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" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's our first Right to Reply of the Nearly Monarch series as we go through your messages on the Anglo-Saxons (and Viking) We hear of suggestions for other Nearly Monarchs to include, different approaches to the scoring system, plus your thoughts on all the nearly monarchs we've covered so far (including Offa). You can watch the recording of this episode on Spotify or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HDZ7S_7AI6I 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 "(00:00:00) Introduction" "(00:05:28) General Messages" "()00:30:17) Offa "(00:35:19) Æthelwold" "(00:41:18) Ælfweard and Edwin" "(00:45:10) Edith of Wilton" "(00:52:59) Edward the Exile" "(00:57:36) Harald Hardrada" "(01:06:47) Edgar the Ætheling" "(01:10:47) Corner" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week we chat to Dr Eleanor Parker about the next generation of Anglo-Saxons in 1066 - the young men and women whose lives took a very different path with the Conquest and how they adapted. From the semi-legendary Hereward the Wake to the children of Harold Godwinson, old favourites like Edgar the Ætheling and St Margaret of Scotland, and many more! You can now watch the video of the recording on Spotify (or YouTube via the link below): https://youtu.be/yHu3XT189uY 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 "(00:00:00) Introduction" "(00:03:14) Interview" "(00:58:42 ) C Corner" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week we chat to Professor Tom Licence about 1066 - initially the question of the succession and who should have succeeded Edward the Confessor, but our timing was excellent as Tom had recently been in the news for his new research that is changing how we should assess Harold Godwinson's campaigning in 1066, so we talk about that as well. You can now watch the video of the recording on Spotify (or YouTube via the link below): https://youtu.be/fSL3xRKDZPQ 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 "(00:00:00) Introduction" "(00:02:44) Interview" "(01:12:48) C Corner" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices