RuPaul's Drag Race UK is a British reality competition streaming television series based on the American television series of the same name. The television series is produced by World of Wonder for the BBC. The show premiered on the BBC's web streaming service BBC Three on 3 October 2019. The show is distributed internationally on the streaming service WOW Presents Plus. RuPaul's Drag Race UK documents RuPaul in his search for "UK's next drag superstar. RuPaul plays several roles on the show including host, mentor and head judge for the series, as the contestants are given different challenges to participate in each week. The show also employs panel of judges: RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton. In November 2019, RuPaul's Drag Race UK was renewed for a second series.
The first series released from 3 October 2019 to 21 November 2019 in the United Kingdom on the streaming service BBC Three. Internationally the programme was released on WOW Presents Plus. [1] [2] Baga Chipz, Blu Hydrangea, Cheryl Hole, Crystal, Divina de Campo, Gothy Kendoll, Scaredy Kat, Sum Ting Wong, Vinegar Strokes and The Vivienne were revealed as the Queens competing on 21 August 2019. [3] The first series introduces the concept of RuPaul's Drag Race UK where RuPaul searches for the "UK's next drag superstar." RuPaul plays several roles on the show including host, mentor and head judge for the series, as the contestants are given different challenges to participate in each week. The show also employs panel of judges: RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton. [4] Alongside the main judging panel, a celebrity guest judge joins them each week. For the first series, these included Andrew Garfield, Maisie Williams, Twiggy, Geri Halliwell, Jade Thirlwall, Cheryl and Michaela Coel.
The programme features no cash prizes or sponsorships, unlike the original American series, due to the fact the BBC is a publicly funded broadcaster. Instead the winners of the weekly challenge were awarded with a "Ru Peter Badge" which was partly inspired by British children's show Blue Peter that first aired on the BBC. [5] The winner of the competition received an all-expenses paid trip to Hollywood to star in her own digital series produced by World of Wonder. During the finale The Vivienne won the competition and was crowned the "UK's First Drag Superstar". [6]
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "The Royal Queens" | 3 October 2019 |
2 | 2 | "Downton Draggy" | 10 October 2019 |
3 | 3 | "Posh on a Penny" | 17 October 2019 |
4 | 4 | "Snatch Game" | 24 October 2019 |
5 | 5 | "Girl Groups Battle Royale" | 31 October 2019 |
6 | 6 | "Thirsty Werk" | 7 November 2019 |
7 | 7 | "Family That Drags Together" | 14 November 2019 |
8 | 8 | "Grand Finale" | 21 November 2019 |
The second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK was confirmed and casting was closed on 15 November 2019. [7] [8] Graham Norton and Alan Carr were confirmed to return as judges alongside RuPaul and Michelle Visage. [9] Carr revealed the second series "had double the applicants" compared to the first series. [10] Filming was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [11] However, filming for the second series resumed later that year in November 2020. [12] On 16 December 2020, Lawrence Chaney, Cherry Valentine, Tia Kofi, Bimini Bon-Boulash, Ginny Lemon, Ellie Diamond, Sister Sister, Tayce, Joe Black, Veronica Green, Asttina Mandella and A'Whora were all announced as the new queens competing. [13] The guest judges for the second series included Elizabeth Hurley, Sheridan Smith, Jourdan Dunn, Lorraine Kelly, MNEK, Jessie Ware, Maya Jama and Dawn French. [14] [15] During the finale, Lawrence Chaney won the competition and was crowned the "UK's Next Drag Superstar". [16]
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|
9 | 1 | "Royalty Returns" | 14 January 2021 |
10 | 2 | "Rats: The Rusical" | 21 January 2021 |
11 | 3 | "Who Wore It Best?" | 28 January 2021 |
12 | 4 | "Morning Glory" | 4 February 2021 |
13 | 5 | " The RuRuvision Song Contest " | 11 February 2021 |
14 | 6 | "Snatch Game" | 18 February 2021 |
15 | 7 | "Lockdown Supersheroes" | 25 February 2021 |
16 | 8 | "Stoned on the Runway" | 4 March 2021 |
17 | 9 | "BeastEnders" | 11 March 2021 |
18 | 10 | "Grand Finale" | 18 March 2021 |
The third series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK was confirmed and casting was closed in November 2020. [17] The series was filmed in Manchester. [18] The cast was officially announced on 18 August 2021 on social media, consisting of Veronica Green, Kitty Scott-Claus, River Medway, Scarlett Harlett, Vanity Milan, Ella Vaday, Choriza May, Victoria Scone, Elektra Fence, Anubis, Krystal Versace and Charity Kase. [19] Veronica Green was forced to withdraw from the second series after testing positive for COVID-19, however was given an open invitation to return to the competition for the third series by RuPaul. Victoria Scone is the franchise's first ever cisgender female contestant since its beginning in 2009. [20] Graham Norton and Alan Carr returned as judges alongside RuPaul and Michelle Visage. The guest judges for the third series included Matt Lucas, Oti Mabuse, Nicola Coughlan, Emma Bunton, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Lulu, Alesha Dixon, Russell Tovey and Kathy Burke. During the finale, Krystal Versace won the competition and was crowned the "UK's Next Drag Superstar".
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|
19 | 1 | "The Return of Royalty" | 23 September 2021 |
20 | 2 | "Dragoton" | 30 September 2021 |
21 | 3 | "Great Outdoors" | 7 October 2021 |
22 | 4 | "Big Drag Energy" | 14 October 2021 |
23 | 5 | "Draglexa" | 21 October 2021 |
24 | 6 | "Snatch Game" | 28 October 2021 |
25 | 7 | "The Miss Fugly Beauty Pageant" | 4 November 2021 |
26 | 8 | "Bra Wars" | 11 November 2021 |
27 | 9 | "The Pearly Gates Roast" | 18 November 2021 |
28 | 10 | "Grand Finale" | 25 November 2021 |
The fourth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK was confirmed on 27 October 2021, and casting was closed on 10 November. [21] The cast was officially announced on 7 September 2022, consisting of Danny Beard, Baby, Pixie Polite, Sminty Drop, Starlet, Jonbers Blonde, Black Peppa, Just May, Dakota Schiffer, Copper Topp, Le Fil and Cheddar Gorgeous. [22] Alan Carr and Graham Norton returned as judges alongside RuPaul and Michelle Visage. The guest judges for the fourth series included Dame Joanna Lumley, FKA Twigs, Leomie Anderson, Alison Hammond, Hannah Waddingham, Mel B, Boy George, Raven, Lorraine Pascale and Olly Alexander. [23] During the finale, Danny Beard won the competition and was crowned the "UK's Next Drag Superstar".
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|
29 | 1 | "ST4RT Your Engines" | 22 September 2022 |
30 | 2 | "Yass-tonbury Festival" | 29 September 2022 |
31 | 3 | "Naff-ta Awards" | 6 October 2022 |
32 | 4 | "Catty Man" | 13 October 2022 |
33 | 5 | "Lairy Poppins: The Rusical" | 20 October 2022 |
34 | 6 | " Strictly Come Snatch Game " | 27 October 2022 |
35 | 7 | "Queen Team Makeovers" | 3 November 2022 |
36 | 8 | "The Squirrel Games" | 10 November 2022 |
37 | 9 | "Comedy Queens" | 17 November 2022 |
38 | 10 | "Grand Finale" | 24 November 2022 |
The fifth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK was confirmed on 2 September 2022, before the fourth series of the show had begun airing. [24] [25] The cast was officially announced on 11 September 2023, consisting of Tomara Thomas, Banksie, Miss Naomi Carter, Michael Marouli, Kate Butch, Cara Melle, Ginger Johnson, DeDeLicious, Vicki Vivacious and Alexis Saint-Pete. An eleventh contestant, Crystal Lubrikant, was also reported to have been cast in the fifth series, however was disqualified at some point during the competition due to alleged misconduct. [26] Graham Norton and Alan Carr returned as judges alongside RuPaul and Michelle Visage. The guest judges for the fifth series included Kristen McMenamy, Yasmin Finney, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Suranne Jones, Cush Jumbo, Alexandra Burke, Joel Dommett, Daphne Guinness and Aisling Bea. [27] During the finale, Ginger Johnson won the competition and was crowned the "UK's Next Drag Superstar".
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|
39 | 1 | "Tickety-Boo" | 28 September 2023 |
40 | 2 | "Purrfect Looks" | 5 October 2023 |
41 | 3 | "Club Bangers" | 12 October 2023 |
42 | 4 | "DisasterClass" | 19 October 2023 |
43 | 5 | "Pant-Oh She Better Don't!: The Rusical" | 26 October 2023 |
44 | 6 | "Snatch Game" | 2 November 2023 |
45 | 7 | "Melodrama-Rama" | 9 November 2023 |
46 | 8 | "Hotline Makeover" | 16 November 2023 |
47 | 9 | "The Dragiators' Roast" | 23 November 2023 |
48 | 10 | "Grand Finale" | 30 November 2023 |
The sixth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK was confirmed on 22 September 2023, prior to the fifth series of the show had begun airing. The cast for the sixth series was officially announced on 3 September 2024, and consisted of Rileasa Slaves, Charra Tea, Zahirah Zapanta, Chanel O'Conor, Actavia, La Voix, Marmalade, Kyran Thrax, Saki Yew, Lill, Kiki Snatch, and Dita Garbo. [28] Alan Carr and Graham Norton once again returned as judges, alongside RuPaul and Michelle Visage. The guest judges for the sixth series included Alison Goldfrapp, Kristen McMenamy, who returned from the previous series, Simon Le Bon, Mabel, Claire Richards, Amanda Holden, Beverley Knight, AJ Odudu, and Siobhán McSweeney. [29] During the finale, Kyran Thrax won the competition and was crowned the "UK's Next Drag Superstar".
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|
49 | 1 | "Cabaret Talent Show" | 26 September 2024 |
50 | 2 | "Stitch & Strut" | 3 October 2024 |
51 | 3 | "Brit-flicks" | 10 October 2024 |
52 | 4 | "Ghoul Power" | 17 October 2024 |
53 | 5 | "Sofa Showdown" | 24 October 2024 |
54 | 6 | "Snatch Game" | 31 October 2024 |
55 | 7 | "Pop of the Tops - Live: The Rusical" | 7 November 2024 |
56 | 8 | "All in the Drag Family" | 14 November 2024 |
57 | 9 | "Send in the Clowns" | 21 November 2024 |
58 | 10 | "Grand Finale" | 28 November 2024 |
RuPaul Andre Charles is an American drag queen, television host, singer, producer, writer, and actor. He produces, hosts, and judges the reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race and has received several accolades, including 14 Primetime Emmy Awards, three GLAAD Media Awards, a Critics' Choice Television Award, two Billboard Music Awards, and a Tony Award. He has been dubbed the "Queen of Drag" and is considered the most commercially successful drag queen in the United States, with Fortune saying that he is "easily the world's most famous drag queen." In 2017, RuPaul was included in the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world.
Michelle Visage is an American singer, television personality, broadcaster, producer, and actress. She gained recognition as a member of the dance-pop group Seduction, who charted five singles on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1989 and 1990. She later served as lead vocalist of the R&B and dance group The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M., who reached the top of the dance charts with the single "It's Gonna Be a Lovely Day" in 1993.
RuPaul's Drag Race is an American reality competition television series, the first in the Drag Race franchise, produced by World of Wonder for Logo TV, WOW Presents Plus, VH1 and, beginning with the fifteenth season, MTV. The show documents RuPaul in the search for "America's next drag superstar". RuPaul plays the role of host, mentor, and head judge for this series, as contestants are given different challenges each week. Contestants are judged by a panel that includes RuPaul, Michelle Visage, one of three rotating judges, as well as one or more guest judges, who critique their progress throughout the competition. The title of the show is a play on drag queen and drag racing, and the title sequence and song "Drag Race" both have a drag-racing theme.
The eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race began airing on March 7, 2016. Returning judges include RuPaul and Michelle Visage, along with Ross Mathews and Carson Kressley, who shared judging responsibilities on an alternating basis. Twelve drag queens competed for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar". The prizes for the winner are a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics and a cash prize of $100,000. The full list of contestants was revealed during the NewNowNext Awards on February 1, 2016. The song "U Wear It Well" from RuPaul's album Butch Queen was featured in promotion for the show. On March 31, 2016, it was announced LogoTV renewed the show for a ninth season. It was the last season to solely be played on Logo, as the show moved to VH1 for its ninth season.
RuPaul's Drag Race UK is a British reality competition television series based on the American television series of the same name. The television series, a collaboration between the BBC and World of Wonder, premiered on 3 October 2019. The show is the fourth installment of the Drag Race franchise, and the second fronted by RuPaul. The show documents RuPaul and a panel of judges' search for "the United Kingdom's next drag superstar", the first series title dubbed "UK's First Drag Superstar". RuPaul plays several roles on the show including host, mentor and head judge for the series, as the contestants are given different challenges to participate in each week. The show also employs a panel of judges: RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Alan Carr, and Graham Norton.
Canada's Drag Race is a Canadian reality competition television series based on the American series RuPaul's Drag Race and is the Canadian edition of the Drag Race franchise, produced by Blue Ant Studios. In a similar format to the American version, the show features a crop of Canadian drag queens as they compete for a grand prize of $100,000 and the title of "Canada's Next Drag Superstar". The series airs on Crave in Canada, the United Kingdom's BBC Three, and worldwide on WOW Presents Plus.
