BBC Radio 4

Evil Genius with Russell Kane

Comedy EN ↓ 160 episodes

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

Author

BBC Radio 4

Category

Comedy

Podcast website

www.bbc.co.uk

Latest episode

Jul 8, 2026

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Episodes

Series 8: Elizabeth Taylor 25.01.2024

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 twice. Producer Sally Heaven. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Series 8: Count Dracula 18.01.2024

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 charm and also looks great in a cape. Genius, surely? Producer: Beth O’Dea Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Series 7: David Bowie 06.04.2023

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

Series 7: Marvin Gaye 30.03.2023

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

Series 7: Cleopatra 23.03.2023

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

Series 7: Christopher Columbus 16.03.2023

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 the world to be breast-shaped. Producer: Beth O’Dea Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Series 7: Johnny Cash 09.03.2023

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 Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Series 7: Mary Whitehouse 02.03.2023

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

Series 7: Andy Warhol 23.02.2023

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 violently in love with the subject during the recording and won't hear a word against him. Producer: Beth O’Dea Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Series 7: Marlon Brando 16.02.2023

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

Series 7: Meat Loaf 09.02.2023

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 again"? Producer: Beth O’Dea Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Series 7: Bruce Lee 02.02.2023

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

Series 7: JRR Tolkien 26.01.2023

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. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Series 7: Batman 19.01.2023

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 weirdo in a cave who makes it all worse, actually? Producer: Beth O’Dea Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Series 6: Lara Croft, Tomb Raider 24.03.2022

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

Series 6: Richard Nixon 17.03.2022

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

Series 6: Frida Kahlo 10.03.2022

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

Series 6: Sigmund Freud 03.03.2022

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

Series 6: Allen Ginsberg 24.02.2022

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

Series 6: Genghis Khan 17.02.2022

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

Series 6: Notorious B.I.G. 10.02.2022

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

Series 6: Wernher von Braun 03.02.2022

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

Series 6: Virginia Woolf 27.01.2022

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

Series 6: Cecil Rhodes 20.01.2022

Johnny Cochrane, Thanyia Moore and Olga Koch knock down the man behind the big statues controversy - should statues of evil geniuses from history stay up? Producer Beth O'Dea

Series 6: Elizabeth I 13.01.2022

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

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