RuPaul's Drag Race UK

RuPaul's Drag Race UK is a British reality competition web television series based on the American television series of the same name. The television series is produced by World of Wonder for the BBC and WOW Presents Plus. 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 "Great Britain's next drag superstar", series 1 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 panel of judges: RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton.[1] The series, a collaboration between the BBC and World of Wonder, premiered on 3 October 2019.[2][3] In November 2019, RuPaul's Drag Race UK was renewed for a second series.[4][5] To date there has been one winner of the show: The Vivienne.

RuPaul's Drag Race UK
GenreReality competition
Based onRuPaul's Drag Race
Judges
Theme music composerRuPaul
Opening theme"RuPaul's Drag Race" theme
Ending theme"Rock It (To the Moon)"
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original language(s)English
No. of series1
No. of episodes8 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Bruce McCoy
  • Sally Sanders
  • RuPaul Charles
  • Fenton Bailey
  • Randy Barbato
  • Tom Campbell
Producer(s)Michelle Visage
Production location(s)3 Mills Studios
Camera setupMultiple
Running time60 minutes
Production company(s)World of Wonder
DistributorWorld of Wonder
Release
Original networkBBC Three (online) via iPlayer (UK)
WOW Presents Plus (International)
Picture formatHDTV 1080i
First shown inUnited Kingdom
Original release3 October 2019 (2019-10-03) –
present

The show was renewed for a second season in 2019, however filming was indefinitely suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] After the first series aired, the show received numerous award nominations from the twenty-fifth National Television Awards including: "The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award" and "Best TV Judge" with both Visage and RuPaul receiving a nomination.[7]

History

It originated in the United States, where it was devised as a replacement for Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World (2007–2009), and has been adapted in various countries. The show's aim to find the next "Drag Superstar", which the winner should occupy the traits of "charisma", "uniqueness", "nerve" and "talent". RuPaul has stated that the show looks for an entertainer who can stand out from the rest.[8] In 2014, it was speculated that Jonathan Ross was in talks to host a UK version of Drag Race. Where he had stated that he was working on the version with UK drag queen, Jodie Harsh, along with Katie Price as one of the judges. However, production took a halt in April 2014, due to Ross having to work on family issues. A year later in 2015, Ross and Price assisted RuPaul in a one-off search of the "UK Drag Race Ambassador", which series one winner, The Vivienne won in 2015.[9] The Vivienne won a trip to the set of the American version of the show.[9] Production of the show continued, however again came to a stand still because TV show producers didn't think anyone would watch it. During Michelle Visage's time on Celebrity Big Brother, she said; "I tell you what, I could cast RuPaul's Drag Race the British invasion or the UK version in five minutes because there's so much talent over there. It's so different, the Liverpool queens, to the Blackpool queens, to the Mancunian queens, to the London queens. I'm not going to stop until [RuPaul's Drag Race UK] gets made. Trust me." Channel 5 expressed interest in broadcasting the show in 2018. However, in June 2018, the producers of the American version hinted that a British version of the show was in the works.[9] Fenton Bailey then confirmed that he, Randy Barbato and RuPaul had a meeting with the BBC and that “something is coming, be afraid – be very afraid. Nothing’s impossible.”[9][10] Michelle Visage said about her driving force to get a UK version made: "Let me tell you I'm a big driving force behind it happening because I came over here like six or seven years ago and started performing in the gay bars. And I saw the love and the passion for Drag Race and that's the reason I did Celebrity Big Brother five years ago, was to bring attention to it. I knew that the LGBTQIA+ community in the UK needed their own version. These kids craved it, they deserved it. So I fought really hard for this British version to happen. It took five years, but it ended up where it belonged at the BBC of all places. And it was a huge hit because there's so much heart and so much love in the UK for the art of drag."[11]

Format
Current main judges
RuPaul
Michelle Visage
Alan Carr
Graham Norton

Like the American version, RuPaul has several roles within the show including: host, coach and judge. During his role as host, RuPaul introduced celebrity guests, announce what week challenges the queens will take part in and reveal who will be leaving the competition. During his role as a coach, RuPaul offered guidance to the contestants through each challenge, as his role as judge will critique the queens on their overall performance of the challenge. The show uses progressive elimination to reduce the number of drag queens in the competition from the initial field of ten contestants (series 1), down until the final three, who will compete in the final challenge, and the final two lip-syncing for the crown. Each episode follows a format consisting of a mini challenge, a main challenge, a runway walk (where the contestants model fashion on a runway, usually with a theme based on the main challenge), the judging panel, a lip sync battle, and the elimination of a contestant.

Mini challenges

In mini challenges, each contestant is asked to perform a different task with varying requirements and time limitations. Certain mini challenges are repeated from season to season, or repeated from the original American season. For instance, the first mini challenge is a photo shoot with a photographer or RuPaul himself, that includes a special twist (such as being doused with water while in full drag, having a high-powered fan turned on during the shoot, or being photographed while jumping on a trampoline), in the UK version, the queens had to do something with their own heads via Green Screen . Another recurring mini challenge is dedicated to "reading," a drag term for making insulting observations about one's peers for comedic effect. The winner of a mini challenge is sometimes rewarded with an advantage in the main challenge. Though most episodes have a mini challenge, select episodes do not.

Maxi challenges and runways

The requirements of the maxi challenge vary across each episode, and can be individual or group challenges. The winner of the maxi challenge also receives a special prize for their win, for example, a "RuPeter Badge" a spoof of the CBBC's famous Blue Peter badge, which would be received for doing something well. The final maxi challenge consisted of the queens taken part in an all singing and all dancing routine to one of RuPaul's songs.

The goal of each maxi challenge involves a new theme and outcome. Contestants are often asked to design and construct a custom outfit, sometimes incorporating unconventional materials. Other challenges focus on the contestants' ability to present themselves on camera, perform with music, or perform humorously. Some challenges became a tradition across seasons, such as the "Snatch Game" (in which the contestants impersonate celebrities in a humorous recreation of Match Game) (The Vivienne portraying Donald Trump and Baga Chipz portraying Margaret Thatcher in series one, a ball or a makeover, in which the contestants create drag personas for other people. The contestants walk down a runway presenting outfits. If the maxi challenge involves the creation of an outfit, that outfit is presented to the judges in the runway. Otherwise, a theme is assigned and the contestants must put together a look that fits the theme, which is presented to the judges. The runway looks and presentation are judged along with the maxi challenge performance.

Judging panel

A panel of judges cast opinions about the challenge performances and runway looks, first to the contestants onstage, and then again with them offstage.

Judges on RuPaul's Drag Race UK
Judge Series
1 2
RuPaul Main
Michelle Visage Main
Alan Carr[12] Main
Graham Norton Main

RuPaul acted as both the host and main judge,[13] with Michelle Visage,[14] Graham Norton and Alan Carr as supporting judges.[15] Guest judges in Series 1 included Maisie Williams,[16] Geri Halliwell, Jade Thirlwall,[17] Andrew Garfield, Michaela Coel,[18] Cheryl, and Twiggy.[19] MNEK and AJ & Curtis Pritchard served as guest vocalists and choreographers to the contestants during themed tasks.

International broadcasts

The first series was broadcast on the Logo TV network in the USA, on Vitaya in Belgium, on DR TV in Denmark and on Yes Drama in Israel.

Series overview
Series Premiere Date Finale Date Winner Runner(s)-up Winner's Prizes
1 3 October 2019 21 November 2019 The Vivienne Divina de Campo
  • A crown and sceptre
  • Star in their own digital series produced by the creators of RuPaul's Drag Race

Series 1 (2019)
Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 1)

The first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK began airing on 3 October 2019 on the BBC Three section of BBC iPlayer in the UK and World of Wonder's WOW Presents Plus streaming service internationally. The cast was announced on 21 August on YouTube and Instagram. Baga Chipz, Divina de Campo and The Vivienne made the final, with The Vivienne ending the series crowned the UK’s First Drag Superstar and will head to Hollywood to star in their own digital TV series.

Series 2
Main article: RuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 2)

The second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK was confirmed and casting was closed on 15 November 2019.[20] Filming was indefinitely suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[21] In June 2020, Visage confirmed that the show would return once government guidelines were lifted.[11] Visage said: "It's gonna happen but we just can't do it in quarantine. So once the guidelines are lifted then we'll have more information but we are excited to get underway."[11]

References
  1. Abbott, Kate (14 February 2019). "'They better werk!' Graham Norton and Alan Carr join RuPaul's Drag Race UK". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  2. "Michelle Visage is our ninth celebrity for Strictly 2019!". BBC. 5 August 2019.
  3. "'RuPaul's Drag Race' launching U.K. version with RuPaul, Michelle Visage reportedly returning". EW.com. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  4. Earp, Catherine (7 November 2019). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK gets a second series on BBC Three". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  5. "Shantay, you stay! Ru Paul's Drag Race UK renewed for second series". Radio Times. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  6. Harp, Justin (18 March 2020). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 2 halts filming due to coronavirus pandemic". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  7. "NTA nominations 2020: the full shortlist of National Television Awards nominees, and how to vote for the NTAs". i. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  8. Hughes, Scarlett (16 May 2019). ""RuPaul's Drag Race"!". Radio Times. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  9. "RuPaul's Drag Race producers hint at a British version". Huffington post. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  10. "RuPaul's Drag Race UK in talks with the BBC". BBC. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  11. Watson, Fay (4 June 2020). "Michelle Visage confirms Drag Race UK will be back as soon as possible". Express. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  12. "Alan Carr – RuPaul's Drag Race UK and Bullseye revival". Radio Times Youtube channel. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  13. "Start your engines, RuPaul's Drag Race UK is coming to BBC Three". BBC. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  14. "Michelle Visage confirmed as judge for RuPaul's Drag Race UK". BBC. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  15. "Graham Norton and Alan Carr confirmed as celebrity judges for RuPaul's Drag Race UK – series to air on BBC Three in 2019". BBC. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  16. "'Dame of Thrones: Maisie Williams confirmed as a guest judge for RuPaul's Drag Race UK". BBC. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  17. "Geri Horner and Jade Thirlwall join BBC Three's RuPaul's Drag Race UK as extra special guest judges". BBC. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  18. "And, The Category is: British Acting Royalty! Andrew Garfield and Michaela Coel are totally gagged to be joining the celebrity guest judge line-up for RuPaul's Drag Race UK". BBC. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  19. "And the category is: Pop Culture Icon eleganza! Cheryl & Twiggy ru-vealed as extra special celebrity guest judges on BBC Three's RuPaul's Drag Race UK". BBC. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  20. Ashurst, Sam (2 December 2019). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 2 audition, casting air date, trailer and everything you need to know". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  21. Harp, Justin (18 March 2020). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 2 halts filming due to coronavirus pandemic". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
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