Evil Genius with Russell Kane

BBC

4.0 (297)
Comedy
Updated Weekly

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

Nov 4 • Subscriber Early Access

Sean Connery

He won the hearts of a nation for his suave, sexy James Bond, but will Kane, Russell Kane and his panel say (Dr) No to the Hollywood heartthrob? Featuring highly in the priorities of Katie Norris, Bella Hull and Rosie Holt: chest hair, Scotland, bloody-mindedness, and dry-humping pillows. Featuring less highly: feminism. Was Sean Connery the best Bond? Is Russell being bullied? Will this episode pass the Bechdel Test? Yes, yes, no, in that order. Additional material: Christina Riggs, Angela Channell 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.
Oct 28 • Subscriber Early Access

Founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard

L Ron Hubbard was a writer of science fiction and an inventor of fictional worlds. He also founded Scientology. Helping Russell decide whether Hubbard himself was a champion or a charlatan are disciples Stephen Bailey, Hasan Al Habib and Lindsey Kane, asking important questions like: does Buffy count as sci-fi? Should doctors be hot? And can you be fired from a job for incompetent licking? 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.
Oct 21 • Subscriber Early Access

Catherine de' Medici

Catherine de' Medici, the legendary queen of France, was known across Europe for her murderous ways. The so-called ‘serpent queen’ rarely saw her husband’s anaconda - but she did carve a role for herself as the OG momager; Catherine de' Medici walked so Kris Jenner could run. Russell Kane and guests Kate Cheka, Ian Smith and Kazeem Jamal talk poison, throuples, and medieval IVF. 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.
Oct 14 • Subscriber Early Access

Princess Diana

Diana Spencer is one of the most famous women who ever lived. But behind closed doors, was the people’s princess really anything more just a pouting poser? Russell Kane is joined by Stephen Bailey, Hasan Al Habib and Lindsey Kane to discuss whether the doe-eyed drama queen was a royal pain - or the queen of hearts. 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.
1d ago

Series 13: Chuck Berry

Russell Kane turns his attention to the father of rock’n’roll, and along with guests Rajiv Karia, Ola Labib and Horatio Gould, must decide whether to Chuck the music maestro back into the past, or Berry his misdeeds and remember the music alone. You Never Can Tell - but should you sometimes ask for some ID? Was Chuck Berry more Johnny B Goode, or Johnny B Bad? Evil… or genius? Additional material: Lorna Reader and Katie Sayer Researcher: Lorna Reader 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.
Sep 30

Series 13: Marquis de Sade

Sadism is literally named after the Marquis de Sade - so no surprise, Russell Kane and guests Kate Cheka, Ian Smith and Kazeem Jamal get tied up in knots when it comes to debating the man behind the myth. The original scholar of shagging, or the OG incel? Marquis de Sade - or Marquis de Sad Loser? 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.
Sep 23

Series 13: Pavarotti

Luciano Pavarotti may be the most famous opera singer who ever lived - but his antics off-stage strike a less than gorgeous note for Russell Kane and guests Ed Night, Alexandra Haddow, and Maia Tassallini. The opera icon certainly knew how to use his Magic Flute. But is that really enough to say he should be banished to history? Should the diva who sang Nessun Dorma really be Nessun Dormant? Ft. Timothee Chalamet and the Geordie Shore Reunion. 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.
Sep 16

Series 13: Stephen Hawking

Russell Kane gets physical with Dan Tiernan, Ola Labib and Rajiv Karia as they try to work out whether Stephen Hawking was evil, or a genius. His breakthroughs in quantum physics changed our understanding of the universe - but his contribution to files, both scientific and other, have the panel in a bit of a black hole. Additional material: Lorna Reader and Katie Sayer Researcher: Lorna Reader 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.

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Russell Kane

Host
Lindsey Kane

Guest
Stephen Bailey

Guest
Hasan Al-Habib

Guest
Stephen Bailey

Guest
Rajiv Karia

Guest
Ola Labib

Guest
Horatio Gould

Guest
Kate Cheka

Guest
Ian Smith

Guest

4

out of 5

297 Ratings

hacky and wokey

Sep 27

SpongeBobbyHil589

interesting concept, terrible execution. the standard episdoe of 30 minutes isn't enough time to give a full or fair picture on these figures. The "comedians" devote more time talking about their personal backstories, retite: Dull Dunces. Congrats, you used a theaurse for notes. Is this thought of as British witticism? Standard BBC, diversity quotas guests, yet they all occupy the same liberal echo chamber. Live shows have that cannned,dead laughter. BBC is in a strange state of propaganda of late, canceling historical figures, mostly for the wrong reasons. The "comedians'" judge based on modern sesnibilites rather than historical context. And can't grasp that modern sesnibilites may actaully be evil. Maybe if you are going to be discussing a certain person, that guest have some knowledge or understanding on the subject. Too often the panel doesn't seem to know basic facts.
Fun, Funny, and you learn a little!

Jul 25

smds2012

Love this podcast. Just came across it and started from the beginning. It’s like being in a dinner conversation with your mates and talking about interesting characters from history. One of my biggest takeaways is that we Americans are the ones who have been pronouncing Adidas incorrectly all this time!
Tired format. Tired host

Mar 18

RIT KENDALL

Like the whole idea of contrasting the yin and yang of historical figures even through a more tenuous extension to animals. I don’t like the luke warm and humorless narrative from the host who hasn’t yet earned the right for us to be vaguely interested in his private life. Unabashed we’re repeatedly exposed to vanilla anecdotes from his seemingly dull existence . Being extra sweary doesn’t make any of this any funnier. His snarky introduction to his guests at the beginning of the episode on sea otters was disingenuous in the extreme. He sounded like some sloppy D lister giving a lecture to some poor E listers.
Evil and Genius!

Feb 23

J-9 Duffy

I love the show! Having to make a choice whether someone is evil or genius is interesting. How the 3 facts are laid out is great. The comedians are very funny. Russell is a great host too!