List of RuPaul's Drag Race UK episodes
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RuPaul's Drag Race UK is a British reality competition streaming television series based on the American television series of the same name. The television series is produced by World of Wonder for the BBC. The show premiered on the BBC's web streaming service BBC Three on 3 October 2019. The show is distributed internationally on the streaming service WOW Presents Plus. RuPaul's Drag Race UK documents RuPaul in his search for "UK's next 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. In November 2019, RuPaul's Drag Race UK was renewed for a second series.
Series overview[edit]
| Series | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 8 | 3 October 2019 | 21 November 2019 | |
| 2 | 10 | 14 January 2021 | 18 March 2021 | |
| 3 | 10 | 23 September 2021 | 25 November 2021 | |
| 4 | 10 | 22 September 2022 | 24 November 2022 | |
| 5 | 10 | 28 September 2023 | 30 November 2023 | |
Episodes[edit]
Series 1 (2019)[edit]
The first series released from 3 October 2019 to 21 November 2019 in the United Kingdom on the streaming service BBC Three. Internationally the programme was released on WOW Presents Plus.[1][2] Baga Chipz, Blu Hydrangea, Cheryl Hole, Crystal, Divina de Campo, Gothy Kendoll, Scaredy Kat, Sum Ting Wong, Vinegar Strokes and The Vivienne were revealed as the Queens competing on 21 August 2019.[3] The first series introduces the concept of RuPaul's Drag Race UK where RuPaul searches for the "UK's next 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.[4] Alongside the main judging panel, a celebrity guest judge joins them each week. For the first series, these included Andrew Garfield, Maisie Williams, Twiggy, Geri Halliwell, Jade Thirlwall, Cheryl and Michaela Coel.
The programme features no cash prizes or sponsorships, unlike the original American series, due to the fact the BBC is a publicly funded broadcaster. Instead the winners of the weekly challenge were awarded with a "Ru Peter Badge" which was partly inspired by British children's show Blue Peter that first aired on the BBC.[5] The winner of the competition received an all-expenses paid trip to Hollywood to star in her own digital series produced by World of Wonder. During the finale The Vivienne won the competition and was crowned the "UK's First Drag Superstar".[6]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "The Royal Queens" | 3 October 2019 |
| 2 | 2 | "Downton Draggy" | 10 October 2019 |
| 3 | 3 | "Posh on a Penny" | 17 October 2019 |
| 4 | 4 | "Snatch Game" | 24 October 2019 |
| 5 | 5 | "Girl Groups Battle Royale" | 31 October 2019 |
| 6 | 6 | "Thirsty Werk" | 7 November 2019 |
| 7 | 7 | "Family That Drags Together" | 14 November 2019 |
| 8 | 8 | "Grand Finale" | 21 November 2019 |
Series 2 (2021)[edit]
The second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK was confirmed and casting was closed on 15 November 2019.[7][8] Graham Norton and Alan Carr were confirmed to return as judges alongside RuPaul and Michelle Visage.[9] Carr revealed the second series "had double the applicants" compared to the first series.[10] Filming was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] However, filming for the second series resumed later that year in November 2020.[12] On 16 December 2020, Lawrence Chaney, Cherry Valentine, Tia Kofi, Bimini Bon-Boulash, Ginny Lemon, Ellie Diamond, Sister Sister, Tayce, Joe Black, Veronica Green, Asttina Mandella and A'Whora were all announced as the new queens competing.[13] The guest judges for the second series included Elizabeth Hurley, Sheridan Smith, Jourdan Dunn, Lorraine Kelly, MNEK, Jessie Ware, Maya Jama and Dawn French.[14][15] During the finale, Lawrence Chaney won the competition and was crowned the "UK's Next Drag Superstar".[16]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | "Royalty Returns" | 14 January 2021 |
| 10 | 2 | "Rats: The Rusical" | 21 January 2021 |
| 11 | 3 | "Who Wore It Best?" | 28 January 2021 |
| 12 | 4 | "Morning Glory" | 4 February 2021 |
| 13 | 5 | "The RuRuvision Song Contest" | 11 February 2021 |
| 14 | 6 | "Snatch Game" | 18 February 2021 |
| 15 | 7 | "Lockdown Supersheroes" | 25 February 2021 |
| 16 | 8 | "Stoned on the Runway" | 4 March 2021 |
| 17 | 9 | "BeastEnders" | 11 March 2021 |
| 18 | 10 | "Grand Finale" | 18 March 2021 |
Series 3 (2021)[edit]
The third series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK was confirmed and casting was closed in November 2020.[17] The series was filmed in Manchester.[18] The cast was officially announced on 18 August 2021 on social media, consisting of Veronica Green, Kitty Scott-Claus, River Medway, Scarlett Harlett, Vanity Milan, Ella Vaday, Choriza May, Victoria Scone, Elektra Fence, Anubis, Krystal Versace and Charity Kase.[19] Veronica Green was forced to withdraw from the second series after testing positive for COVID-19, however was given an open invitation to return to the competition for the third series by RuPaul. Victoria Scone is the franchise's first ever cisgender female contestant since its beginning in 2009.[20] Graham Norton and Alan Carr returned as judges alongside RuPaul and Michelle Visage. The guest judges for the third series included Matt Lucas, Oti Mabuse, Nicola Coughlan, Emma Bunton, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Lulu, Alesha Dixon, Russell Tovey and Kathy Burke. During the finale, Krystal Versace won the competition and was crowned the "UK's Next Drag Superstar".
