Evil Genius with Russell Kane

BBC

4.1 (116)
COMEDY
UPDATED WEEKLY

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

MAY 20 • SUBSCRIBER EARLY ACCESS

William Shakespeare

He’s the most famous writer of all time; but before his reign of terror over the GCSE syllabus, William ‘Shag-speare’ was an upcoming playwright with humble beginnings in Stratford-upon-Avon. But was he more evil, or genius? Did he put the ‘knob’ into Two Noble Kinsmen, or just the ‘mid’ into Midsummer Night’s Dream? It’s up to Stephen Bailey, Kate Cheka and Steve Bugeja to decide whether the Bard of Avon was a bisexual icon, or a bit of a bastard. Additional material: Christina Riggs and Katie Sayer Researcher: Christina Riggs Recording Engineer: Dom Boucher Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith The producer was Katie Sayer. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds.

40 min
MAY 13 • SUBSCRIBER EARLY ACCESS

Nancy Reagan

A socialite in shoulder pads or the real power behind the throne? It’s up to Limahl Germain, Louise Young and Peter Rethinasamy to decide if Nancy Reagan was a typical tradwife or a Machiavellian manipulator, via goths, psychics, and bananas in the bedroom Additional material: Miriam O’Byrne, Angela Channell and Katie Sayer Researcher: Miriam O’Byrne Recording Engineer: Dom Boucher Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith The producer was Katie Sayer. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Sounds.

37 min
MAY 6 • SUBSCRIBER EARLY ACCESS

F. Scott Fitzgerald

The poster boy for yearning, F. Scott Fitzgerald came to epitomise the American dream. But is the author of The Great Gatsby really so great after all? Pierre Novellie, Rachel Fairburn and Slim dive between the covers and find some red flags in the roaring twenties. Additional material: Miriam O’Byrne and Katie Sayer Researcher: Miriam O’Byrne Recording Engineer: Dom Boucher Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith The producer was Katie Sayer. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

37 min
APR 29 • SUBSCRIBER EARLY ACCESS

Brigitte Bardot

The original pin-up, Brigitte Bardot enchanted audiences in France and around the world. But in later life, was her concern with rights - both “animal” and “far” - at odds with her liberated image? Via Playboy, farting on trains, and optimistically flashing an areola, Lindsey Santoro, Hasan Al Habib, and Alexandra Haddow must decide - was Brigitte Bardot evil, or a genius? Additional material: Christina Riggs and Katie Sayer Researcher: Christina Riggs Recording Engineer: Dom Boucher Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith The producer was Katie Sayer. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Sounds.

37 min
2D AGO

Colonel Sanders

To fast food fans, he’s a deity. To chickens, he’s public enemy number one. But there’s more to Colonel Sanders than just that secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. Josh Jones, Laura Smyth and chef Ruby Bhogal take a deep dive into the Colonel’s life - and find gunfights, court cases, and an unexpected detour into gynaecology. Was Colonel Sanders evil or a genius? Additional material: Christina Riggs, Ruth Husko and Katie Sayer Researcher: Christina Riggs Recording Engineer: Dan Nagy Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith The producer was Katie Sayer. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Sounds.

35 min
APR 15

Lord Lucan

It’s one of the most famous missing persons cases of all time, and has baffled detectives for over 50 years. So will Russell Kane and co fare any better at getting to the truth about Lord Lucan? Rachel Fairburn, Pierre Novellie and Slim help in the hunt for the missing aristocrat, via luxuriant moustaches, northern tea and soggy biscuit. Additional material: Miriam O’Byrne and Katie Sayer Researcher: Miriam O’Byrne Recording Engineer: Dom Boucher Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith The producer was Katie Sayer. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Sounds.

38 min
APR 8

Nancy Mitford

Satirist, socialite, and Bright Young Thing Nancy Mitford led a life that was almost as scandalous as the contents of one of her novels. But was she just an art-deco Kardashian with a talent for typing and a complicated family? Or did her way with words disguise a deeper ruthlessness within? Laura Smyth, Josh Jones, and Sunday Times Fiction Editor Laura Hackett are tasked with diving between the covers to decide - was Nancy Mitford: Evil, or Genius? Additional material: Christina Riggs and Katie Sayer Researcher: Christina Riggs Recording Engineer: Dan Nagy Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith The producer was Katie Sayer. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Sounds.

38 min
APR 1

Ozzy Osbourne

The Godfather of heavy metal, a legendary reality star and Birmingham’s favourite son - Ozzy Osbourne certainly has the makings of a genius. But was there something darker lurking beneath the leather trench coat? Lindsey Santoro, Hasan Al Habib, and Alexandra Haddow are tasked with examining whether the Prince of Darkness lives up to his name. Additional material: Christina Riggs, Ruth Husko and Katie Sayer Researcher: Christina Riggs Recording Engineer: Dom Boucher Sound Editor: Kate Mac Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith The producer was Katie Sayer. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Sounds.

36 min

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Russell Kane

Host
Stephen Bailey

Guest
Kate Cheka

Guest
Steve Bugeja

Guest
Lindsey Santoro

Guest
Hasan Al-Habib

Guest
Alexandra Haddow

Guest
Rachel Fairburn

Guest
Pierre Novellie

Guest
Laura Smyth

Guest

4.1

out of 5

116 Ratings

Thought stimulated!

2023-03-09

HauteCanadian

Haha! Y’all burn my biscuits sometimes , but it’s fun to agree, and just as much fun to yell at inanimate objects! Allen Ginsberg killed this poet…I know! Obviously pedophiles are bad, but driving them underground hasn’t been great either!! He changed the world with a POEM!!! Also, Thatcher was the original “don’t say gay” enthusiast. Making LGBT+ kids and teens acceptable targets for decades.
Delightful

2021-03-19

nscaper

The opening conversation to the Che Guevara episode was so funny! This podcast is mostly delightful - depends on the guest panel. But Russell the host is always great! I’m a fan from across the pond in Canada!
Yuck

2022-01-15

iutlxylcrggzrootjkl;

Rubbish. Don’t waste your time.
Disrespectful to call Castro genius

2021-10-12

yazzzzamin

Love when people live in free world, in democracy and call our dictators genius. Anti-American rhetoric does not let you to overlook atrocities of dictators. Castro build a society based on fear and censorship. Sure blame America for everything. Russell is a garbage human being. Shame on you.