Rex Factor

Our second series is nearly over - it's the Scottish Rex Factor Grand Final and we need to decide who will be crowned the champion. However, Ali and Graham don't get to vote this time, so it's entirely down to you to pick the winner! Your candidates are Constantine II (effective first King of Scots), Robert the Bruce (winner of the Battle of Bannockburn), James IV (Renaissance Golden Age) and Mary Queen of Scots (an amazing and often tragic life story). In this episode, we compare the four monarchs category by category but it will be for you to pick your winner - follow the link below and vote for who you want to win Scottish Rex Factor (deadline is 30 June 2018). https://www.eSurveysPro.com/Survey.aspx?id=4520f9fc-22b0-40a8-8f9f-aa9c123b0e31 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We reveal the results of the first round of the Scottish Play-Offs - find out who will join top seed Robert the Bruce in the Grand Final from Group A (Constantine II, Malcolm III, Alexander III, James II), Group B (Kenneth II, Malcolm II, David I, James IV) and Group C (Kenneth MacAlpin, Alexander II, Mary Queen of Scots, James VI). We also read out some of your excellent comments on why you voted for the various monarchs. We actually live-streamed the results on our YouTube channel, so you can watch it in full (plus us answering questions from the viewers - not included in the podcast) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvc5fxz28sY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the last of the play-off groups and one of the tastiest yet! We have our very first monarch, Kenneth MacAlpin (843-58) against our very last, James VI (1567-1625), as well as James VI facing off against his own mother, Mary Queen of Scots (1542-67). Kenneth was the first, Mary and James are perhaps the most famous, but it is Alexander II (1214-49) who got the highest score of these four in the original podcasts. We compare them factor by factor but you will play a crucial role in deciding who goes through. Listen to the podcast and then pick your favourite for who you want to go through to the Grand Final using the link below: Survey Link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's another heavyweight contest in the second of our play-off bouts: Kenneth II (971-95), Malcolm II (1005-35), David I (1124-53) and James IV (1488-1513). There's the enticing prospect of a father/son battle with Kenneth II (killed by an elaborate statue) and Malcolm II (the dynastic serial killer). David I oversaw a revolution in governance and gained huge territory during the (English) Anarchy while James IV presided over Scotland's Renaissance. We compare them all, factor-by-factor, but once you've listened it will be your chance to decide who goes through to the Grand Final. Survey Link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Scottish Rex Factor play-offs kick off in style with Constantine II (900-43), Malcolm III (1058-93), Alexander III (1249-86) and James II (1437-60) do battle for a place in the Grand Final. Listen to the episode to hear the four monarchs compared and then it's down to you to help decide who goes through to the final. Will it be Constantine II with his battles against the Vikings and Athelstan? Malcolm III for slaying Macbeth and seeing Scotland through the upheavals of 1066? Maybe Alexander III with his conquest of the Western Isles and a golden age (plus the nuns!) or James II, murderer of the Earl Douglas and blown up by his own cannon. The choice is yours (and also ours, it's a joint effort). Group A Survey Link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We have reviewed all the Kings and Queens of Scots from Kenneth MacAlpin to James VI and found 13 Rex Factor winners, but who was the greatest of them all? In this episode, we explain our play-off system and make the draw to see which monarchs will be facing off against each other. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the first time ever, we review a monarch for the second time! James VI is the last monarch in our Scottish series, coming to the throne in the midst of his civil war with his mother, Mary Queen of Scots, trying to reclaim her throne. Scotland is a violent and divided nation for James growing up, but if he can survive and prosper where his predecessors fail, the glittering prize of the English throne awaits. Will James VI finish the series on a high and succeed where he failed in the English series and take the Rex Factor? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mary Queen of Scots had one of the most dramatic lives and reigns (and, unusually, post-reigns) in Scottish history, taking in a French upbringing, the Reformation, three husbands, civil war and English imprisonment. But when this is all put together, how well will she score and will one of the most famous names in history be worthy of the Rex Factor? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our first episode, Mary had escaped Henry VIII, briefly been Queen Consort of France and ruled pretty successfully as Queen of Scots. By 1565, she had married the dashing Lord Darnley (who, like Mary, had a claim to the English throne) and seen off a rebellion by her Protestant half-brother, the Earl of Moray. However, the second half of her life would be even more dramatic than the first. Mary would have to face a vain and jealous husband, scheming Scottish nobles and Elizabeth I's chief advisor, William Cecil, determined to stop her ever becoming Queen of England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mary Queen of Scots is one of (if not the) most famous names in Scottish and British history, and with good reason. A dramatic reign that began when she was only six days old which saw her and Scotland dragged into international conflicts between England, Spain and France as well as the religious conflict with the Protestant Reformation. We are giving ourselves three episodes to cover Mary and this first biography episode takes us from her birth through the 'Rough Wooing' and her minority up to the peak of her personal rule in Scotland in 1565. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scotland's imagination in naming royal babies had really run out by 1513 when the fifth successive became king. At just 17 months old, and following the disaster of Flodden, once again it would be tricky for the new king to make his mark. Would James V break through the chaotic power play of his minority, see off the most difficult of difficult of neighbours in Henry VIII and live up to the glorious reputation of his father? Would he break the pattern of the previous James's and actually live into middle age? Most importantly of all, does he have the Rex Factor? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We reveal the (amazing) results of our Kickstarter campaign and share some clips from our recent special episodes on Brunel, Boudica and Tea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the fourth time in a row, Scotland has a minority under a king named James. However, James IV is older than his predecessors and shows a lot of promise as a charming and gifted Renaissance king who proves a highly effective ruler in Scotland and a force to be reckoned with in Europe. However, how will he fare when Europe starts sliding into war and he is forced to deal with a belligerent young Henry VIII in England? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rex Factor needs your help! All through August 2017 we are doing a Kickstarter to fund the production of the pilot episode of Rex Factor the Animated Show, an animated version of the podcast produced by the brilliant Tinmouse Animation Studios. We need your help to spread the word and raise the money to fund this project so please check out our Kickstarter page, look at some of the amazing rewards on offer and encourage everyone you know to make a pledge to help get this made! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1958705267/rex-factor-the-animated-show   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1460, for the third time in a row, the new Scottish king was a boy called James. Unlike his predecessors, however, there were no overmighty nobles or domineering family members to contend with and England was in the throes of the Wars of the Roses. Could James III take advantage and break the pattern of short-lived Jameses? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Like his father, James II came to the throne as a child and faced an uncertain minority with rival factions at war with each other. Also like his father, James was a ruthless and vigorous ruler, determined to establish the Stewart dynasty as supreme over its rivals and independent from England. Could James defeat the powerful Douglas family and take advantage of an England divided by the Wars of the Roses, or would the internal divisions of Scotland prove too much for yet another Stewart king? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a century of weak rulers and a divided family, the omens looked bad for James I: his uncle, Albany, was in charge of Scotland while he was just a child in an English prison. However, James would prove a more forceful character than his recent predecessors and was determined to assert himself over his rivals in Scotland. With England struggling in the Hundred Years War and the Wars of the Roses approaching, could James restore glory to Scotland and win the Rex Factor? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you've been following us on our social media recently, you'll know we've been teasing you about a new project codenamed #projectzeus - well, finally we can reveal what it's all about! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the last century, the problem for Scotland's monarchs was a lack of male heirs. In 1386, there were too many! Robert III was in his fifties and in poor health meaning his first brother, the Earl of Fife, was effectively running the country while his second brother, Alexander "the Wolf" of Badenoch, was causing chaos in the north. Throw into the mix Robert's eldest son, David, with an increasingly independent streak and a spot of bother with the English and it all makes for a tricky time of it! Will Robert III be able to come out on top or will this be another weak reign for the Scots? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The accession of Robert II in 1371 marks the start of the royal Stewart dynasty in Scotland. In some ways, Robert had much more going for him than David - plenty of sons, Edward III in his old age (then Richard II in his minority) meant he was able to shore up his position both within Scotland and with England. However, Robert was already in his mid-50s when he became king and his adult sons proved to be ruthlessly ambitious and determined to gain power. Would the first Stewart king win the Rex Factor for starting a new dynasty, or would that same dynasty be the thing to hold him back? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices