RuPaul’s Drag Race is coming to the UK – here’s all we know about the first ever British series so far!
Confirmed to air in 2019 on BBC’s online channel BBC Three, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is set to start soon.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK judges
Like the original US seasons, RuPaul herself will decide who is crowned the UK’s Next Drag Superstar, with fan favourite Michelle Visage by her side as a permanent judge.
Drag Race superfans Alan Carr and Graham Norton have signed up as the resident rotating judges, alternating on a weekly basis alongside various guest judges.
Confirmed guest judges include British acting royalty Andrew Garfield and Michaela Coel.
Joining them across the episodes will be Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall and Spice Girls icon Geri Horner.
Also officially confirmed as a guest judge are Game Of Thrones actress Maisie Williams, Girls Aloud’s Cheryl and model Twiggy.
Meanwhile, dance brothers AJ and Curtis and singer-songwriter MNEK will join the first ever UK series, applying their considerable talent and experience to help coach the queens through some testing challenges.
And Lorraine Kelly and Stacey Dooley will join RuPaul for the iconic maxi-challenge Snatch Game.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK air date
An exact release date for the series has now been confirmed! Drag Race UK will start on Thursday, October 3 at 8PM.
Episodes will be available to watch online via BBC Three.
Meanwhile, all series of the US show are now available on Netflix UK.
The eleventh series was added to the streaming platform on March 1, 2019.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK queens and format
The Queens on Drag Race UK were confirmed earlier this year.
They are Baga Chipz, Blu Hydrangea, Crystal, Cheryl Hole, Divina De Campo, Gothy Kendoll, Sum Ting Wong, Scaredy Kat, The Vivienne, Vinegar Strokes.
The premiere British series will follow the same format as its American counterpart. Contestants will compete in individual or team challenges that test a specific drag queen skill before taking on the Maxi Challenge, the headline moment of each show.
There they may be required to perform, model in a photo shoot, prepare a runway look for a themed challenge before having to face the judges, with one contestant each week eliminated and asked to “Sashay Away”.
RuPaul said of the new UK version: “It is a dream come true to extend our royal family to the United Kingdom with our partners at BBC Three. I am beyond excited to celebrate the massive charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent of the Queen’s queens.
“And before anyone asks, yes, we would be thrilled to have Meghan Markle join us, as we are already preparing a ‘Royal-Mother-To-Be’ runway challenge.”
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