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 el...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 Ja...

We reveal the (amazing) results of our Kickstarter campaign and share some clips from our recent special episodes on Brunel, Boudica and Tea.

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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!

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 whi...

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...

After the glories of Robert the Bruce, there was a lot to live up to for David II - which would not be easy, given that he was only a few years old, facing an adult dynastic rival in the form of Edward Balliol and a resurgent England under the mighty...

Things have been torrid for Scotland under the rule of England's Edward I, but finally there is hope in the form of Robert the Bruce (and, frankly, in Edward II). Will this legend of Scottish history - the king of Bannockburn and the Declaration o...

We're back! Apologies for the absence but as you'll find out we have a very good reason. Our next episode on Robert the Bruce will be a biggie so we thought it would be better to get a quick episode out to update you on our news, including th...

Scotland was a conquered country in 1296, but if Edward I thought the Scots would go quietly then he had another thing coming! Almost from nowhere, William Wallace stepped onto the scene and led the resistance against English rule, becoming Guardian of...

In a one-off bumper edition special episode we review Aragorn (AKA Strider, Elessar, etc.), one of the main characters in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. As a special birthday request, we decided to give Aragorn the usual Rex Factor treatment meted o...

After being chosen to be King of Scots in 1292, John Balliol had a tough job on his hands. He had not been raised for kingship, the nobility were divided and, most worryingly of all, Edward I of England had established himself as feudal lord of...

A largely forgotten figure in Scottish history, Margaret the Maid of Norway's "reign" would be a pivotal turning point in Scottish history. After Alexander III died in accident in 1286 without an heir, his only descendent was Margaret, h...

Alexander III was only just approaching 8 years when his father died in 1249, resulting in a divisive minority and the king of England, Henry III, playing an increasingly strong role in Scottish affairs. As king, Alexander would need to restore order...