Rex Factor

The legendary Viking ruler, Harald Hardrada, is our first two-parter of the series due to his remarkable life story. Russian exile, adventures in the Byzantine Emperor, and becoming King of Norway all before he invaded England in 1066. In this episode, we cover the whole of his remarkable life, with the review to come in the next episode. (Unfortunately the camera pointed at Ali stopped working for part of the recording, so apologies for his lack of motion at times!) 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" "(00:03:55) Byzantium" "(00:18:15) Norway" "(00:33:16) England" "(00:57:33) C Corner" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

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

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

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 for what we do in series 4. All that and more here: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor 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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 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