New 6-part series follows on the success of Evil Genius, which is now in its 7th year with nearly 130 episodes produced by BBC Studios
LONDON – 13 August 2025 – BBC Studios has announced that it is partnering once more with the award-winning comedian Russell Kane to delve into a new series – Evil Animals with Russell Kane. Following in the same format of the hit series Evil Genius, the six new episodes will be produced by BBC Studios for BBC Sounds and will launch on Wednesday 20th August.
Whether you’re an animal addict, critter critic or scaredy-cat, welcome to comedian Russell Kane’s new BBC comedy wildlife podcast, Evil Animals. It’s like Russell’s chart-smashing Evil Genius, but instead of diving into history’s complicated humans, this time it’s lifting the lid on the animal kingdom and asking: is this animal a misunderstood marvel… or a furry little psychopath?
Every episode, Russell Kane is joined by a comedian guest and animal expert for an informed funny look at the ups and downs of a specific animal’s behaviour – from the amazing to the downright disgusting. The animals featured on this first series include: Hamsters (antisocial, biting, ill-suited pets), Vampire Bats (naturally charitable blood donors), Cats (did you know cats don’t meow in the wild? They’ve learnt to meow for humans, to manipulate us), Dolphins (Bottlenose Dolphins are super intelligent but can also be ruthlessly vicious), Maggots (help the police to solve crimes) and Snakes (Vipers’ venom helps humans).
At the end of each episode, our comedian guests must decide whether the animal in question is Evil or Genius. And yes, we know what you’re thinking: animals can’t be evil. The truth of it is, this show is a chance for us to challenge the audience’s preconceptions of an animal – to open people’s eyes to the reality of the natural world – revealing facts that Mother Nature would prefer to keep hidden, all with a comedy spin.
Russell Kane said, “I’m so excited for this new series Evil Animals that I’ve shed my summer pelt in anticipation.”
Evil Animals with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios production for BBC Sounds. It is produced by Simon Nicholls and Executive Produced by Paul Smith for BBC Studios. It was commissioned by Rhian Roberts and Commissioning Producer Nathan Jones for BBC Sounds. Additional material by Eve Delaney and Christina Riggs. The series researcher is Catherine Beazley and the production co-ordinator is Liz Tuoy.
The new series launches on BBC Sounds from Wednesday 20th August with new episodes dropping weekly and can be found on the same feed as Evil Genius. The series will be available wherever you get your podcasts 28 days after first launching on BBC Sounds.
Episode breakdowns:
o HAMSTERS – featuring comedian Laura Smyth (Live At The Apollo, ARIA for Best Comedy for her Radio 4 stand-up special, Laura Smyth: I Don’t Know What To Say) and zoologist / author Jules Howard (Nature Table with Sue Perkins, BBC Breakfast).
o VAMPIRE BATS – featuring comedian Rachel Fairburn (co-host of All Killa no Filla podcast) and zoologist author Jules Howard (Nature Table with Sue Perkins, BBC Breakfast).
o DOMESTIC CATS – featuring comedian Jess Fostekew (Live At The Apollo, QI) and vet / broadcaster / author Jess French (Infinite Monkey Cage, CBeebies)
o MAGGOTS – featuring comedian Ola Labib (Richard Osman’s House of Games, Alan Davies’ As Yet Untitled) and Natural History Museum’s Head of Diptera (flies) Erica McAlister (Nature Table with Sue Perkins, No Such Thing As A Fish).
o DOLPHINS (specifically BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS) – featuring comedian Lindsey Santoro (Live At The Apollo, BBC Radio 4’s The Lively Life of Lindsey Santoro) and zoologist / broadcaster Billy Heaney (BBC Springwatch, Nature Table with Sue Perkins)
o SNAKES (specifically venomous Vipers) – featuring comedian Felicity Ward (2 series of her own show on Radio 4, starring in Taika Waititi’s Time Bandits for Apple TV and the Australian iteration of The Office) and zoologist / broadcaster Yussef Rafik (host of Bugface on BBC Earth and featured on CBBC).
ENDS
About BBC Studios Audio
Our work includes impactful investigative serials such as Stalked, To Catch A Scorpion and Things Fell Apart; long-running prestige series such as Desert Island Discs and In Our Time; much-loved podcasts such as You’re Dead To Me and Evil Genius; and an extensive slate of award-winning Comedy, Entertainment and Drama output. The Audio team has a mission to create and deliver compelling, premium audio to a wide-ranging global audience.
About BBC Studios
BBC Studios is the main commercial arm of BBC Commercial Ltd and generated revenues of £1.8 billion in the last year and profits of over £200 million for a third consecutive year. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, the business is built on two operating areas: the Content Studio, which produces, invests and distributes TV and audio globally and Media & Streaming, with BBC branded channels, services including UKTV, bbc.com and BritBox International and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. The business made more than 2,800 hours of award-winning British programmes last year for a wide range of UK and global broadcasters and platforms. Its content is internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms and includes world-famous brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who.
