Evil Genius with Russell Kane

Latest Episodes:

Series 11: Kim Philby Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

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 do the deaths and suffering that occurred in his ideological quest put him on our blacklist? Glenn Moore, Susie McCabe and Daniel Foxx are here to find out as they debate: 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: The Greatest Showman (P.T. Barnum) Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

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 ghastly cost to many. Sara Pascoe, John Tothill and Gbemi Oladipo weigh up those costs to decide whether Barnum 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: Griselda Blanco Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

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, Laura Smyth and Rachel Fairburn decide if she was a brutal murderer or the ultimate ‘boss bitch’.

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: Agatha Christie Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

Was Agatha Christie a creative legend, who dominated an entire genre and continues to captivate a global audience? Or does her choice of language, titles and storylines reveal a much more sinister, dangerous side to the queen of murder? Fatiha El-Ghorri, Jess Fostekew and Eshaan Akbar decide.

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: Al Capone Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

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, Maisie Adam and Daliso Chaponda are tasked with finding out whether Al Capone is 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.

Evil Animals, Series 1: Vampire Bats Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

Vampire Bats: should we give these misunderstood goth pigeons another shot? Or ghost them for good?

Join comedian Russell Kane, zoological correspondent Jules Howard and comedian Rachel Fairburn, as they check out the amazing world of vampire bats - deciding whether they're evil or genius.

Additional material by: Eve Delaney and Christina Riggs. Researcher: Catherine Beazley Sound Recordist: Gareth Wood Digital Editor: Jerry Peal Executive Producer: Paul Smith Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Producer: Simon Nicholls

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

Evil Animals, Series 1: Maggots Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

Maggots: should we love these sweet, misunderstood baby flies? Or dread these gruesome creepies?

Join comedian Russell Kane, entomologist Erica McAlister and comedian Ola Labib as they check out the remarkable world of maggots.

Additional material by: Eve Delaney, Christina Riggs and Catherine Beazley. Researcher: Catherine Beazley Sound Recordist: Gareth Wood Digital Editor: Jerry Peal Executive Producer: Paul Smith Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Producer: Simon Nicholls

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

Evil Animals, Series 1: Snakes Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

Snakes. Are they slithering wronguns or super sleek legends?

Join comedian Russell Kane, zoologist Yussef Rafik and comedian Felicity Ward as they deep-dive snakes, looking specifically at the viper to decide if they are Evil or Genius.

Additional material by: Eve Delaney, Christina Riggs and Catherine Beazley.

Researcher: Catherine Beazley Sound Recordist: Luke Nagy Digital Editor: Jerry Peal Executive Producer: Paul Smith Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Producer: Simon Nicholls

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

Evil Animals, Series 1: Cats Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

Domestic cats. They divide opinion. But are they really just gorgeous fluffballs or the devil incarnate?

Join comedian Russell Kane, zoologist, vet & author Jess French and comedian Jess Fostekew as they deep-dive cats.

Additional material by: Eve Delaney, Christina Riggs and Catherine Beazley. Researcher: Catherine Beazley Sound Recordist: Luke Nagy Digital Editor: Jerry Peal Executive Producer: Paul Smith Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Producer: Simon Nicholls

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

Evil Animals, Series 1: Bottlenose Dolphins Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

Bottlenose Dolphins. Smiley acrobatic boffins or nature’s smug psychopaths? Evil or Genius?

Join comedian Russell Kane, zoologist Billy Heaney and comedian Lindsey Santoro as they deep-dive Bottlenose Dolphins.

Additional material by: Eve Delaney & Christina Riggs Researcher: Catherine Beazley Recording Engineer: Gareth Wood Digital Editor: Jerry Peal Executive Producer: Paul Smith Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Producer: Simon Nicholls

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