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 1 | "The Return of Royalty" | 23 September 2021 |
| 20 | 2 | "Dragoton" | 30 September 2021 |
| 21 | 3 | "Great Outdoors" | 7 October 2021 |
| 22 | 4 | "Big Drag Energy" | 14 October 2021 |
| 23 | 5 | "Draglexa" | 21 October 2021 |
| 24 | 6 | "Snatch Game" | 28 October 2021 |
| 25 | 7 | "The Miss Fugly Beauty Pageant" | 4 November 2021 |
| 26 | 8 | "Bra Wars" | 11 November 2021 |
| 27 | 9 | "The Pearly Gates Roast" | 18 November 2021 |
| 28 | 10 | "Grand Finale" | 25 November 2021 |
Series 4 (2022)[edit]
The fourth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK was confirmed on 27 October 2021, and casting was closed on 10 November.[21] The cast was officially announced on 7 September 2022, consisting of Danny Beard, Baby, Pixie Polite, Sminty Drop, Starlet, Jonbers Blonde, Black Peppa, Just May, Dakota Schiffer, Copper Topp, Le Fil and Cheddar Gorgeous.[22] Alan Carr and Graham Norton returned as judges alongside RuPaul and Michelle Visage. The guest judges for the fourth series included Dame Joanna Lumley, FKA Twigs, Leomie Anderson, Alison Hammond, Hannah Waddingham, Mel B, Boy George, Raven, Lorraine Pascale and Olly Alexander.[23] During the finale, Danny Beard won the competition and was crowned the "UK's Next Drag Superstar".
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 1 | "ST4RT Your Engines" | 22 September 2022 |
| 30 | 2 | "Yass-tonbury Festival" | 29 September 2022 |
| 31 | 3 | "Naff-ta Awards" | 6 October 2022 |
| 32 | 4 | "Catty Man" | 13 October 2022 |
| 33 | 5 | "Lairy Poppins: The Rusical" | 20 October 2022 |
| 34 | 6 | "Strictly Come Snatch Game" | 27 October 2022 |
| 35 | 7 | "Queen Team Makeovers" | 3 November 2022 |
| 36 | 8 | "The Squirrel Games" | 10 November 2022 |
| 37 | 9 | "Comedy Queens" | 17 November 2022 |
| 38 | 10 | "Grand Finale" | 24 November 2022 |
Series 5 (2023)[edit]
The fifth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK was confirmed on 2 September 2022, before the fourth series of the show had began airing.[24][25] The cast was officially announced on 11 September 2023, consisting of Tomara Thomas, Banksie, Miss Naomi Carter, Michael Marouli, Kate Butch, Cara Melle, Ginger Johnson, DeDeLicious, Vicki Vivacious and Alexis Saint-Pete. An eleventh contestant, Crystal Lubrikant, was also reported to have been cast in the fifth series, however was disqualified at some point during the competition due to alleged misconduct.[26] Graham Norton and Alan Carr returned as judges alongside RuPaul and Michelle Visage. The guest judges for the fifth series included Kristen McMenamy, Yasmin Finney, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Suranne Jones, Cush Jumbo, Alexandra Burke, Joel Dommett, Daphne Guinness and Aisling Bea.[27] During the finale, Ginger Johnson won the competition and was crowned the "UK's Next Drag Superstar".
