

Evil Genius with Russell Kane
BBC Sounds
It’s good, bad, ugly - and very very funny. Changing the way we see heroes and villains in history.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 4, 2025 • 41min
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte. Was he a tiny tyrant who ruled with an iron first? Or a military mastermind who revolutionised warfare forever? Russell Kane reads from Napoleon's romantic fiction, tells of his battlefield exploits, and even shocking party trick that left women in tears.
Celya AB, Glenn Moore and Johnny Cochrane join Russell Kane on the battlefield - who will win? Evil, or Genius?Additional Material: Eve Delaney
Researcher: Miriam O’Byrne
Sound Editor: Kate Mac
Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls
Executive Producer: Paul SmithThe Producer was Gwyn Rhys Davies. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.
An EcoAudio certified production.

May 28, 2025 • 36min
Christine Keeler
Sara Barron, a talented comedian and writer, joins a lively discussion on the complex life of Christine Keeler, the woman whose relationships sparked the infamous Profumo affair. The panel humorously examines her controversial role in this political scandal during the Cold War, questioning whether she was a savvy manipulator or a victim of circumstance. They highlight the societal perceptions of sex work, the power dynamics at play, and reflect on the moral implications of her choices, ultimately recognizing the genius in her audacious navigation of a tumultuous time.

May 21, 2025 • 38min
Harper Lee
Was Harper Lee a literary genius who helped spark the civil rights movement in America? Was she a selfish recluse who put her own interest above anyone else’s? And, in one of her last acts, did she tarnish her own legacy by betraying her most beloved character? Celya AB, Glenn Moore and Johnny Cochrane join Russell Kane in the courtroom of Evil Genius to find out.Additional Material: Eve Delaney
Researcher: Miriam O’Byrne
Sound Editor: Kate Mac
Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls
Executive Producer: Paul SmithThe Producer was Gwyn Rhys Davies. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

May 14, 2025 • 37min
OJ Simpson
Was OJ Simpson an inspiring American rags-to-riches story, or a fame-hungry abuser?
Michael Odewale, Sara Barron and Rachel Fairburn take a sip of ‘The Juice’.
Was he a murderer who got away with it all? Was a victim of systemic racism in the US justice system? Our guests dig into his life, and debate the legacy of Orenthal James Simpson.Additional Material: Eve Delaney
Researcher: Miriam O’Byrne
Sound Editor: Kate Mac
Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls
Executive Producer: Paul SmithThe Producer was Gwyn Rhys Davies. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

Apr 9, 2025 • 59sec
Evil Genius: Returning Soon
Evil Genius is back soon with more good, bad, ugly - and very, very funny. Hear it first on BBC Sounds.

Jan 15, 2025 • 35min
Lawrence of Arabia
Did Lawrence of Arabia beautifully befriend the Arabs in WWI or savagely betray them? Should the king of guerrilla warfare be held accountable? What were his most surprising eccentricities? Our guests Susie McCabe, Desiree Burch and Ian Smith get stuck into the life of Thomas Edward Lawrence.Producer: Sasha Bobak
Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

Jan 8, 2025 • 33min
Lady Macbeth
Was Lady Macbeth a cold-hearted killer or a grieving mother? Did she manipulate her husband or help him achieve his goals? Or was she simply in a very toxic relationship? Laura Smyth, Josh Jones and Johnny Cochrane decide... evil or genius.Producer: Sasha Bobak
Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

Jan 1, 2025 • 34min
John D. Rockefeller
Money makes the world go round... but does it make heroes or villains? Our guests Phil Wang, Lindsey Santoro and Katie Norris examine the life of the world's first-ever billionaire, weigh in on his ruthless tactics, and reflect on his motivations.Producer: Sasha Bobak
Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

Dec 25, 2024 • 35min
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell is a highly controversial figure, not least because he banned Christmas (fun sponge alert). Our guests Kerry Godliman, Helen Bauer and Glenn Moore evaluate his powerful reign, argue over his policies, and realise the trouble they’d have run into under his regime.Producer: Sasha Bobak
Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

Dec 18, 2024 • 35min
Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison was a rock icon, a tortured poet and a leather-trouser addict. His outrageous performances on stage and dangerous behaviour behind closed doors cause quite the stir for guests Rachel Parris, Daliso Chaponda and Stephen Bailey.Producer: Sasha Bobak
Evil Genius is a BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds