of Behavioural Ecology at UCL, Seirian Sumner and comedian Lindsey Santoro.

Evil Animals with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds.

Evil Animals, Series 3: Koalas Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

Russell Kane is back with the feral sibling of Evil Genius. We're spilling the beans on Koalas. Are they Adorable Aussie icons or shit-eating nightmares? Helping Russell decide whether Koalas are evil or genius are comedian Felicity Ward and zoologist Lucy Cooke.

Written by: Eve Delaney & Ruth Huskisson Additional material by: Angela Channell & Catherine Beazley 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 12: Ronnie Biggs Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

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 Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

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: Mozart Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

He’s the most famous composer there’s ever been; a child prodigy who produced more than 600 works in his short life. But was the ‘miracle of Vienna’ really anything more than just a manchild with a scat fetish? Kate Cheka, Stephen Bailey and Steve Bugeja must decide whether the ‘boy genius’ was actually more ‘boy evil’, via water sports and magic flutes.

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.

Evil Animals, Series 3: The Critters Are Back! May 27, 2026

Show notes

Evil Animals is back with a whole new menagerie of beasts. Comedian Russell Kane and his panel will debate whether Koalas, Wasps, Tortoises, Vultures, Orcas, Meerkats, Ants, Rats and Chimpanzees are evil or genius.

Across the series, Russell will be joined by leading experts including: zoology correspondent Jules Howard, zoologist Lucy Cooke, Professor of Behavioural Ecology Seirian Sumner, Merit Researcher at the Natural History Museum Natalie Cooper, zoologist Billy Heaney and top entomologist Professor Karim Vahed.

Comedian guests include: Lindsey Santoro, Peter Rethinasamy, Lucy Porter, Glenn Moore, Felicity Ward, Desiree Burch, Susie McCabe and Esther Manito.

Hosted by Russell Kane Written by Angela Channell 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 12: Helen of Troy May 27, 2026

Show notes

She’s the face that launched a thousand ships - but is Helen of Troy anything more than just a pick-me girl with an army of cucks? Lily Phillips, Ola Labib and Edd Hedges consider bestiality, incest, and Power Rangers, to try and assess whether the hottest woman in history leaves them cold.

Additional material: Miriam O’Byrne, Angela Channell and Katie Sayer Researcher: Miriam O’Byrne 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: William Shakespeare May 20, 2026

Show notes

He’s the most famous writer of all time; but before his reign of terror over the GCSE syllabus, William ‘Shag-speare’ was an upcoming playwright with humble beginnings in Stratford-upon-Avon. But was he more evil, or genius? Did he put the ‘knob’ into Two Noble Kinsmen, or just the ‘mid’ into Midsummer Night’s Dream? It’s up to Stephen Bailey, Kate Cheka and Steve Bugeja to decide whether the Bard of Avon was a bisexual icon, or a bit of a bastard.

Additional material: Christina Riggs 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 12: Nancy Reagan May 13, 2026

Show notes

A socialite in shoulder pads or the real power behind the throne? It’s up to Limahl Germain, Louise Young and Peter Rethinasamy to decide if Nancy Reagan was a typical tradwife or a Machiavellian manipulator, via goths, psychics, and bananas in the bedroom

The producer was Katie Sayer. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Sounds.