This week, after an introduction to the podcast, we review Offa, the eighth century king of an early English kingdom called Mercia. We learn about why he was not the first king of England, links to Charlemagne and the building of the famous Offa's Dyke, plus consider whether he has the Rex Factor. Please note - this episode is identical to the first episode in the feed (we are releasing it twice to act as an introductory episode for new listeners but also a new episode so regular listeners still...
Feb 27, 2026•1 hr 15 min
We chat to the historian David Woodman about his book The First King of England: Athelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom. He tells us about why Athelstan (not Alfred) should be considered England's first king, how Athelstan was able to exert so much power in England and Britain, plus gets us exciting for the upcoming millennium of the foundation of England. Head to David's website for more information about him and his work: https://www.dwoodman.co.uk/ Sign up for lots of bonus content, including a...
Dec 05, 2025•1 hr 3 min
We respond to some of your messages about all elements of the podcast, as well as share some previews of our bonus content. Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 400 additional bonus podcasts: https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor "(00:00:00) Intro" "(00:01:30) Messages" "(00:37:57:) Previews" "(00:51:06) Farewells" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Oct 24, 2025•59 min
Available for all to listen, the recording of our live show at the Ludlow Assembly Rooms on Friday 15 August 2025 in which we pit the champions of the first three series of Rex Factor against each other: Henry II, Robert the Bruce and Eleanor of Aquitaine. In this recording, we compare Henry, Robert and Eleanor in the traditional fashion (biographies then factor by factor) before handing over to the audience to vote. Whilst the votes are counted, we have a Q&A before revealing the final resu...
Sep 05, 2025•2 hr
We welcome Gareth Russell back onto the podcast, this time to talk about his latest book Queen James: The Life and Loves of Britain's First King, looking at the life and reign of King James VI (of Scots) / I (of England), with a particular focus on his personal life and the six men with whom he was infatuated or in love. For more on Gareth, you can find him on X/Twitter ( https://x.com/garethrussell1 ) and Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/_garethrussell) Sign up for lots of bonus content, i...
Aug 15, 2025•1 hr 9 min
We go through the comments from the public vote in the Grand Finals of the play-offs, talking through the perspectives on the Nearly Rexy Consorts, Round One and Semi-Final Losers, Series 4 and Grand Final votes. Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 400 additional bonus podcasts: https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor "(00:00:00) Introduction" "(00:03:33) Nearly Rexy Consorts" "(00:13:10) Round One Losers" "(00:24:12) Semi Final Losers" ...
Aug 08, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Following the Grand Final Results, we take an in-depth look at how the public voted and just how close some of the results were. Graham explains all the stats and ranked choice voting, while Ali tries to figure out who everyone is. Come and see us live in Ludlow on Friday 15 August 19:00: https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/show/fringe-rex-factor-battle-of-the-champions/ Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 400 additional bonus podcasts: ...
Aug 01, 2025•57 min
A champion is crowned... After six years and over 60 consorts reviewed, we are finally at the end. In today's episode, we reveal the results of the Nearly Rexy Consorts, Round One and Semi-Final Losers votes (deciding positions 5th to 19th in the series), Privy Councillor prize draws, the decision on what we will be doing in Series 4 PLUS the most important vote of all - who will be crowned the Series 3 Rex Factor champion? Emma of Normandy, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France and Katherine...
Jul 25, 2025•48 min
For the first time, we are giving all the Rex Factor-winning consorts a final ranking for the series. In this episode, we are asking you to rank all of the consorts eliminated in the semi-finals of the play-offs, ranking them from 1st to 8th (though they will be competing for positions 5th to 12th). Have a listen to our review of all 8 and then cast your vote here: https://forms.gle/GEZoGzP7nLvft6qH6 If you havent' done so yet, please also vote to decide the overall series winner in the Grand Fi...
Jul 04, 2025•1 hr 14 min
For the first time, we are giving all the Rex Factor-winning consorts a final ranking for the series. In this episode, we are asking you to rank all of the consorts eliminated in the first round of the play-offs, ranking them from 1st to 7th (though they will be competing for positions 13th to 19th). Have a listen to our review of all 7 and then cast your vote here: https://forms.gle/NrCjh7mJtXE1p59o9 If you havent' done so yet, please also vote to decide the overall series winner in the Grand F...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 22 min
It's crunch time! Just four consorts remain to do battle in the Grand Final for English consorts to be crowned the Series 3 champion of Rex Factor. Will it be Emma of Normandy, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France or Katherine of Aragon? The decision is entirely down to the public vote, so listen to this final run-down of the four finalists and then cast your vote via the link below: https://forms.gle/P4p25y7AYqxx6fwBA Come and see us live in Ludlow on Friday 15 August 19:30: https://ludlowa...
