Evil Genius with Russell Kane - podcast cover

Evil Genius with Russell Kane

BBC Soundswww.bbc.co.uk

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

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Episodes

Rasputin

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 Bobak Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Oct 30, 202441 min

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

Apr 04, 202447 min

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

Mar 28, 202448 min

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

Mar 21, 202446 min

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

Mar 14, 202444 min

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

Mar 07, 202445 min

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

Feb 29, 202447 min

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

Feb 22, 202443 min

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

Feb 15, 202444 min

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. Producer Beth O'Dea Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Feb 08, 202446 min

Attila the Hun

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 Heaven Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Feb 01, 202442 min

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

Jan 25, 202437 min

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

Jan 18, 202447 min

David Bowie

Kerry Godliman, Esther Manito and Rhys James decide – Starman or laughing gnome? Producer Sally Heaven

Apr 06, 202347 min

Marvin Gaye

Maisie Adam, Ania Magliano and Marlon Davis wonder what was goin' on with the soul singer.

Mar 30, 202337 min

Cleopatra

Kerry Godliman, Esther Manito and Rhys James debate - was the Egyptian a pain in the asp?

Mar 23, 202337 min

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

Mar 16, 202342 min

Johnny Cash

Thanyia Moore, Pierre Novellie and Lauren Pattison ask if the country star did in fact walk the line. Producer Beth O'Dea Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Mar 09, 202344 min

Mary Whitehouse

Felicity Ward, Ria Lina and Peter Rethinasamy decide: is the campaigner prophet or prude?

Mar 02, 202351 min

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

Feb 23, 202346 min

Marlon Brando

Maisie Adam, Marlon Davis and Ania Magliano's decision will be an offer he can't refuse.

Feb 16, 202346 min

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"? Producer: Beth O’Dea Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Feb 09, 202340 min

Bruce Lee

Felicity Ward, Ria Lina and Peter Rethinasamy decide if Lee deserves a one-inch punch

Feb 02, 202346 min

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? Producer Beth O'Dea. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Audio Bristol production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Jan 26, 202346 min

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

Jan 19, 202346 min

Lara Croft, Tomb Raider

Sikisa, Sarah Callaghan and Ivo Graham dig the dirt on Tomb Raider, Lara Croft

Mar 24, 202236 min

Richard Nixon

Athena Kugblenu, Lou Sanders and Nathan Caton decide: Evilgate or Geniusgate?

Mar 17, 202240 min

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.

Mar 10, 202242 min

Sigmund Freud

Sophie Duker, Rhys James and Evelyn Mok analyse the father of psychoanalysis

Mar 03, 202235 min

Allen Ginsberg

Gráinne Maguire, Harriet Braine and Hal Cruttenden beat up beat poet Allen Ginsberg.

Feb 24, 202245 min
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