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Evil Genius with Russell Kane — History
Evil Genius with Russell Kane

It’s good, bad, ugly – and very very funny. Changing the way we see heroes and villains in history.

Copyright: © (C) BBC 2024

Latest Episodes:

Evil Animals, Series 2: Mosquitoes Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

Comedian Russell Kane lifts the lid on mosquitoes and asks... are they buzz kills or buzz buddies?

Helping Russell decide whether mosquitoes are evil or genius are Dr. Erica McAlister – Principal Curator of Diptera at the Natural History Museum and comedian Desiree Burch.

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.

Evil Animals, Series 2: Penguins Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

Join comedian Russell Kane as he digs the dirt on penguins. Are penguins whimsical waddlers or cold-hearted sex pests? Helping Russell decide whether penguins are evil or genius are comedian Felicity Ward and zoologist Lucy Cooke.

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.

Evil Animals, Series 2: Dogs Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

Comedian Russell Kane gets to the bottom of dogs (no, not that bottom). Are dogs – aka Hairy Styles – the Goodest Bois or Barkitects of Chaos?

Helping Russell decide whether dogs are cute marvels or four-legged psychopaths are comedian Lucy Porter and zoologist Jules Howard.

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 11: Hulk Hogan Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

Hulk Hogan was undeniably a star and cultural icon. But beneath his rock hard brand lies scandal, abuse and shocking values. Sara Pascoe, Gbemi Oladipo and John Tothill must weigh up the evidence before deciding: evil or genius.

Additional material: Eve Delaney and Christina Riggs Researcher: Christina Riggs Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith

The producer was Sasha Bobak. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

Series 11: Mata Hari Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

Mata Hari’s life was full of reinventions, deception and drama. But was she a smart woman, making the best of a sticky situation? Or was she a traitorous enchantress who manipulated her way to the top? Daliso Chaponda, Maisie Adam and Jack Skipper are forced to vote: evil or genius.

Additional material: Eve Delaney and Christina Riggs Researcher: Christina Riggs Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith

The producer was Sasha Bobak. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

Series 11: Richard Wagner Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

Undoubtedly a pioneer in his field, Wagner made music that continues to inspire composers today. But his personal views make it difficult to separate the art from the artist. Unfortunately for our panellists - Peter Rethinasamy, Laura Smyth and Rachel Fairburn - they have no choice but to decide: evil or genius.

Additional material: Eve Delaney and Christina Riggs Researcher: Miriam O’Byrne Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith

The producer was Sasha Bobak. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

Series 11: Francis Bacon Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

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 difficult for Jess Fostekew, Fatiha El-Ghorri and Eshaan Akbar to decide: evil or genius?

Additional material: Eve Delaney and Christina Riggs Researcher: Christina Riggs Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith

The producer was Sasha Bobak. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

Series 11: Mary Tudor Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

‘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 all of the odds against her to become queen, fight for what she believed in, and overcome a toxic childhood. Ria Lina, Pierre Novellie and Catherine Bohart must weigh up whether she was more evil or genius.

Additional material: Eve Delaney and Christina Riggs Researcher: Miriam O’Byrne Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith

The producer was Sasha Bobak. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

Series 11: Serge Gainsbourg Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

Was Serge Gainsbourg a cultural French icon, who pushed the boundaries of music and inspired generations of musicians? Or did he push his ‘artistic license’ into a frankly freaky place? Catherine Bohart, Ria Lina and Pierre Novellie debate his legacy in order to decide whether he was evil or genius.

Additional material: Eve Delaney and Christina Riggs Researcher: Miriam O’Byrne Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith

The producer was Sasha Bobak. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

Series 11: Peter Stringfellow Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

Peter Stringfellow birthed modern nightclubs and we have a lot of partying to thank him for. But do his questionable values, exploitation and personal hiccups make him more evil than genius? Josh Jones, Rachel Fairburn and Chantel Nash are live in Sheffield to find out.

Additional material: Eve Delaney and Christina Riggs Researcher: Christina Riggs Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith

The producer was Sasha Bobak. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

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