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 1 | "Tickety-Boo" | 28 September 2023 |
| 40 | 2 | "Purrfect Looks" | 5 October 2023 |
| 41 | 3 | "Club Bangers" | 12 October 2023 |
| 42 | 4 | "DisasterClass" | 19 October 2023 |
| 43 | 5 | "Pant-Oh She Better Don't!: The Rusical" | 26 October 2023 |
| 44 | 6 | "Snatch Game" | 2 November 2023 |
| 45 | 7 | "Melodrama-Rama" | 9 November 2023 |
| 46 | 8 | "Hotline Makeover" | 16 November 2023 |
| 47 | 9 | "The Dragiators' Roast" | 23 November 2023 |
| 48 | 10 | "Grand Finale" | 30 November 2023 |
References[edit]
- ^ Darvill, Josh (28 September 2019). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK start date, judges, guest stars and spoilers". TellyMix. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ Earp, Catherine (14 November 2019). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK reveals its final three as last queen sashays away". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ Parker, Bailey (21 August 2019). "The Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK has been Revealed!!!!!". iHeartRadio Canada. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ Abbott, Kate (14 February 2019). "'They better werk!' Graham Norton and Alan Carr join RuPaul's Drag Race UK". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ Rudolph, Christopher (14 October 2019). "Here's Why There Are No Cash Prizes on "RuPaul's Drag Race U.K."". NewNowNext. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ Montero, Roytel (27 November 2019). "How The First Winner Of Drag Race UK Is Claiming The Prize". Forbes. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ Earp, Catherine (7 November 2019). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK gets a second series on BBC Three". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ^ "Alan Carr confirms return for RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 2". Gay Times. 9 June 2020. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ "Alan Carr opens up about how RuPaul's Drag Race has impacted on the gay community, as he reveals he's starts filming for series two". Radio Times. 8 June 2020. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ Harp, Justin (18 March 2020). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 2 halts filming due to coronavirus pandemic". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- ^ Harp, Justin (8 June 2020). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK judge Alan Carr confirms return for series 2". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK - Meet the Queens: Series 2". Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ "First celebrity guest judges Ru-vealed for second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Elizabeth Hurley, Lorraine Kelly, Sheridan Smith, MNEK and Jourdan Dunn". BBC Media Centre. 16 December 2020. Archived from the original on 19 December 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK Adds Jessie Ware, Maya Jama and Dawn French to Guest Judge Line-Up". The Huffington Post. 27 December 2020. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ "Drag Race UK winner: I'd love to be the first 'drag queen Doctor Who'". BBC Three. 18 March 2021. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ "Those are all of our stunning queens. Series three drops on @BBCPlayer and @wowpresentsplus in September. Not in the UK? Here's where you can watch your faves". Twitter. 18 August 2021. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ Davies, Matilda (10 May 2021). "First guest judge for Drag Race UK season three has been leaked – and we're gagging". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "Ding dang dong. It's round three, huns. Meet the new #DragRaceUK queens coming to @BBCthree on @bbciplayer in September". Twitter. 18 August 2021. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ Day, Harvey (18 August 2021). "Drag Race UK's first female queen Victoria Scone: 'I didn't know if drag was a possibility for me'". BBC. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "Calling all UK Queens for DragRaceUK Series 4". Instagram. 27 October 2021. Archived from the original on 7 September 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK Series 4 cast line-up". BBC Three. 15 September 2022. Archived from the original on 7 September 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 4: When it airs, celebrity guest judges and first look at teaser". BBC. 1 September 2022. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ Damshenas, Sam (2 September 2022). ""Calling all UK queens!": Drag Race UK is officially returning for season 5". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ James, Alastair (2 September 2022). "Fans are surprised after RuPaul announces Drag Race UK series five casting". Attitude. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race UK' Season 5, Episode 1 power ranking: The new crew". Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ ""BBC reveals Guest Judge list for series 5 of Drag Race UK"". Yahoo UK. 30 July 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
