THE BBC has axed RuPaul’s Drag Race UK as part of its swingeing cuts, in news that will devastate fans.
The beloved series has showcased British drag stars and LGBTQ+ culture across 11 series but in recent years viewing figures have slumped from averages of 1.5million to around 1million.
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Since its debut in 2019, it has made household names of icons like La Voix, Danny Beard and Tia Kofi.
But the Beeb has now dumped the format, with it moving to streamer WOW Presents Plus.
A BBC spokesperson told The Sun: “As the BBC continues to navigate significant financial pressures and deliver the savings required of us, we have had to make some very difficult choices, none of which have been taken lightly.
“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.
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“The BBC is incredibly proud of all eleven series of this groundbreaking show and we would like to thank RuPaul, World of Wonder and everyone involved, both on and off screen.
“We are certain that viewers will enjoy the eighth series, which is currently airing on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three.”
Some of the queens have gone on to become huge entertainment stars such as Tia Kofi as a member of the Eurovision presenting team, La Voix featuring on EastEnders and Strictly Come Dancing, Ginger Johnson winning Celebrity MasterChef last year, Tayce winning the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special in 2024 and Danny Beard forging careers across ITV’s Big Brother.
But these days the contestants are struggling to get enough work.
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Changes in the entertainment industry are being blamed for the problem.
An insider said: “Years ago Drag Race UK contestants earned big money from lucrative tours and corporate gigs, but now the showbiz world is saturated with drag queens, so there isn’t as much work to go around.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK launched in 2019 with big fanfare and quickly became a ratings smash as it put drag performers through a string of fun challenges.
It stars drag icon RuPaul on the judging panel alongside pal Michelle Visage and TV comics Graham Norton and Alan Carr.
A List guest judges over the years have included Simon Le Bon, Liz Hurley, Hannah Waddingham, Andrew Garfield, Thandiwe Newton, Jade, Nicola Coughlan, Ann Marie, Dame Twiggy and Dame Joanna Lumley.
It has racked up a string of nominations for the National Television Awards and spawned spin-off series RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World.
The BBC continues to represent the LGBQT+ community across a range of shows including Vigil, Amandaland, EastEnders, Smoggie Queens, Such Brave Girls, The Split Up, What It Feels Like for A Girl, Mr Loverman, Juice, The Dickie Show and Rob & Rylan’s Passage to India.
In March, Dannii Minogue’s LGBTQ+ dating shows I Kissed A Boy and I Kissed A Girl were axed.