Cheryl, formerly known as Cheryl Hole, is the stage name of Luke Underwood-Bleach, an English drag queen from Chelmsford in Essex who is known for being one of the first contestants on the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK (2019), as well as the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2022), and the second season of Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World (2024).
The first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK began airing on 3 October 2019 on the BBC Three section of BBC iPlayer and WOW Presents Plus's WOW Presents Plus streaming service. It ran for eight episodes.
Drag Race is a drag queen reality competition television franchise, created by American drag entertainer RuPaul with production company World of Wonder. The franchise originated with RuPaul's Drag Race, which premiered in the United States in 2009. The objective of that series is to crown "America's Next Drag Superstar" who possesses the traits of "charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent". The original series is often credited for bringing drag into the "mainstream". The popularity of the original series led to the creation of a media franchise including spin-offs and international adaptations.
The first season of Canada's Drag Race premiered on July 2, 2020. The cast was announced on May 14, 2020. The winner of the first season of Canada’s Drag Race was Priyanka, with Rita Baga and Scarlett BoBo as runners-up.
Drag Race Down Under is a reality competition television series based on the American television series of the same name produced by World of Wonder and Warner Bros. International Television Production New Zealand. The show documents Michelle Visage and a panel of judges' search for "Down Under's next drag superstar". Contestants of Drag Race Down Under are either from Australia or New Zealand. In series first three seasons, RuPaul played several roles on the show including host, mentor, and head judge for the series, with the contestants given different challenges to participate in each week. The show has also employed Michelle Visage and Rhys Nicholson as judges. The series premiered on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ OnDemand in New Zealand, Stan in Australia, and on WOW Presents Plus internationally on 1 May 2021. The series is also streaming on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom, and broadcast by both Crave and its associated streaming service in Canada.
"The RuRuvision Song Contest" is the fifth episode of the second series of the UK version of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on BBC Three, on 11 February 2021. This is the first episode filmed after the production of RuPaul's Drag Race UK was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, seven months after the previous episode. Veronica Green was forced to withdraw from the competition due to testing positive for COVID-19. As a result, the first three contestants eliminated, Joe Black, Cherry Valentine and Asttina Mandella, were brought back and the remaining contestants voted on whom they wanted to return to the competition. Joe Black was voted to return to the competition. Ginny Lemon was not included due to having eliminated themself from the competition.
The first season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under began airing on 1 May and concluded on 19 June 2021.
Queen of the Universe is a drag queen singing competition television series produced by World of Wonder. The series was hosted by Graham Norton with four pop music judges. The contestants competed for a cash prize of $250,000. The series premiered on Paramount+ on December 2, 2021. In February 2022, the series was renewed for a second season. On June 23, 2023, the series was canceled after two seasons, and was subsequently removed from Paramount+ on June 30, 2023. WOW Presents Plus agreed to make the show available for streaming on its platform.
The fourth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK began airing on BBC Three on 22 September 2022. RuPaul returned to his role as main host and head judge, and was again joined on the judging panel by Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton, all of whom returned for their respective fourth series. The series was filmed in Pinewood Studios in February 2022. The cast for the fourth series was revealed on 7 September 2022 on social media. The cast also featured Dakota Schiffer, the first out trans woman to compete in the British version of the show.
RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World is an international all-stars series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK and its franchise. The all-stars series premiered on 1 February 2022, through BBC Three and WOW Presents Plus. RuPaul acts as the host, head judge, and executive producer of the series.
The fifth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK began airing on BBC Three on 28 September 2023. RuPaul returned to his role as main host and head judge, and was again joined on the judging panel by Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton, all of whom returned for their respective fifth series. The series began filming in Pinewood Studios in January 2023. The cast for the fifth series was announced on 11 September 2023 on social media.
The sixth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK aired on BBC Three on 26 September 2024. RuPaul returned to his role as main host and head judge, and was again joined on the judging panel by Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton, all of whom returned for their respective sixth series. The series began filming in January 2024.
The first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World began airing on BBC Three on 1 February 2022. RuPaul assumed the role of main host and head judge, and was joined on the judging panel by Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton, all of whom are judges on RuPaul's Drag Race UK.
The second series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World began airing on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer on 9 February 2024. RuPaul returned to his role of main host and head judge, and again was joined on the judging panel by Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton, all of whom are judges on RuPaul's Drag Race UK.