It’s good, bad, ugly - and very very funny. Changing the way we see heroes and villains in history.
George Harrison
Daliso Chaponda, Catherine Bohart and Rachel Parris explore the enigma of the Quiet Beatle. Deeply spiritual hippie or deeply selfish hippiecrite?Producer: Beth O’Dea
Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
4/4/2024 • 47 minutes, 23 seconds
Princess Margaret
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 difficult time to be an ugly Ryan, and who the panel would allow to tap cigarette ash into their palm.Producer Sally Heaven
Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
3/28/2024 • 47 minutes, 46 seconds
Karl Lagerfeld
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 but was he the greatest human..Producer: Beth O’Dea
Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
3/21/2024 • 46 minutes, 2 seconds
Ronald Reagan
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 Duck? And other important questions.Producer Sally Heaven
Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
3/14/2024 • 44 minutes, 3 seconds
Marie Antoinette
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 didn't know any better?Producer: Beth O’Dea
Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
3/7/2024 • 45 minutes, 5 seconds
Homer Simpson
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 have in common, and what would a Gen Z Homer sound like?Producer Sally Heaven
Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
2/29/2024 • 47 minutes, 1 second
Jerry Springer
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 Springer dolls? And what did Jeremy Kyle say about Josh's shirt?Producer Sally Heaven.Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
2/22/2024 • 43 minutes
IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad
Stevie Martin, Johnny Cochrane and Maisie Adam deconstruct the Swedish furniture king and his eccentric billionaire lifestyle.Producer: Beth O’Dea
Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
2/15/2024 • 43 minutes, 49 seconds
The Kray Twins
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 and became genuine criminal celebrities.Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
2/8/2024 • 46 minutes
Attila the Hun
Robin Morgan, Grainne 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 is the best Hun gadget, and why is Grainne such a fangirl?Producer Sally Heaven
Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
2/1/2024 • 42 minutes, 23 seconds
Elizabeth Taylor
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
1/25/2024 • 37 minutes, 3 seconds
Count Dracula
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
1/18/2024 • 46 minutes, 45 seconds
Introducing Monsters of Music with Tom Allen
In Monsters of Music, Tom Allen uncovers the scandalous lives of classical musicians.
10/20/2023 • 1 minute, 4 seconds
Introducing... An Eye for a Killing
Jack Lowden tells the true story of Scotland’s notorious serial killers, Burke and Hare. What started two former canal labourers on a mass killing spree in 19th century Edinburgh?
4/28/2023 • 9 minutes, 31 seconds
David Bowie
Kerry Godliman, Esther Manito and Rhys James decide – Starman or laughing gnome?
Producer Sally Heaven
4/6/2023 • 47 minutes, 6 seconds
Marvin Gaye
Maisie Adam, Ania Magliano and Marlon Davis wonder what was goin' on with the soul singer.
3/30/2023 • 37 minutes, 21 seconds
Cleopatra
Kerry Godliman, Esther Manito and Rhys James debate - was the Egyptian a pain in the asp?
3/23/2023 • 36 minutes, 59 seconds
Christopher Columbus
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
3/16/2023 • 42 minutes, 5 seconds
Johnny Cash
Thanyia Moore, Pierre Novellie and Lauren Pattison ask if the country star did in fact walk the line.
Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
3/9/2023 • 43 minutes, 36 seconds
Mary Whitehouse
Felicity Ward, Ria Lina and Peter Rethinasamy decide: is the campaigner prophet or prude?
3/2/2023 • 50 minutes, 35 seconds
Andy Warhol
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
2/23/2023 • 45 minutes, 39 seconds
Marlon Brando
Maisie Adam, Marlon Davis and Ania Magliano's decision will be an offer he can't refuse.
2/16/2023 • 45 minutes, 34 seconds
Meat Loaf
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"?
2/9/2023 • 40 minutes, 8 seconds
Bruce Lee
Felicity Ward, Ria Lina and Peter Rethinasamy decide if Lee deserves a one-inch punch
2/2/2023 • 46 minutes, 3 seconds
The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit creator JRR Tolkien
Thanyia Moore, Lauren Pattison and Pierre Novellie are on a quest for the man who created the Ring. Is he more Sauron or Gandalf?
Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
1/26/2023 • 46 minutes, 28 seconds
Batman
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
1/19/2023 • 45 minutes, 32 seconds
Lara Croft, Tomb Raider
Sikisa, Sarah Callaghan and Ivo Graham dig the dirt on Tomb Raider, Lara Croft
3/24/2022 • 36 minutes, 16 seconds
Richard Nixon
Athena Kugblenu, Lou Sanders and Nathan Caton decide: Evilgate or Geniusgate?
3/17/2022 • 40 minutes, 13 seconds
Frida Kahlo
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.
3/10/2022 • 42 minutes, 1 second
Sigmund Freud
Sophie Duker, Rhys James and Evelyn Mok analyse the father of psychoanalysis
3/3/2022 • 35 minutes, 3 seconds
Allen Ginsberg
Gráinne Maguire, Harriet Braine and Hal Cruttenden beat up beat poet Allen Ginsberg.
2/24/2022 • 45 minutes, 2 seconds
Genghis Khan
Esther Manito, Robin Morgan and Sarah Mills discuss whether the warrior was actually woke
2/17/2022 • 40 minutes, 37 seconds
Notorious B.I.G.
Lou Sanders, Nathan Caton and Athena Kugblenu decide whether they're hypnotized by Biggie
2/10/2022 • 33 minutes, 36 seconds
Wernher von Braun; the rocket scientist who put man on the moon
Sikisa, Sarah Callaghan and Ivo Graham take a look at the man behind the Apollo missions.
2/3/2022 • 37 minutes, 59 seconds
Virginia Woolf
Sophie Duker, Rhys James and Evelyn Mok decide if Virginia is more Woolf or puppy dog.
1/27/2022 • 42 minutes, 50 seconds
Cecil Rhodes: the man behind the row about controversial statues
Johnny Cochrane, Thanyia Moore and Olga Koch knock down the man behind the big statues controversy currently raging - should statues of evil geniuses from history stay up?
1/20/2022 • 37 minutes, 50 seconds
Elizabeth I
Robin Morgan, Esther Manito & Sarah Mills on the Virgin Queen. Pure evil or pure genius?
1/13/2022 • 41 minutes, 58 seconds
Prince
Olga Koch, Thanyia Moore and Johnny Cochrane uncover some truths about The Purple One
1/6/2022 • 50 minutes, 10 seconds
Evil Genius with Russell Kane returns Thu 6th Jan!
Russell and panel are back, kicking off with The Purple One himself...music icon, Prince.
12/30/2021 • 1 minute
James Bond
Rob Beckett, Athena Kugblenu & Heidi Regan decide whether to use the ejector seat on Bond
4/1/2021 • 43 minutes, 40 seconds
Diego Maradona
Will Jon Richardson, Johnny Cochrane and Susie McCabe give Maradona the red card?
3/25/2021 • 44 minutes, 42 seconds
Che Guevara
Comrades Ria Lina, Esther Manito and Michael Odewale dissect the Argentine revolutionary.
3/19/2021 • 47 minutes, 8 seconds
Dr Seuss
The controversial children's author.How will Josh Jones, Ola Labib & Joanne McNally vote?
3/12/2021 • 46 minutes, 15 seconds
Billie Holiday
Sophie Duker, Daliso Chaponda and Kemah Bob riff over jazz singer Billie Holiday, who sang Strange Fruit.
3/4/2021 • 42 minutes, 38 seconds
Kellogg
Fern Brady, Alison Spittle and Alex Edelman on John Harvey Kellogg, man of cornflakes.
2/25/2021 • 41 minutes, 51 seconds
Boudicca
Grainne Maguire Athena Kugblenu and Tony Law assess the Queen of East Anglia AKA Boudicca
2/18/2021 • 37 minutes, 19 seconds
Charles Darwin
Jayde Adams, Angela Barnes and Neil Delamere on the scientist who came up with evolution and explained how life works. No biggie.
2/11/2021 • 40 minutes, 32 seconds
Alfred Hitchcock
Catherine Bohart, Tom Parry & Heidi Regan keep you in suspense. Hitchcock:evil or genius?
2/4/2021 • 48 minutes, 46 seconds
Henry VIII
Grainne Maguire, Felicity Ward and Alex Kealy decide, was Henry more monarch or murderer?
1/28/2021 • 40 minutes, 53 seconds
Malcolm X
Darren Harriott, Sikisa and Johnny Cochrane examine the civil rights leader.
1/21/2021 • 46 minutes, 6 seconds
Alexander Hamilton (from the musical)
Sara Barron, Ivo Graham & Jenny Bede on the American Founding Father, the real man behind the hit musical Hamilton.
1/14/2021 • 42 minutes, 5 seconds
Evil Genius returns Thursday 14 January!
Russell and panel take on US Founding Father Alexander Hamilton - of the musical fame..
1/8/2021 • 1 minute, 45 seconds
Karl Marx
Olga Koch, Eshaan Akbar and Geoff Norcott give the political thinker Marx out of ten.
6/17/2020 • 49 minutes, 49 seconds
Charlie Chaplin
Jon Richardson, Catherine Bohart & Shappi Khorsandi look at the film star in close-up.
