Rex Factor

Our first female nearly monarch of the series, Edith of Wilton, was the daughter of Edgar the Peaceable and a potential rival to her half-brother, Æthelred the Unready. The question is, was she a political power player in the running for the throne, was she a holy nun with no ambitions towards secular riches, or maybe a bit of both?

We are doing a live show in Ludlow on Friday 21 August 2026 at 19:00 - come and see us compare the contenders for the throne in 1066 at the Ludlow Assembly Rooms:

⁠https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/show/rex-factor/⁠

Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠⁠

You can now watch the podcast via the link below:

LINK

"(00:00:00) Introduction"

"(00:02:16) Biography"

"(00:40:29) Battleyness"

"(00:46:33) Scandal"

"(00:53:21) Subjectivity"

"(00:59:21) Longevity"

"(00:59:41) Dynasty"

"(01:00:12) Rex Factor"

"(01:04:01) C Corner"

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It's a double-header this week with the brothers Ælfweard and Edwin - not a nearly ruling duo but both seem to have met mysteriously early ends amidst a rivalry with their older half-brother Æthelstan. We learn about divisions between Wessex and Mercia, disputes over legitimacy and the mysterious fate of each brother.

We are doing a live show in Ludlow on Friday 21 August 2026 at 19:00 - come and see us compare the contenders for the throne in 1066 at the Ludlow Assembly Rooms:

https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/show/rex-factor/

Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠

You can now watch the podcast via the link below:

https://youtu.be/o0_8IgytX8w

"(00:00:00) Introduction"

"(00:03:09) Biography"

"(00:34:56) Battleyness"

"(00:38:06) Scandal"

"(00:40:20) Subjectivity"

"(00:43:25) Longevity"

"(00:45:54) Dynasty"

"(00:46:42) Rex Factor"

"(00:49:46) C Corner"

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Series 4 begins! We review our first nearly monarch, Æthelwold, a nephew to Alfred the Great (perhaps familiar to many from The Last Kingdom series) who challenged his cousin, Edward the Elder, for the throne. Largely dismissed by the official history, we find that his claim to the throne (and the threat he posed) was serious and he was able to find some impressive allies along the way. But will he have what it takes to kick off the new series with the Rex Factor?

We are doing a live show in Ludlow on Friday 21 August 19:00 - come and see us compare the contenders for the throne in 1066 at the Ludlow Assembly Rooms:

https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/show/rex-factor/

Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠

You can now watch the podcast via the link below:

https://youtu.be/-laTvhxiXAo

"(00:00:00) Introduction"

"(00:03:11 ) Biography"

"(00:25:09) Battleyness"

"(00:41:19) Scandal"

"(00:47:22) Subjectivity"

"(00:51:15) Longevity"

"(00:52:27) Dynasty"

"(00:54:48) Rex Factor"

"(00:59:51) Correspondence Corner"

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Just a quick update from us to let you know that we are going to be returning to Ludlow this year for another live show. Join us at the Ludlow Assembly Rooms on Friday 21 August at 19:00 for The Battle of 1066, as we pit the four contenders for the throne against each other and ask you to decide who should have been the king: Harold Godwinson, William the Conqueror, Harald Hardrada or Edgar the Ætheling.

You can purchase tickets to see us live via the Ludlow Assembly Rooms website:

https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/show/rex-factor/

Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠

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As an introduction to our series on the nearly monarchs, we speak to Emily Perkins about her book Regina: The Queens Who Could Have Been, which looks at the queens who could have ruled if first-born daughters had been prioritised in the succession.

Emily Murdoch Perkins’ book Regina: The Queens Who Could Have Been is available in all good bookshops, but if you want the gold foil shiny hardback, that’s a limited edition until June 2026, so grab it while you can! You can find out more about Emily at www.emilymurdochperkins.com

Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠

You can now watch the podcast either on Spotify or on YouTube via the link below:

https://youtu.be/l3PDsRAObME

"(00:00:00) Introduction"

"(00:02:48) Introducing Emily"

"(00:03:30) Book Overview"

"(00:10:18) Æthelflæd Lady of the Mercians"

"(00:19:53) Marie of Blois"

"(00:27:10) Margaret Tudor"

"(00:43:37) Eleanor of Woodstock"

"(00:48:38) Anne, Princess of Orange"

"(00:51:57) Princess Vicky"

"(01:01:17) Outro"

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It's time for a new series of Rex Factor! In this introductory episode, we explain the concept of the series (what is a 'nearly monarch'?), who the nearly monarchs are (i.e. the individuals we will be reviewing in the series), and how we might approach scoring them.

Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠

You can now watch the podcast either on Spotify or on YouTube via the link below:

https://youtu.be/gVA8FeFf2qE

"(00:00:00) Introduction"

"(00:02:07) Series Concept"

"(00:10:00) The Nearly Monarchs"

"(00:21:48) The Factors"

"(00:29:07) Correspondence Corner"

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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 see it in their feed!)

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

You can now watch the podcast either on Spotify or on YouTube via the link below:

https://youtu.be/cisZM3Ro_jU

"(00:00:00) Introduction"

"(00:03:07) Biography"

"(00:30:59) Battleyness"

"(00:41:46) Scandal"

"(00:52:08) Subjectivity"

"(01:05:39) Longevity"

"(01:06:24) Dynasty"

"(01:07:44) Rex Factor"

"(01:09:05) Farewells"

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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.

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"

"(00:05:09) Live Show"

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

"(01:45:35) Results"

"(01:47:53) Finale"

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