Pop of the Tops - Live: The Rusical

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"Pop of the Tops - Live: The Rusical"
RuPaul's Drag Race UK episode
Episode no.Series 6
Episode 7
Directed byTony Grech-Smith
Written byNiki Xenophontos
Original air date7 November 2024 (2024-11-07)
Guest appearance
Beverley Knight
Episode chronology
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RuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 6)
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"Pop of the Tops - Live: The Rusical" is the seventh episode of the sixth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK , which first aired on 7 November 2024. [1] [2] The episode's main challenge requires contestants to impersonate a "queen of pop", perform choreography, and sing live in a Rusical called "Pop of the Tops". Beverley Knight is a guest judge, joining host RuPaul and regular judges Michelle Visage and Graham Norton on the panel. La Voix is declared the winner of the challenge. Actavia is eliminated from the competition, after placing in the bottom two and losing a lip-sync contest against Lill to "Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show .

Contents

Episode

Beverley Knight (pictured in 2015) is a guest judge. Beverley Knight at the WhatsOnStage Awards 2015.jpg
Beverley Knight (pictured in 2015) is a guest judge.

In the Werk Room, RuPaul reveals the main challenge, which tasks contestants with singing live and performing choreography in a Rusical inspired by "queens of pop" called Pop of the Tops. As winners of the previous main challenge, Kyran Thrax and La Voix are given the responsibility of assigning the roles. Following are the contestants and characters:

On the main stage, the contestants work with Michelle Visage, a vocal coach, and a choreographer. Back in the Werk Room, the contestants prepare for the musical and runway show. Actavia and Charra Tea discuss Kyran Thrax's confidence.

On the main stage, RuPaul welcomes fellow judges Visage and Graham Norton, as well as guest judge Beverley Knight, and shares the main challenge and runway category: "Night of a Thousand Princess Dianas". After the Rusical and fashion show, the judges deliver their critiques to the contestants. The contestants leave the stage, and the judges deliberate. In the Werk Room, Actavia and Charra Tea share about their prior discussion about Kyran Thrax. Back on the main stage, RuPaul names La Voix the winner of the main challenge. Kyran Thrax, Rileasa Slaves, and Charra Tea are deemed safe. Actavia and Lill place in the bottom two and face off in a lip-sync contest to "Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show . Lill wins the lip-sync and Actavia is eliminated from the competition. [3] [4] [5]

Production

The episode originally aired on 7 November 2024. Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, and Tom Campbell are executive producers. [6]

In an interview with Gay Times , Lill said some of the contestants kept their outfits from the Rusical. She said, "I didn't really like mine, so I didn't keep it." She said she kept the shoes, until one later broke after she got a heel stuck in a hole. She told Gay Times, "Cilla's not coming back anytime soon, I don't think. Not that Cilla, anyway." [7]

Fashion

The runway show has contestants wear fashion inspired by Diana, Princess of Wales (pictured in 1997) Diana, Princess of Wales 1997 (2).jpg
The runway show has contestants wear fashion inspired by Diana, Princess of Wales (pictured in 1997)

For the runway, contestants wear fashion inspired by Diana, Princess of Wales. Lill wears a white wedding dress, which she tears off to reveal a black dress. Rileasa Slaves wears and black and gold outfit. Charra Tea and Actavia wear a dark purple and green dresses, respectively. Kyran Thrax wears an oversized parka and a blue dress underneath. Marmalade wears a black and white polka dot dress and matching hat. The outfit has a pencil skirt and a cape. La Voix wears a raincoat, inspired by Diana on a log flume, which is torn off to show a tennis outfit underneath as she carries a pink racket.

Reception

Jordan Robledo of Gay Times wrote, "The cast of Drag Race UK season six has delivered one of the best Rusicals in Drag Race history, and fans (including us) can’t get enough... Since the episode’s release, fans have flocked to social media to share their reactions to the Rusical and the queens’ dynamic performances." [8] Michael Cook of Werrk.com wrote, "in the stratosphere of Drag Race franchises, I think we would be hard pressed to find another lip sync showcasing battling Princess Diana's and the Rocky Horror Picture Show anthem 'Time Warp'! Talk about legendary!" [9] In 2025, Barry Levitt Vulture ranked Pop of the Tops as the fifteenth best Rusical to date. [10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wratten, Marcus (2024-11-08). "Drag Race UK S6 Rusical dubbed one of the best ever: 'Another amazing episode'". PinkNews . Archived from the original on 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  2. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK: "Pop Of The Tops" (S06 E07) -". Werrrk.com. 2024-11-13. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  3. ↑ Fox, Dale (2024-11-08). "Actavia on Drag Race UK elimination following show's top-rated episode: 'I'm so sorry, Geri!'". Attitude. Archived from the original on 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  4. ↑ Duncan, Charlie (2024-11-08). "Eliminated Drag Race UK star reveals truth behind Untucked fight with Kyran Thrax". PinkNews. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  5. ↑ Damshenas, Sam (2024-11-08). "Drag Race UK star Actavia on "tricky" final episode and why she started drama with Kyran Thrax". Gay Times. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  6. ↑ "BBC Three - RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Series 6, Episode 7". BBC. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  7. ↑ Damshenas, Sam (2024-11-25). "Drag Race UK star Lill talks "surprising" fan response". Gay Times. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  8. ↑ Robledo, Jordan (2024-11-10). ""Are you serious?": Here's how Drag Race UK fans reacted to Pop of the Tops: The Rusical". Gay Times . Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  9. ↑ "Actavia Dishes "Drag Race UK", That Iconic Lip Sync & Her Dream Advertising Campaign! -". Werrrk.com. 2024-11-22. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  10. ↑ Levitt, Barry (2025-02-21). "Every Drag Race Rusical, Ranked". Vulture. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
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