
S4.06 Harald Hardrada: Biography
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...
19 Juni 1h 3min

S4.04 Edith of Wilton
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 poli...
22 Maj 1h 9min

S4.03 Ælfweard and Edwin
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...
8 Maj 55min

S4.02 Æthelwold
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 th...
24 Apr 1h 5min

Ludlow Live News 2026
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 Battl...
22 Apr 16min

Emily Murdoch Perkins - The Queens Who Could Have Been
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 d...
10 Apr 1h 9min

S4.01 Series 4 Introduction
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...
27 Mars 34min



















