Queens for the Night

Last updated

Queens for the Night
Queens for the Night.jpg
Genre Reality competition
Creative directorMark Jennings
Presented by Lorraine Kelly
Judges
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerKaren Smith
ProducerRory Dalziel
Production company Tuesday's Child
Original release
Network ITV
Release5 November 2022 (2022-11-05)

Queens for the Night is a British reality television competition that sees a group of celebrities become drag queens. It aired on 5 November 2022 on ITV. [1] It was presented by Lorraine Kelly with Courtney Act, Rob Beckett, Melanie C and Layton Williams serving as judges. [2] [3] The competition was won by Coronation Street actor Simon Gregson as his drag alter-ego "Bidet Bardot", who performed a comedy performance mentored by Myra DuBois. [4]

Contents

Format

The one-off television special features six celebrities paired with their very own drag mentor as they unleash their drag alter-egos and attempt to master the art of drag. Each celebrity drag queen undergoes a transformation before enacting either singing, dancing, lip syncing, impressions or comedy in front of a panel of judges and a live studio audience with one celebrity being crowned the winner. [5] [6] The format has been compared to the American reality series RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race . [2] [7]

Production

In February 2022, Ant & Dec performed in drag during the "End of the Show Show" segment on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway , and it was later reported in May that the positive reaction to the performance and the success of RuPaul's Drag Race UK on BBC Three had been a factor in ITV commissioning Queens for the Night, a one-off reality television competition that sees celebrities undergoing drag transformations. [8] [9] [10] The show was officially announced by ITV in June 2022, and is created and produced by the company Tuesday's Child. Following the commissioning of the show, head of ITV entertainment Katie Rawcliffe said "[The show would] have all the wow factor you would expect from this wonderful celebration of drag, and the perfect way to showcase everything that makes drag performance such a sensation." [2] [11]

Celebrities

The celebrities competing in the series and their drag mentors were announced on 7 June 2022. [2] [12] [13]

Contestants of Queens for the Night and their mentors
Drag NameCelebrityOccupationMentorOutcome
Bidet Bardot Simon Gregson Coronation Street actor Myra DuBois Winner
Proteina Turner Mr Motivator Fitness instructor Asttina Mandella Runner-up
Orla Feelz Chris Hughes Television personality & modelMargo MarshallThird place
Dame Shelley Sassy George Shelley Union J singer La Voix Eliminated
Madame MiMi D'YooYoo Adam Woodyatt EastEnders actor Kitty Scott-Claus
Trixie Turnover Joe Marler Rugby player Blu Hydrangea

Performances

Contestants' performances on Queens for the Night [14]
OrderDrag NameCelebrityMentorCategoryResult
1Bidet BardotSimon GregsonMyra DuBoisComedyWinner
2Dame Shelley SassyGeorge ShelleyLa VoixSingingEliminated
3Proteina TurnerMr MotivatorAsttina MandellaLip syncingRunner-up
4Trixie TurnoverJoe MarlerBlu HydrangeaMagicEliminated
5Orla FeelzChris HughesMargo MarshallDanceThird place
6Madame MiMi D'YooYooAdam WoodyattKitty Scott-ClausImpressionsEliminated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ant & Dec</span> British television presenting duo

Ant & Dec are a British television presenting duo consisting of Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly from Newcastle upon Tyne. After meeting as child actors on CBBC's drama Byker Grove, they performed together as pop musicians PJ & Duncan, the names of their characters from the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courtney Act</span> Australian drag performer and recording artist (born 1982)

Shane Gilberto Jenek, better known under the stage name Courtney Act, is an Australian drag queen, singer and television personality. Courtney first came to prominence competing on the first season of Australian Idol in 2003. After the show, she signed to BMG Australia, and she released her debut single, "Rub Me Wrong", which peaked at No. 29 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified Gold. While auditioning for Australian Idol, she became the first LGBTQ contestant to openly appear on a reality TV talent show. In 2014, Courtney was one of the runners-up in season six of RuPaul's Drag Race. Courtney is a member of the drag girl-group, The AAA Girls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashley Roberts</span> American television presenter (born 1981)

Ashley Allyn Roberts is an American singer, dancer, and media personality. She is a former member of the pop group The Pussycat Dolls, who sold over 55 million records worldwide, becoming one of the world's best-selling female groups of all time. Roberts also had a brief career as a solo singer when she released the album Butterfly Effect (2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Mulhern</span> English entertainer (born 1977)

Stephen Daniel Mulhern is an English television presenter, magician and comedian. He began his career at CITV presenting the children’s television shows Finger Tips (2001–2004) and Tricky TV (2005–2010). Mulhern went on to present various television shows for ITV, including Britain's Got More Talent (2007–2019), Animals Do the Funniest Things (2007–2011), This Morning's Hub (2011–2014), Catchphrase (2013–present), Big Star's Little Star (2013–2018), In for a Penny (2019–2024), Rolling In It (2020–2021), Deal or No Deal (2023–present) and Dancing on Ice (2024–present).

<i>Ant & Decs Saturday Night Takeaway</i> British television variety show

Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway is a British television variety show, presented by Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, which was broadcast on ITV from 8 June 2002 to 21 March 2009, and again after a 4-year hiatus from 23 February 2013 to 13 April 2024, after which the show went on another indefinite hiatus.

<i>RuPauls Drag Race UK</i> British reality competition television series

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baga Chipz</span> English drag queen

Leo Loren, better known by the stage name Baga Chipz, is an English drag queen known for competing on the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK (2019) and later the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2022). Baga Chipz also appeared in the fifth series of the Channel 4 school drama series Ackley Bridge (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blu Hydrangea</span> Northern Irish drag queen

Blu Hydrangea is the stage name of Joshua Cargill, a Northern Irish drag queen from Belfast who is known for competing on the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2019 and later winning the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Vivienne</span> British drag queen

James Lee Williams, better known by the stage name The Vivienne, is a drag queen, known for being appointed the first UK RuPaul's Drag Race ambassador in 2015, winning the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2019, and later returning to compete in the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2022. As part of her victory, she was awarded her own online television series, later titled The Vivienne Takes on Hollywood. The series premiered on 9 April 2020 on BBC Three and follows her trip to Hollywood to produce her own music video.

<i>God Shave the Queens</i> British documentary series

God Shave the Queens is a documentary streaming television series about the tour following each series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. The show originally premiered internationally on 10 September 2020 on WOW Presents Plus internationally, and BBC iPlayer on 15 November 2020 in the United Kingdom.

Aston Joshua, better known by the stage name Asttina Mandella, is a British drag queen and dancer from East London. She is best known for competing on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, where she came eleventh on the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherry Valentine</span> British drag performer (1993–2022)

George Ward, better known by the stage name Cherry Valentine, was an English drag queen and mental health nurse who competed in the second series of the television show RuPaul's Drag Race UK. Raised in a Romanichal community, Ward has been credited as the first contestant on the Drag Race franchise to acknowledge his Romani heritage. In 2022, he addressed his background in the BBC documentary film Cherry Valentine: Gypsy Queen and Proud, and in an episode of the documentary series God Shave the Queens. Following Ward's suicide in 2022, a memorial concert and fundraiser was held at London's Clapham Grand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawrence Chaney</span> Scottish drag performer (born 1996)

Lawrence Chaney is a Scottish Glasgow-based drag queen. They are best known for winning the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, becoming the first Scottish drag queen and the second Plus Size contestant to win across the franchise. Their role on the series later earned them the 2021 BAFTA Scotland Audience Award. As part of their Drag Race victory, Chaney was awarded their own online television series, later titled Tartan Around, which premiered in 2022.

"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.

I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! returned for its twenty-first series on 21 November 2021 on ITV. As with series 20, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the series was filmed at Gwrych Castle in Abergele, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitty Scott-Claus</span> British drag performer

Louis Westwood, better known by his stage name Kitty Scott-Claus, is a British drag performer most known for competing on the third series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. She is currently competing on RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krystal Versace</span> British drag queen

Luke Fenn, professionally known as Krystal Versace, is an English drag queen best known for winning the third series of the reality show RuPaul's Drag Race UK. Crowned at the age of 19, Krystal is the youngest ever Drag Race winner. She is from Tunbridge Wells in Kent and has Greek Cypriot heritage via her maternal grandmother, being the first descendant of Cypriots to compete in the franchise.

Myra DuBois is a stage persona portrayed by Gareth Joyner, a stand-up comedian and drag performer from Rotherham based in London.

I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! returned for its twenty-second series on 6 November 2022 on ITV. The series returned to Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia, for the first time since 2019, following the easing of travel restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Ant & Dec returned to present the series.

References

  1. ↑ "New ITV show Queens For The Night will see celebs become drag queens". TellyMix. 24 October 2022. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Queens for the Night". ITV Press Centre . 7 June 2022. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  3. ↑ "Mel C, Courtney Act, & Rob Beckett Will Be Judges On ITV's New Drag Show". Bustle . 11 October 2022. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  4. ↑ "ITV viewers make same demand after watching Queens For The Night". Liverpool Echo . 5 November 2022. Archived from the original on 5 November 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  5. ↑ "Blu Hydrangea, La Voix, Asttina Mandella and more land ITV special Queens For The Night". Attitude . 24 October 2022. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  6. ↑ "Simon Gregson and Adam Woodyatt to undergo ultimate drag transformations as they sign up for new ITV show". Evening Standard . 7 June 2022. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "'Queens For The Night': ITV Studios Bags Production & Distribution Rights To ITV Celebrity Drag Contest Format". Deadline Hollywood . 11 October 2022. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  8. ↑ "Ant and Dec in drag: 'This will change LGBTQ+ children's lives'". BBC News . 22 February 2022. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  9. ↑ "Ant and Dec "moved" by reaction to Saturday Night Takeaway drag performance". Radio Times . 8 May 2022. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  10. ↑ "Queens for the Night: ITV 'to announce new celebrity drag Queen competition'". TV Zone UK. 2 May 2022. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  11. ↑ "Coronation Street and Love Island stars team up with Drag Race icons in new ITV show". Digital Spy . 7 June 2022. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  12. ↑ "Simon Gregson and Mr Motivator become drag queens for one-off ITV special". Radio Times . 7 June 2022. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  13. ↑ "Drag Race UK stars Blu Hydrangea and Asttina Mandella join ITV special Queens For The Night". Gay Times . 8 June 2022. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  14. ↑ "Queens for the Night on ITV Hub". ITV Hub . 5 November 2022. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.