RuPaul and Cherry Valentine on the show
(Picture: BBC)RuPaul’s Drag Race UK dedicated its second episode of its current series to Cherry Valentine, who died earlier this month aged 28.
The drag artist, real name George Ward, appeared on the second season of the BBC Three competition show before launching a TV career and fronting the documentary Gypsy Queen And Proud.
Ward’s family confirmed his passing in a statement last week and said their lives “will never be the same”.
In light of Ward’s passing, the series paid tribute to Ward after the credits rolled on Thursday’s episode (September 29).
The show’s official Twitter account shared the tribute and wrote: “Tonight’s #DragRaceUK episode is dedicated to our sister Cherry Valentine” alongside a love-heart emoji.
Fans admitted they were left in tears by the dedication and took to Twitter to share their upset.
One penned: “I still haven’t fully processed this. So sad that we lost such a beautiful queen. Rest in Power Cherry.”
“I choked up a bit when Cherry came on at the end,” another wrote.
A third added: “You don’t understand how much this made me sob today, rest in power Cherry.”
“Gone too soon & insanely talented. Love you Cherry,” another viewer shared.
Ward’s family confirmed his death last week in a statement, which read: “It is with the most heart-wrenching and deepest sadness to inform you that our George – Cherry Valentine – has tragically passed away.
“This will come as a profound shock to most people and we understand there is no easy way for this to be announced. As his family, we are still processing his death and our lives will never be the same.
“We understand how much he is loved and how many lives he has inspired and touched. All we ask is for your patience and your prayers in this time. We love you Georgie.”
Ward was raised in Darlington, County Durham, as part of the Traveller community and qualified as a mental-health nurse in 2015, before starting his career in drag.
In December 2020, Ward was announced as one of 12 contestants competing in the second series of the UK version of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
In his introductory video for the show, he described his Cherry Valentine alter-ego as “glamour”, “dark” and “gothic”.
He said his work as a nurse had “put me in that right position to be able to understand people a bit more. If you are a drag queen you are working with people. And to understand people I think you go the extra mile.”
After appearing on the show, Ward joined with the BBC to produce a documentary exploring his Traveller heritage.
In the 2022 special, called Gypsy Queen And Proud, he revisited the community he left aged 18.
Following his death, a GoFundMe page was set up in Ward’s honour and has raised more than £13,000 at the time of writing.