Jun 20, 2025•1 hr 21 min
We go through the stats from the public vote in the semi-finals of the play-offs, explaining how all of the groups finished as they did, plus go through the comments left by voters in the four semi-finals. Come and see us live in Ludlow on Friday 15 August 19:30: https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/show/fringe-rex-factor-battle-of-the-champions/ Sign up for lots of bonus content, including play-off extras such as a prize draw for a Zoom chat with Ali and Graham, a mini-play-off for the consorts wh...
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr 12 min
Who will make it through to the Grand Final? Twelve will go down to four with today's results episode as we reveal the results of the four semi-finals as well as the Privy Council bonus play-offs for the Nearly Rexy consorts. Listen in or watch us reveal the results below: https://youtu.be/G8Q8RNWIO6M Sign up for lots of bonus content, including play-off extras such as a prize draw for a Zoom chat with Ali and Graham, a mini-play-off for the consorts who nearly got the Rex Factor, and to vote fo...
Jun 06, 2025•1 hr
We respond to some of your messages about all elements of the podcast, as well as share some previews of our bonus content. We are doing a live show! Join us in Ludlow on Friday 15 August 19:30 for the Battle of the Champions: https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/show/fringe-rex-factor-battle-of-the-champions/ On the day of release, there is one final day to vote for Semi-Final D in the play-offs: https://forms.gle/bSFXbecKNpueAFWJ9 Sign up for lots of bonus content, including play-off extras suc...
May 30, 2025•51 min
We are doing another live show! We are returning to the Ludlow Assembly Rooms on Friday 15 August 19:30 for The Battle of the Champions, as we pit our three series champions against each other: Henry II from series 1, Robert the Bruce from series 2 and whoever comes out on top in the consorts play-offs. Tickets are available now via the Ludlow Assembly Rooms website - we'd love to see you there! https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/show/fringe-rex-factor-battle-of-the-champions/ Learn more about ...
May 23, 2025•6 min
It's the last of the semi-finals - who will be the final consort to make it to the Grand Final? Your contenders this week: Æthelflæd Lady of the Mercians, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Caroline of Ansbach. Rank them in order and help decide who makes it to the final! You have until Friday 30 May 23:59 (BST) to vote. Cast your vote via the link below: https://forms.gle/w4nx1fxU86ZVeBME9 Sign up for lots of bonus content, including play-off extras such as a prize draw for a Zoom chat with Ali and Grah...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 3 min
The semi-finals are underway and the stakes are getting higher: just three consorts in each group and only the winner to go through to the Grand Final. Your contenders this week: Ælfthryth, Isabella of France and Katherine Parr. Rank them in order and help decide who makes it to the final! You have until Friday 23 May 23:59 (BST) to vote. Cast your vote via the link below: https://forms.gle/8VhNdR7wfcBB3zqJ7 Sign up for lots of bonus content, including play-off extras such as a prize draw for a ...
Apr 25, 2025•1 hr 9 min
The semi-finals are underway and the stakes are getting higher: just three consorts in each group and only the winner to go through to the Grand Final. Your contenders this week: Emma of Normandy, Matilda of Boulogne, and Anne Boleyn. Rank them in order and help decide who makes it to the final! You have until Friday 16 May 23:59 (BST) to vote. Cast your vote via the link below: https://forms.gle/cN2owtGg7RaC2ktK7 Sign up for lots of bonus content, including play-off extras such as a prize draw ...
Apr 18, 2025•1 hr 10 min
The semi-finals begin and the stakes are getting higher: just three consorts in each group and only the winner to go through to the Grand Final. Your contenders this week: Margaret of Anjou, Katherine of Aragon, and Henrietta Maria. Rank them in order and help decide who makes it to the final! You have until Friday 09 May 23:59 (BST) to vote. Cast your vote via the link below: https://forms.gle/zWcSLeqtnadVvTzc8 Sign up for lots of bonus content, including play-off extras such as a prize draw fo...
