RuPaul's Drag Race UK is leaving the BBC after 11 series and moving to streaming platform WOW Presents Plus as the broadcaster faces financial cuts.
The hit reality competition series first premiered on the network in 2019, showcasing British drag performers and LGBTQ+ culture across eleven seasons. However, severe financial constraints have forced executives to drop the popular program from the channel schedule.
A BBC spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the broadcaster had to make very difficult choices while navigating significant financial pressures and delivering required savings. The spokesperson confirmed that none of the decisions had been taken lightly.
The spokesperson said: "We can therefore confirm together with World of Wonder, that RuPaul's Drag Race UK will be leaving the BBC and moving to WOW Presents Plus." The corporation added that it was incredibly proud of all eleven series of the groundbreaking show and thanked RuPaul, World of Wonder, and everyone involved on and off screen.
Viewers can still watch the eighth series of the competition, which is currently airing on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three. The BBC operates as the UK's national public broadcaster, while BBC Three is its television channel targeted at younger audiences.
Streaming move and breakout alumni
World of Wonder, the American production company founded by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, produces the global Drag Race franchise created by host RuPaul Charles. Its subscription service, WOW Presents Plus, operates as a global streaming platform hosting various international editions of the format.
Since its UK premiere, the show has launched the mainstream careers of numerous drag performers who went on to land high-profile television appearances. Performer La Voix starred on last year's series of Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC's flagship Saturday night celebrity ballroom dance competition.
Fellow contestant Danny Beard later appeared on the reality television show Big Brother, while Tayce featured in last year's Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special. Drag queen Ginger Johnson achieved further broadcasting success by winning Celebrity MasterChef, the network's long-running culinary contest.
Tragic loss of inaugural winner
Despite its television success, the franchise experienced tragedy following the death of inaugural UK winner The Vivienne at age 32. The drag star, whose real name was James Lee Williams, won the show's first British series in 2019 and became one of the country's most prominent drag figures.
Williams was found dead in the bathroom of their home. Investigators discovered five empty snap bags of ketamine in the house after the entertainer recently relapsed following years of sobriety. Ketamine is a medical anesthetic that is also classified as a class B controlled substance in the United Kingdom.
Paying tribute to the star, RuPaul shared a throwback photograph of himself in drag alongside Williams out of drag. Expressing his grief online, RuPaul wrote: "With a broken heart, I join the entire Drag Race universe in mourning the loss of The Vivienne, an incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being."
Tributes paid at DragCon UK
One week after the death of Williams, RuPaul addressed fans during an appearance at DragCon UK, an annual drag convention held at the ExCeL London exhibition centre in East London. Addressing the audience, RuPaul said: "We are here to celebrate life and celebrate love and to spread it around. We want to focus on love."
RuPaul told attendees: "We are going to remember our dear The Vivienne with love and life, because that's what she was all about and she would love for you to live your lives and to be free and to have a lot of fun and spread it around."
Organisers set up a memorial wall and memorial books at the venue, where thousands of fans expected to attend the event over the weekend gathered to honor the late entertainer who won the 2019 UK series.
Heartfelt messages left on the memorial wall paid tribute to the late performer. One message read: "The UK winner's circle has lost its crown jewel! I love you and will never forget you." Another stated: "Thank you for sharing your love and light with us" we will miss you".
Further messages written by fans read: "You made such a big impact in many people's lives, rest in peace" and "Thanks Viv for sharing your smile talent and light".
