Pledge $1 per month
You will be filled with a warm fuzzy glow in the knowledge that you have helped the podcast and joined the Privy Council! Plus, we'll give you an on-air thanks and free access to the Privy Chamber bonus podcasts (recordings we now do after each normal episode with some extra material we couldn't fit in, post-review reflections and reading out messages), which are exclusive to Privy Councillors.
51 patronsPledge $2 per month
Not only will you have that warm fuzzy glow, an on-air mention and access to the Privy Chamber bonus podcasts, you will also have the chance to have a comment or question read out on air.
30 patronsPledge $5 per month
A warm fuzzy glow, an on-air mention and comment/question read out, access the Privy Chamber podcasts AND free access to all our special episodes which normally cost $2 each.
157 patronsPledge $10 per month
The rewards are building up! At $10 you get a warm fuzzy glow, an on-air mention and comment/question, access to the Privy Chamber podcasts and special episodes PLUS a Privy Councillor mug!
17 patronsPledge $15 per month
At $15 you get a warm fuzzy glow, an on-air mention and comment/question, access to the Privy Chamber podcasts and special episodes, a Privy Councillor mug AND to commission a blog on the subject of your choice.
13 patronsPledge $25 per month
At $25 you get get the warm fuzzy glow, the mention, the comment/question on the podcast, access to the Privy Chamber and special episodes, a Privy Councillor mug PLUS a Privy Councillor t-shirt AND the chance to commission a special episode on the subject of your choice.
6 patronsRex Factor is a free podcast reviewing all the kings and queens of England and Scotland.
Rex Factor is a free and podcast reviewing all the kings and queens of England and Scotland by a number of factors and deciding which ones have that special quality that we call 'the Rex Factor'. The podcast has been running for a number of years and will always be free to listen and free of adverts, but we do incur a number of costs in producing the podcast (hosting fees, sound equipment, books, etc.) so any contributions that help us cover our costs and continue to podcast are very welcome. We're looking to purchase new and better microphones to improve the sound quality and explore other areas where we might develop the podcast (e.g. videos, special episodes) that would bring some additional costs. So, if you fancy donating and becoming our patron (or as we prefer, joining the Rex Factor Privy Council) then we would be extremely grateful!
Latest Episodes
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Ali's Pennance for Edgar the Peaceable
By far the most controversial moment on Rex Factor was Ali's decision not to award Edgar the Peaceable the Rex Factor, for which he has received complaints ever since. One listener suggested, in the style of Henry II for Thomas Becket, that Ali do pennance for his crime but rather than being flayed by monks Ali should row a representative of Edgar the Peaceable, recreating Edgar's famous ceremony in 973 when he was rowed by various sub-kings. If we reach the donation target, Ali will do pennance and the video will be shared!
Graham's New Microphone
The sound quality has been a common source of feedback for where we can improve the podcast, and while we have made improvements we'd really like to invest in some quality microphones that will make a significant difference to our recordings and make Rex Factor even better to listen to! The new microphone will cut out background noise and make Graham's voice clearer and richer!
Ali's New Microphone
The new microphones will just pick up one person rather than the whole room (and police sirens!) so in order to hear Ali, he will need a microphone as well or else his "Crikey Moses"s will go unheard!
Complicated thing that makes the new microphones work!
The new microphones need an audio interface so that they can link into the computer, otherwise neither Graham nor Ali will be heard!
Ongoing Support
I've been advised by Podbean that the 'goals' system is going to be removed in the next update to the site, so I'm not going to add any new ones on here. However, we may continue to do something similar on an informal basis via the podcast but ultimately all the money donated will go towards meeting our costs, improving our recording technology and hopefully expanding into other exciting areas!
Account Upgrade
We recently launched premium podcasts but found our account was limited to a small number which has caused a lot of problems for people purchasing the episode and left unable to access it without us sending manual links. To solve this problem, we need to upgrade our account but this will be a pretty big jump (effectively paying in a month almost what we used to pay for the whole year!) so your donations will help us cover this cost and allow us to continue to produce more bonus episodes (possibly commissioned by you if you go for the top reward!)
Video Cameras
We are hoping to add another level to their podcasting in future with videos on location at some of the historic sites that we discuss in the podcasts and so we're saving up for a nice one with decent sound that will work outdoors so you can both see us and hear us at the same time!
Ongoing Support
We've got some exciting plans for doing more with Rex Factor, including video episodes, additional audio stuff and many more exciting things besides, so it's really a huge help for us to fund all of this with your support.
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Rewards
Pledge $1 per month
You will be filled with a warm fuzzy glow in the knowledge that you have helped the podcast and joined the Privy Council! Plus, we'll give you an on-air thanks and free access to the Privy Chamber bonus podcasts (recordings we now do after each normal episode with some extra material we couldn't fit in, post-review reflections and reading out messages), which are exclusive to Privy Councillors.
51 patronsPledge $2 per month
Not only will you have that warm fuzzy glow, an on-air mention and access to the Privy Chamber bonus podcasts, you will also have the chance to have a comment or question read out on air.
30 patronsPledge $5 per month
A warm fuzzy glow, an on-air mention and comment/question read out, access the Privy Chamber podcasts AND free access to all our special episodes which normally cost $2 each.
157 patronsPledge $10 per month
The rewards are building up! At $10 you get a warm fuzzy glow, an on-air mention and comment/question, access to the Privy Chamber podcasts and special episodes PLUS a Privy Councillor mug!
17 patronsPledge $15 per month
At $15 you get a warm fuzzy glow, an on-air mention and comment/question, access to the Privy Chamber podcasts and special episodes, a Privy Councillor mug AND to commission a blog on the subject of your choice.
13 patronsPledge $25 per month
At $25 you get get the warm fuzzy glow, the mention, the comment/question on the podcast, access to the Privy Chamber and special episodes, a Privy Councillor mug PLUS a Privy Councillor t-shirt AND the chance to commission a special episode on the subject of your choice.
6 patronsTop patrons
The richardboyce1203's Podcast 2017-09-17
I've been binge listening to you're podcasts and now that I've finally caught up I thought I should join the privy council. Keep up the good work and I'm particularly looking forward to listening about Malcolm X in the Scottish Kings series.The tresamuir's Podcast 2017-09-10
I listened to all of the English kings recently. I saw a photo of you both early on, but for some unknown reason I swapped your identities. I just put the right voice to the right person a couple of weeks ago, and it's now very weird listening to the Scottish kings.......Love the podcast, Tresa Muir
Alan Cooke 2017-09-08
Hi chaps, I've enjoyed your fabulous podcast for a few years now and, massively overdue, decided it was time to join the privvy chamber! You both breathe such colour and vibrancy into the monarchs you review and your personalities complement each other brilliantly.Looking forward to the specials, particularly William Marshall and Isembard Kingdom Brunel, which I'll listen to with my 6 year old Sam, who loves all things Brunel, especially his bridges and trains!
All the very best, Alan Cooke
The christinaburke14's Podcast 2017-08-27
On behalf of the Welsh terrier, Herbie.... I would very much like to thank Gman and Ali for all the entertainment you provide for Tina Burke when I am out walking her. I have found that there is a direct correlation with the length of episode time and time she spends walking. So thank you for that. Also, not that I would suscribe to violence or anything like that, but for Ali's sake I might be persuaded to bite Dunstons leg. But I'm only a dog, so what do I know.... Keep it up chaps! HerbieNiall Ism 2017-08-23
History and humour, not just one person reading a dry essay. Brings the past alive in way that makes me awkwardly giggle on the bus. Keep up the great work.The r10mutchk's Podcast 2017-08-13
Have enjoyed your content for over four years now, all ways look forward to them. Keep up the good work and remember AedThe acm73's Podcast 2017-08-04
I Ali and Graham, love the show, now looking forwards to listening to all the special episodes. Thanks! LesThe caitlinehennessey's Podcast 2017-07-17
Thank you for the hours of entertainment! Keep up the good work!Caitlin
The zulihamilton's Podcast 2017-07-16
What a fantastic podcast.The kristenntibbitts's Podcast 2017-05-24
Thank you so much for you recommendation that I visit the National Portrait Gallery during my trip to London. I had a great afternoon there with all the wonderful portraits of royalty and other important historical figures. Keep up the excellent work! - Kristen Tibbitts, New YorkP.S. Matilda was robbed.