Evil Genius with Russell Kane: Recent Episodes
BBC Radio
John Edgar Hoover was an American icon who revolutionised crime-fighting and transformed the FBI into the powerhouse it is today. But do his problematic views, enormous vanity and controlling approach make him evil… or genius? Laura Smyth, Josh Jones and Johnny Cochrane expose the king of the FBI.
Producer: Sasha BobakEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Was Anne Boleyn a cold-hearted killer or a badass feminist? What saucy activity did she allegedly import from France? And was this iconic queen the ultimate gay icon? Rachel Parris, Daliso Chaponda and Stephen Bailey join Russell to debate her life.
Producer: Sasha BobakEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
How did an illiterate peasant from Siberia find himself dining with an Emperor? Did Rasputin really have magical healing powers or was he a cunning fraud? And what exactly earned him his shocking nickname?
Producer: Sasha BobakEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
Daliso Chaponda, Catherine Bohart and Rachel Parris explore the enigma of the Quiet Beatle. Deeply spiritual hippie or deeply selfish hippiecrite?
Producer: Beth O’DeaEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
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 HeavenEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
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’DeaEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
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 HeavenEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
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’DeaEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
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 HeavenEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
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
Stevie Martin, Johnny Cochrane and Maisie Adam deconstruct the Swedish furniture king and his eccentric billionaire lifestyle.
Producer: Beth O’DeaEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
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
Robin Morgan, Gráinne 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 Gráinne such a fangirl?
Producer Sally HeavenEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
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
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’DeaEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
Kerry Godliman, Esther Manito and Rhys James decide – Starman or laughing gnome?
Producer Sally Heaven
Maisie Adam, Ania Magliano and Marlon Davis wonder what was goin' on with the soul singer.
Kerry Godliman, Esther Manito and Rhys James debate - was the Egyptian a pain in the asp?
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’DeaEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
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
Felicity Ward, Ria Lina and Peter Rethinasamy decide: is the campaigner prophet or prude?
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’DeaEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
Maisie Adam, Marlon Davis and Ania Magliano's decision will be an offer he can't refuse.
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"?
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
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’DeaEvil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
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.
Esther Manito, Robin Morgan and Sarah Mills discuss whether the warrior was actually woke
Lou Sanders, Nathan Caton and Athena Kugblenu decide whether they're hypnotized by Biggie
Sikisa, Sarah Callaghan and Ivo Graham take a look at the man behind the Apollo missions.
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?
Robin Morgan, Esther Manito & Sarah Mills on the Virgin Queen. Pure evil or pure genius?
Russell and panel are back, kicking off with The Purple One himself...music icon, Prince.
Rob Beckett, Athena Kugblenu & Heidi Regan decide whether to use the ejector seat on Bond
Comrades Ria Lina, Esther Manito and Michael Odewale dissect the Argentine revolutionary.
The controversial children's author.How will Josh Jones, Ola Labib & Joanne McNally vote?
Sophie Duker, Daliso Chaponda and Kemah Bob riff over jazz singer Billie Holiday, who sang Strange Fruit.
Grainne Maguire Athena Kugblenu and Tony Law assess the Queen of East Anglia AKA Boudicca
Jayde Adams, Angela Barnes and Neil Delamere on the scientist who came up with evolution and explained how life works. No biggie.
Catherine Bohart, Tom Parry & Heidi Regan keep you in suspense. Hitchcock:evil or genius?
Grainne Maguire, Felicity Ward and Alex Kealy decide, was Henry more monarch or murderer?
Sara Barron, Ivo Graham & Jenny Bede on the American Founding Father, the real man behind the hit musical Hamilton.
Russell and panel take on US Founding Father Alexander Hamilton - of the musical fame..
Tom Allen, Evelyn Mok and Isma Almas share what Queen's singing superstar means to them.
Will Colin Murray,Johnny Cochrane and Neil Delamere have suspicious minds about The King?
Darren Harriott, Nathan Caton and Joanne McNally put the boot in to the sportswear giant.
Colin Murray, Chloe Petts and Neil Delamere give the greatest footballer a good kicking.
Jen Brister, Larry Dean & Esther Manito consign Oscar Wilde to the gutter or the stars.
Sophie Duker, Laura Lexx & Neil Delamere take a walk on the wild side with the rock star
Dane Baptiste, Jodie Mitchell and Athena Kugblenu decide, will they always love Whitney?
Jessica Fostekew, Marlon Davis and Leo Kearse ask if the popular comedian is still funny.
Jen Brister, Esther Manito and Larry Dean wax their moustaches ready to talk Salvador Dali
Daliso Chaponda, Ivo Graham & Jessica Fostekew discuss the man voted the Greatest Briton.
Darren Harriott, Laura Davis, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd on the boxer called The Greatest
Suzi Ruffell Joanne McNally and Maisie Adam take on Amy at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Lou Sanders, Johnny Cochrane and Tom Lucy find out how James Brown Got On Up to no good.
Fern Brady, Tiff Stevenson and Kae Kurd have an animated chat, about animator Walt Disney
Danielle Ward, Rachel Fairburn & Danny McLoughlin have a jolly old time with Enid Blyton
Amy Annette, Marcus Bronzy and Inel Tomlinson find the upsides in having an arch-nemesis
Desiree Burch, Catherine Bohart and Alan Carr chat being outrageous and having no limits.
Elf Lyons, Ken Cheng and Sadie Harrison poke around JFK: John F. Kennedy, US President.
Alan Carr, Desiree Burch and Catherine Bohart talk about goodness, badness and bin babies.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Russell Kane asks whether birth control pioneer Marie Stopes had a more sinister motive.. with Dane Baptiste, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Iszi Lawrence.
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.