RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is believed to return to our screens later this year.
Last October “Mama Ru” alongside BBC Three announced that the reality tv competition series would return for its fourth season. Eager to find the next batch of contestants to battle it out for the coveted title, in the announcement video, RuPaul said: “If you think you got what it takes to be the UK’s next Drag Superstar, well, I want to hear from you.”
Since then, details have emerged of what is to be expected of the series, including guest judges and the knock-on impact of the pandemic. Here’s everything we know so far about RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season four:
READ MORE: Why the younger generation of LGBTQ+ are reclaiming the word 'queer'
Post Covid-19
Staple judge Graham Norton teased fans with inside information despite being “totally under oath.” The comedian and presenter revealed how the upcoming episodes would compare to their predecessors and admitted that it's "really impressive" with "some of the best queens we've ever seen."
Speaking to Gay Times, he said: “It’s a post- Covid season. It was very hard for the (season three) queens in Covid because they weren’t making any money and lots of the dressmakers had stopped working. I think it was really hard during Covid, so this is definitely a post-Covid season and it’s great. You can look forward to it. You don’t need to worry.”
Guest Judges
Hannah Waddingham, who plays one of Jackson Marchetti’s mothers, Sofia, on the Netflix series, Sex Education, is the latest celebrity to confirm their cameo role on the BBC three programme.
The 48-year-old appeared on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live to confirm the news. Joining RuPaul on the TV talk show, Hannah was quizzed about how the two knew one another, to which the Ted Lasso actress said: "I'm a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK. I mean, I was giddy as all hell about that. Michelle will tell you, I was like ‘can't believe I'm here’."
The former Game of Thrones actress revealed that her outfit for guest judging was rather bold adding: “I was slightly haunted by the fact that I decided that that was the day to run out in a pale pink latex rubber dress." The 48-year-old joked that the best way to get into a rubber dress is with copious amounts of talcum powder and emphasised she wouldn’t be wearing the dress again.
We also know Spice Girl Mel B will join boss RuPaul and regular Michelle Visage on the panel as one of the extra special guest judges. The Spice Up Your Life singer filmed her appearance on the BBC Three series earlier this year. Mel will be the fourth Spice Girl to have a guest judge role, following in the footsteps of Mel C, Geri Horner and Emma Bunton, meaning Victoria Beckham is the only member left before RuPaul has a full set.
A show insider said: “It took a while, but they’ve finally got Mel B to be on. It’s always a big deal to have one of the Spice Girls involved. She is the most famous star on the new series by a mile. Mel is a big fan of the show, so she gets what it’s about. That will come across on screen. Producers reckon she is one of the best guest judges they’ve had. Her episode is likely to go down a storm.”
Mel is just one of the few big names rumoured to be on season four as Alison Hammond and Tess Daly are also believed to make a cameo appearance.
Queens
After the show’s return was officially announced via Instagram last year, online forums quickly filled up with a potential cast list based on drag queens who disappeared from social media and in-person gigs during the time of filming, starting in late February of 2022. However, many fans believe no Liverpool-based queens are to follow in the footsteps of The Vivienne and Sister Sister and be featured this season.
Receive our weekly LGBTQIA+ newsletter by signing up here .
READ NEXT
-
Choreographer realised he 'wasn't the same' as kids at school, aged 9
-
I got the Monkeypox vaccine and it took less than 15 minutes
-
‘Wrong and abnormal’ feeling many LGBTQ+ people battle with daily
-
Brothers changing the world of mental health despite struggling themselves
-
The Merseyside salon where more cups of tea are made than hairs are cut
