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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Joel Leaver

Soap stars Simon Gregson and Adam Woodyatt to compete in drag contest for new ITV show

Soap stars Simon Gregson and Adam Woodyatt are set to undergo "the ultimate drag makeover" as they compete in a new contest to be broadcast on ITV later this year.

The one-off special, titled Queens For The Night, will see a host of celebrities "unleash their drag alter-egos" as they compete to be crowned the winning queen of the evening.

The cast includes Simon, 47 - who plays Steve McDonald on Coronation Street - and his I'm a Celebrity campmate Adam, 53 - best known for playing Ian Beale on EastEnders.

Love Island alum Chris Hughes, 29, TV fitness instructor Mr Motivator, 69, Union J singer George Shelley, 29, and England rugby player Joe Marler, 31, will also compete.

Simon Gregson (right), pictured with drag mentor Myra DuBois (left), will compete on Queens for the Night (ITV)

They will be paired up with their own drag mentor for the experience, as they attempt to master the craft - including lip syncing, impressions and wearing heels.

The drag mentors include queens La Voix, Myra DuBois, Margo Marshall as well as RuPaul's Drag Race UK alums Blu Hydrangea, Kitty Scott-Claus and Asttina Mandella.

ITV viewers will witness "every step of the process", from mastering wearing hells, fine tuning their comedy and bringing to life a characters through makeup and fashion.

Chris Hughes will also be taking part (ITV)

The wannabe queens will perform in a cabaret style performance in front of expert judges and a live studio audience, showcasing their newly-acquired drag talents.

The judging panel will offer their thoughts on the celebrities' performances, though it will be up to the studio audience to decide the winning queen of the night.

The show will be hosted by Lorraine Kelly, 62, with the likes of Spice Girls member Melanie C, 48, and RuPaul's Drag Race US alum Courtney Act, 40, on the judging panel.

Queens for the Night will air on ITV and ITV Hub later this year (ITV)

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The pair will be joined by stand-up comedian Rob Beckett, 36, and West End star Layton Williams, 27 - who played a drag performer in Everybody's Talking About Jamie.

Executive producer Karen Smith said: "[The show] will deliver jaw-dropping transformations, heart-warming stories, high-heeled hilarity and must-see performances."

Lorraine said: "I'm so excited to be hosting. I am a huge fan of drag and can not wait to see a host of well known stars embrace this uniquely wonderful and uplifting skill."

Lorraine Kelly will host the show (Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Drag artist Courtney Act will be on the judging panel (Instagram)

The judges are equally as excited about the project, with Courtney describing the show as "fabulous." They however teased that they "won't hold back with [their] critique".

Layton said: "It's so fab that we get to celebrate drag and showcase this wonderfully entertaining craft. [...] Viewers will get to see how much hard work goes into the art form."

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