Evil Genius with Russell Kane

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The producer was Katie Sayer. Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds.