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Join Russell Kane as we take nobody's favourite living cylinder of goo, place it under a moral microscope and ask – are Slugs evil or genius? These squidgy Snot Cottons are famously the enemy of gardeners. But is there more to these Titchmarsh-tetchers than meets the slime? Helping Russell decide are two slimeballs at the top of their game – the Natural History Museum's excellent Senior curator of molluscs, Jon Ablett and esteemed comedian Stephen Bailey. Written by: Eve Delaney, Ruth Huskisson and Christina Riggs. Additional material: Angela Channell, Catherine Beazley & Adrian Gray. Researcher: Catherine Beazley Sound Recordist: Dom Boucher Digital Editor: Jerry Peal Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith Producer: Simon Nicholls Evil Animals with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds.

Join Russell Kane as he places another critter into the moral spotlight and asks: is it genius? Or a bitey bastard? Long of snout and short of leg, this giant terror is more snappy than a hungover politician and has a taste for flesh. It can sneakily swim right up to you without you knowing, but also makes a great parent. Today we're putting Swim Shady - aka the Crocodile - in the dock. Russell's joined by top comedian Peter Rethinasamy and the Natural History Museum's brilliant Merit Researcher, Dr. Natalie Cooper. Will they deem Bite Tyson a submerged menace? Or a Swamp Superhero? You and your ears will have to listen to find out. Written by: Eve Delaney, Ruth Huskisson and Christina Riggs. Additional material: Angela Channell, Adrian Gray and Catherine Beazley. Researcher: Catherine Beazley Sound Recordist: Dom Boucher Digital Editor: Jerry Peal Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith Producer: Simon Nicholls Evil Animals with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds.

Join Russell Kane as he places another animal before the court of public opinion and asks: is this animal a genius? Or an animal git? This animal is a professional escape artist, an obsessive digger, and its sex life makes Love Island look like Songs of Praise. That’s right - today we're putting rabbits in the dock. Helping Russell separate the furry facts from the bunny bollocks are international superstar comedian Felicity Ward and esteemed zoologist, vet and best-selling author, Dr. Jess French. Will they deem Robert Hop-penenheimer a fluffy destroyer of worlds? Or a Burrowing Beauty? You’ll have to listen to find out. Written by: Eve Delaney, Ruth Huskisson and Christina Riggs. Additional material: Angela Channell and Catherine Beazley. Researcher: Catherine Beazley Sound Recordist: Gareth Wood Digital Editor: Jerry Peal Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith Producer: Simon Nicholls Evil Animals with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds.

Join Russell Kane as he rummages through nature’s police files, potentially exposing that glossy sinister feathered felon: the Crow. Let’s face it, Gwyneth Pal-crows have one of the worst reps of all birds. Think about it: Penguins? Lovely. Puffins? Legends! Crows? DEATH. Helping Russell sort the caw-caws from the jackdaws, are comedian Desiree Burch and the Natural History Museum’s Principal Curator of Birds, Dr. Alex Bond. Are Crows ‘Bad News with Wings’ or ‘Feathered Fantastics’? Listen with your ears to find out. Written by: Eve Delaney, Ruth Huskisson and Christina Riggs. Additional material: Angela Channell and Catherine Beazley. Researcher: Catherine Beazley Sound Recordist: Gareth Wood Digital Editor: Jerry Peal Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith Producer: Simon Nicholls Evil Animals with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Sounds.

Russell Kane addresses the elephant in the room, lets the cat out of the bag and embarks on a wild goose chase. Across this new series of Evil Animals, we’ll playfully debate whether Crows, Rabbits, Elephants, Octopus, Robins, Crocodiles, Slugs, Mallards and Butterflies are evil or genius. Russell is joined by some of the very best animal experts: Dr. Natalie Cooper from the Natural History Museum, zoologist Jules Howard, Bug Life’s Dr. Karim Vahed, vet and author Dr. Jess French, mollusc expert Jon Ablett and NHM’s Dr. Alex Bond. And comedian guests include: Katie Norris, Josh Jones, Desiree Burch, Ele McKenzie, Felicity Ward, Alana Jackson, Stephen Bailey and Peter Rethinasamy. Hosted by Russell Kane Written by: Angela Channell Sound Recordist: Gareth Wood Digital Editor: Jerry Peal Production Coordinator: Liz Tuohy Executive Producer: Paul Smith Producer: Simon Nicholls Evil Animals with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Production for BBC Sounds.

For a century, Harry Houdini has been safely filed away in the public imagination as a nostalgic variety act: a man in monochrome film escaping handcuffs, water tanks, and straightjackets. This series smashes that myth. Hosted by "psychological illusionist" Derren Brown, How Houdini Made Magic reframes a penniless immigrant refugee named Erik Weisz as a prophetic, hyper-modern visionary. Long before the birth of Silicon Valley, modern political spin rooms, or algorithmic social media, Houdini cracked the code of modern fame. He didn't just escape physical boxes; he manipulated suspense, pioneered viral guerrilla marketing, employed the legal system to protect his brand, and mastered the dark arts of post-truth media. He created magic in far more ways than you think. Against a backdrop of vaudeville and societal revolution, Derren explores the lesser-known identities of a magician who continues to inspire him and countless other magicians: Houdini as an advertising guru, a new media innovator, a sceptic... a spy? We'll come to realise that today's world actually closely mirrors the 'sepia-tinted' world Houdini operated in: a time of rapid industrialisation, intense social change, massive wealth inequality, widespread social activism, global conflict, cultural revolutions, and immense technological advancement. We are living in an attention economy running on the exact behavioural hacks, artificial friction, and narrative illusions engineered by Harry Houdini over a century ago.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Russell Kane is bullied by Bella Hull, Rosie Holt and Katie Norris, with occasional discussion of Jilly Cooper. Was the sexed-up scribe evil, or a genius? Is it weird to throw an orgy with your brother? Will Russell leave the studio alive? All this and more. 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.