The BBC Radio 4 podcast Evil Genius returns for a fifth series this week, with Russell Kane and his comedy guests forensically and hilariously revealing all about history’s greatest figures.

Opening the series is one of the Founding Fathers of the United States no less, Alexander Hamilton, who’s had a bit of a renaissance recently as the subject of the hit musical. Think you know everything about Hamilton? This first episode might make you think again. Comedian guests Ivo Graham, Sara Barron and Jenny Bede join Russell to discuss Hamilton the man and – as in every episode – weigh up the good as well as the bad as they delve into his lesser known side.

The new series will see more cultural and historical icons being put under Russell’s microscope to reveal what listeners might not know about them. In other episodes in this series the panel will look at the incredibly influential human rights activist Malcolm X, British film director and master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock, to warrior queen Boudicca and pioneering jazz singer Billie Holiday. And there’s a guest line up of great comedy minds to match including Felicity Ward, Sophie Duker, Jayde Adams, Fern Brady, Alison Spittle, Tony Law, Darren Harriott, Sikisa and many more.

Speaking about the new series, Russell Kane said: “We’re really turning the screws for this series, with some of our best loved heroes on the stand. It’s going to be excruciating - and very funny - watching my guests unravel as they try to define these complex characters in the most simplistic of terms… Evil or Genius?”

Previous guests include Alan Carr, Lou Sanders, James Acaster, Romesh Ranganathan, Ellie White, Desiree Burch and more.

Episode 1 of BBC Radio 4’s Evil Genius with Russell Kane, series 5, is available on BBC Sounds from Thursday 14 January.