Start your engines, British drag queens – RuPaul’s Drag Race is finally getting a UK edition. Confirmed by BBC Three, the channel set to air the wildly popular drag queen talent contest, the show will include a roster of UK-based queens.
“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,” show host and iconic queen RuPaul said in a statement.
Rumours of a UK version have been abound for years. Back in 2014, TV host Jonathan Ross claimed to be working on a British edition with English drag queen Jodie Harsh.
Michelle Visage has also confirmed she will be a judge on the show via Twitter.
Earlier this year, RuPaul was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, presented by Jane Fonda. A daytime talk show is also said to be in the works – which will feature celeb interviews, beauty tips, and pop culture features – picking up from his show from the 90s. Hulu is also reportedly working on a dramatized series of his life.
Other queens from Ru’s show have fared well in television spin-offs and branch outs this year – tongue-popping, one-liner legend Alyssa Edwards starred in her own Dance Moms-esque Netflix series Dancing Queen, while animated superhero series Super Drags stars Drag Race alum Trixie Mattel, Shangela, Willam and Ginger Minj.
A Christmas special of the original Drag Race airs later this month, starring previous contestants Latrice Royale, Sonique, Eureka, Trixie Mattel, Shangela, Jasmine Masters, Mayhem Miller and Kim Chi.
The UK is awash with drag talent, from the London-based Sink the Pink party to Manchester’s glittering drag scene (Cheddar Gorgeous, Anna Phylactic, Grace Oni Smith, Liquorice Black and Violet Blonde to name a few) and captivating drag art looks in Belfast via Blu Hydrangea.
There’s no official release date for the UK version just yet, but BBC Three say it will be some time next year.