Apr 11, 2025•1 hr 12 min
We go through lots of your comments from the voting forms for the First Round Results of the play-offs, hearing your thoughts (good and bad) about all of the consorts, helping us to get a sense of how the consorts are viewed by you and (more to the point) the extent to which Ali understands who everybody is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 09, 2025•1 hr 21 min
Ahead of the semi-finals, we have a look at the voting stats from the First Round. We know who has gone through and who was placed where by the public, but how did they get there? Graham explains the voting percentages and all the preferential voting, Ali tries to remember who everybody is, and we consider who is looking well-set ahead of the semi-finals. Sign up for lots of bonus content, including play-off extras such as a prize draw for a Zoom chat with Ali and Graham, a mini-play-off for the...
Apr 04, 2025•1 hr
We have reviewed all the queen and prince consorts of England from Ealhswith to prince Philip, and now it's time to find our series champion! In this episode, we reveal the results from the First Round - who is going through to the Semi-Finals and who has been eliminated? Watch us reveal the results via the link below: https://youtu.be/jbO84TZnltc Sign up to become a Privy Councillor and access all the bonus content at https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit pod...
Mar 28, 2025•47 min
We respond to some of your messages about all elements of the podcast, as well as share some previews of our bonus content. On the day of release, there is one final day to vote for Group C and one more week to vote for Group D in the play-offs - all the links are available here: https://www.rexfactorpodcast.com/consort-vote Sign up for lots of bonus content, including play-off extras such as a prize draw for a Zoom chat with Ali and Graham, a mini-play-off for the consorts who nearly got the Re...
Mar 14, 2025•1 hr 5 min
The play-offs have begun! In the last of the first round contests, we pit Ælfthryth, Elizabeth Woodville, Matilda of Boulogne, and Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians against each other. All of them have the Rex Factor, but only three can make it through to the Semi-Finals, so who will it be? In this episode, we consider all four consorts in each factor, then at the end of the episode, Ali and Graham rank the consorts (secretly), and that is what you need to do as well. Follow the link below to cast...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 3 min
The play-offs have begun! In the third of the first round contests, we pit Isabella of France, Henrietta Maria, Caroline of Ansbach, Mary of Teck and Caroline of Brunswick against each other. All of them have the Rex Factor, but only three can make it through to the Semi-Finals, so who will it be? In this episode, we consider all five consorts in each factor, then at the end of the episode, Ali and Graham rank the consorts (secretly), and that is what you need to do as well. Follow the link belo...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr 2 min
The play-offs have begun! In the first of the first round contests, we pit Eleanor of Aquitaine, Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Eadgifu of Kent against each other. All of them have the Rex Factor, but only three can make it through to the Semi-Finals, so who will it be? In this episode, we consider all five consorts in each factor, then at the end of the episode, Ali and Graham rank the consorts (secretly), and that is what you need to do as well. Follow the link belo...
Feb 14, 2025•1 hr 9 min
The play-offs have begun! In the first of the first round contests, we pit Emma of Normandy, Prince Albert, Matilda of Scotland, Katherine Parr and Margaret of Anjou against each other. All of them have the Rex Factor, but only three can make it through to the Semi-Finals, so who will it be? In this episode, we consider all five consorts in each factor, then at the end of the episode, Ali and Graham rank the consorts (secretly), and that is what you need to do as well. Follow the link below to c...
Feb 07, 2025•1 hr 15 min
Before we get started on the Play-Offs, we respond to your messages about the play-off draw - your thoughts on the process, who you are predicting/wanting to win, and what should win the vote for series 4. The first play-off episode (Group A) will be out next Friday. Sign up to join the Privy Council at https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor to get the podcast ad-free, as well as over 350 bonus podcasts and lots of extras during the play-offs, including voting for Series 4, a Privy Council-only play-...
Jan 31, 2025•1 hr 7 min
We have reviewed all the queen and prince consorts of England from Ealhswith to prince Philip, and now it's time to find our series champion! In this episode, we reveal how the play-offs will work and do the draw to see which Rex Factor-winning consorts will be up against each other in the first round, as well as details about series 4 and bonuses for Privy Councillors. We also recorded this on video with extra graphics and a secondary camera, so check that out via the link below: https://youtu....
Jan 24, 2025•54 min
Before we get on to the play-offs in the new year, we read some of your messages relating to all aspects of the podcast (both recent and long ago) and share some previews of our bonus content on Patreon. If you would like to join the Privy Council and access the over 350 episodes of bonus content (plus ad-free versions of the main podcast) you can sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Dec 27, 2024•1 hr 18 min