6/11/2020 • 40 minutes, 11 seconds
we're taking a break
a message from Russell Kane
4/23/2020 • 39 seconds
Freddie Mercury
Tom Allen, Evelyn Mok and Isma Almas share what Queen's singing superstar means to them.
4/16/2020 • 44 minutes, 7 seconds
Emmeline Pankhurst
Will Sarah Keyworth, Athena Kugblenu and Luisa Omielan use their votes wisely?
4/9/2020 • 39 minutes, 53 seconds
Elvis
Will Colin Murray,Johnny Cochrane and Neil Delamere have suspicious minds about The King?
4/2/2020 • 42 minutes, 22 seconds
Picasso
Tom Allen, Suzi Ruffell and Harriet Braine paint a wonky picture of the great artist.
3/26/2020 • 43 minutes, 32 seconds
Nina Simone
Are Athena Kugblenu, Njambi McGrath and Harriet Dyer feeling good about Nina Simone?
3/19/2020 • 42 minutes, 5 seconds
WG Grace: the greatest cricketer and his dark legacy
Ivo Graham and Aatif Nawaz bowl over non-cricket fans Russell Kane and Joanne McNally.
3/12/2020 • 43 minutes, 4 seconds
Adi Dassler, founder of Adidas
Darren Harriott, Nathan Caton and Joanne McNally put the boot in to the sportswear giant.
3/5/2020 • 43 minutes, 14 seconds
George Best
Colin Murray, Chloe Petts and Neil Delamere give the greatest footballer a good kicking.
2/27/2020 • 43 minutes, 56 seconds
Evil Genius is back on 27 February
Starting with three sport episodes - two sports megastars and one king of sportswear
2/20/2020 • 56 seconds
Oscar Wilde
Jen Brister, Larry Dean & Esther Manito consign Oscar Wilde to the gutter or the stars.
11/7/2019 • 40 minutes, 4 seconds
Lou Reed
Sophie Duker, Laura Lexx & Neil Delamere take a walk on the wild side with the rock star
10/31/2019 • 35 minutes, 25 seconds
Whitney Houston
Dane Baptiste, Jodie Mitchell and Athena Kugblenu decide, will they always love Whitney?
10/24/2019 • 36 minutes, 39 seconds
Bernard Manning
Jessica Fostekew, Marlon Davis and Leo Kearse ask if the popular comedian is still funny.
10/17/2019 • 41 minutes, 34 seconds
Salvador Dali
Jen Brister, Esther Manito and Larry Dean wax their moustaches ready to talk Salvador Dali
10/10/2019 • 32 minutes, 23 seconds
Winston Churchill
Daliso Chaponda, Ivo Graham & Jessica Fostekew discuss the man voted the Greatest Briton.
10/3/2019 • 37 minutes, 5 seconds
Fidel Castro
Comrades Heidi Regan, Konstantin Kisin and Eleanor Morton consider Fidel Castro.
9/26/2019 • 39 minutes, 26 seconds
Muhammad Ali
Darren Harriott, Laura Davis, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd on the boxer called The Greatest
9/19/2019 • 43 minutes, 50 seconds
Queen Victoria
Dane Baptiste, Jodie Mitchell and Athena Kugblenu weigh up Queen Victoria.
9/12/2019 • 34 minutes, 14 seconds
Amy Winehouse
Suzi Ruffell Joanne McNally and Maisie Adam take on Amy at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
9/5/2019 • 38 minutes, 43 seconds
Evil Genius is back on 5 Sept! Watch out, dead famous people
Evil Genius is good, bad, ugly and funny. And it's returning to your lucky earholes.
8/29/2019 • 1 minute, 36 seconds
James Brown
Lou Sanders, Johnny Cochrane and Tom Lucy find out how James Brown Got On Up to no good.
2/14/2019 • 30 minutes
Walt Disney
Fern Brady, Tiff Stevenson and Kae Kurd have an animated chat, about animator Walt Disney
2/7/2019 • 26 minutes, 17 seconds
Enid Blyton
Danielle Ward, Rachel Fairburn & Danny McLoughlin have a jolly old time with Enid Blyton
1/31/2019 • 28 minutes, 28 seconds
Joan Crawford
Amy Annette, Marcus Bronzy and Inel Tomlinson find the upsides in having an arch-nemesis
1/24/2019 • 27 minutes, 50 seconds
Bill Hicks
Tiff Stevenson, Fern Brady and Kae Kurd weigh up the comedian Bill Hicks
1/19/2019 • 28 minutes, 49 seconds
Coco Chanel
Elf Lyons, Ken Cheng and Sadie Harrison debate Coco Chanel and lying about your age.
