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 an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 400 additional bonus podcasts:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor

"(00:00:00) Intro"

"(00:02:30) Athelstan Becoming King"

"(00:10:29) Athelstan as First King"

"(00:15:14) Vikings"

"(00:28:16) Athelstan's Laws"

"(00:33:12) Athelstan and Religion"

"(00:38:25) Emperor of Britain"

"(00:49:57) Alfred vs Athelstan"

"(00:56:52) Farewells"

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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"

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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 results.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor

"(00:00:00) Intro"

"(00:05:09) Live Show"

"(01:12:26) Q&A"

"(01:45:35) Results"

"(01:47:53) Finale"

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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, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 400 additional bonus podcasts:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor

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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"

"(00:32:58) Series 4"

"(00:44:15) Grand Final"

"(01:02:21) Ending"

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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:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor

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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 of Aragon are competing for the title but only one can be the winner.

You can watch this episode via the link below:

https://youtu.be/h8jssJAT1R8

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:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor

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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 Final. Find all the main play-off voting links at our website:

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 Rex Factor, and to vote for what we do in series 4. All that and more here:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor

And finally, 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/

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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 Final. Find all the main play-off voting links at our website:

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 Rex Factor, and to vote for what we do in series 4. All that and more here:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor

And finally, 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/

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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://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 who nearly got the Rex Factor, and to vote for what we do in series 4. All that and more here:

⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices