RuPaul’s Drag Race sashays into UK

RuPaul’s Drag Race

Online channel BBC3 in the UK has commissioned a local version of hit entertainment format RuPaul’s Drag Race.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK (8×60′) has been commissioned by outgoing BBC3 controller Damian Kavanagh and BBC Entertainment controller Kate Phillips.

Produced by World of Wonder and set to air in 2019, the series will see 10 contestants take part in weekly challenges and face-off against each other to stay in the competition.

Participants will compete in individual or team challenges that test a specific drag skill before taking on a main challenge and facing the panel of judges, which will include actor and singer Michelle Visage, who also appears in the original US version of the show.

The series has become a cult hit since originating on Logo in 2009 before moving on to VH1 in 2017. The RuPaul’s Drag Race franchise is available around the world through network partners and World of Wonder streaming service WOW Presents Plus.

The executive producers of the UK version are RuPaul Charles, Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, Sally Miles and Bruce McCoy, and the BBC commissioning editor is Ruby Kuraishe.

“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,” said RuPaul.

Phillips added: “I’ve been a huge fan of this funny, frank and fierce format for a long time. I also know there is a wealth of very talented and very competitive drag artists in the UK and I can’t wait for them to sashay onto the BBC.”

The UK version follows Drag Race Thailand, which began airing in February this year, while a Brazilian version is also reportedly in the works.