1/10/2019 • 32 minutes, 41 seconds
Frank Sinatra
Lou Sanders, Johnny Cochrane and Tom Lucy bandy words about singing and civil rights.
1/3/2019 • 39 minutes, 6 seconds
Joan Rivers
Desiree Burch, Catherine Bohart and Alan Carr chat being outrageous and having no limits.
12/27/2018 • 44 minutes, 47 seconds
Father Christmas
Sindhu Vee, Grainne Maguire and Dane Baptiste mull over the magic of Santa himself.
12/21/2018 • 29 minutes, 8 seconds
Charles Dickens
Amy Annette, Marcus Bronzy and Inel Tomlinson read up on author Charles Dickens
12/13/2018 • 37 minutes, 13 seconds
Darth Vader
James Acaster, Jayde Adams and Romesh Ranganathan ask if he's just misunderstood.
12/6/2018 • 21 minutes, 17 seconds
Pablo Escobar
Danielle Ward, Rachel Fairburn and Danny McLoughlin weigh up drug lord Pablo Escobar.
11/29/2018 • 29 minutes, 18 seconds
Sid Vicious at Latitude Festival
Grainne Maguire, Jen Brister and Shappi Khorsandi talk about what comedy owes to punk.
11/22/2018 • 31 minutes, 13 seconds
JFK
Elf Lyons, Ken Cheng and Sadie Harrison poke around JFK: John F. Kennedy, US President.
11/15/2018 • 34 minutes, 4 seconds
Tupac Shakur
Romesh Ranganathan, James Acaster and Jayde Adams judge hip hop artist Tupac Shakur.
11/7/2018 • 30 minutes, 47 seconds
Mother Teresa
Alan Carr, Desiree Burch and Catherine Bohart talk about goodness, badness and bin babies.
11/1/2018 • 39 minutes, 25 seconds
Evil Genius is coming back!
A new series of Evil Genius is on its way..
10/26/2018 • 43 seconds
Margaret Thatcher
Russell and his panellists Grainne Maguire, Sindhu Vee and Omar Hamdi weigh up the Iron Lady. It's a hard hitting political debate involving hairspray, Judi Dench and ninjas.
5/9/2018 • 32 minutes, 10 seconds
Steve Jobs
Russell and his panelists Simon Evans, Bec Hill and Stephen Bailey try and decide whether Steve Jobs is evil or a genius. Without him this podcast may not have existed. Will that affect their decision?
5/2/2018 • 29 minutes, 54 seconds
Hugh Hefner
Russell Kane gets into his dressing gown to talk about Hugh Hefner while his panel Stephen Bailey, Bec Hill and Simon Evans look the other way.
4/25/2018 • 31 minutes, 45 seconds
Gandhi
Surely not Gandhi? Russell Kane reveals there might be an evil side to the father of modern India. With panelists Grainne Maguire, Sindhu Vee and Omar Hamdi.
4/18/2018 • 34 minutes, 55 seconds
Roald Dahl
Will Russell Kane’s revelations about Roald Dahl stop you from reading The BFG ever again? Panellists Judi Love, Kelly Convey and Imran Yusuf have their childhood memories tainted forever.
4/11/2018 • 28 minutes, 45 seconds
Albert Einstein
Kindly favourite-uncle genius with comedy hair, or controlling egomanic? Russell Kane attempts to explain the theory of relativity to Caz Frear, Sean McLoughlin and Rachel Parris.
4/4/2018 • 26 minutes, 5 seconds
Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor may be the comedian’s comedian, but there is plenty in his life story that isn’t so funny. Russell Kane discusses whether his genius outweighs his evil, with panellists Judi Love, Kelly Convey and Imran Yusuf.
3/28/2018 • 31 minutes, 38 seconds
Evelyn Waugh
Writing Brideshead Revisited? Genius. Naming his son Auberon? Evil. And it gets worse... Russell weighs it all up with Jolyon Rubinstein, Ellie White and Sadie Harrison.
3/21/2018 • 26 minutes, 37 seconds
Marie Stopes: birth control pioneer
Russell Kane asks whether birth control pioneer Marie Stopes had a more sinister motive.. with Dane Baptiste, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Iszi Lawrence.
3/14/2018 • 36 minutes, 9 seconds
John Lennon
Peace, love and an intolerance of laughter. Was the music worth it all? Depends who you ask. With Rachel Parris, Caz Frear and Sean McLoughlin.
3/7/2018 • 30 minutes, 26 seconds
Welcome to Evil Genius with Russell Kane
The show where we ask: Where do you draw the line?