RuPaul's Drag Race UK is leaving the BBC after eight series, with the show's future set to move to a streaming platform. The BBC has confirmed it will no longer broadcast future series of the hit drag competition due to "significant financial pressures" and the "very difficult choices" it is being forced to make.
Move to Wow Presents Plus
The show, which launched on BBC Three in 2019, will move to Wow Presents Plus, the streaming service owned by production company World of Wonder. The news comes as the current eighth series of Drag Race UK is airing on BBC Three and iPlayer, with two queens from Merseyside among this year's cast - Liverpool-based performer Naya Thorn and Wirral-born Ma Danni x.
The current series, which launched in September, will continue to air as planned, with existing series also expected to remain available on iPlayer once the move is complete. A new series, RuPaul's Drag Race UK All Stars, featuring returning fan favourites, is due to premiere exclusively on Wow Presents Plus in autumn 2027.
Financial pressures and savings
A spokesperson for the BBC said it was "proud [...] of this groundbreaking show" and thanked "RuPaul, World of Wonder and everyone involved, both on and off screen". The spokesperson said: "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." The corporation is currently implementing plans to make £500m in savings.
At its peak, the UK version of Drag Race averaged around 1.5 million viewers per episode. The show has also become a major part of LGBTQ+ culture in Britain, with its portrayal of the country's distinctive drag scene earning widespread praise.
Merseyside stars and legacy
For Liverpool, the end of the show's BBC era marks a significant moment for a programme which has played a major role in bringing British drag into mainstream entertainment. The region has already enjoyed huge success on the show. The late The Vivienne, who won the inaugural series in 2019, was the first-ever winner of Drag Race UK, while Halewood's Danny Beard went on to take the crown in series four.
Naya Thorn, 24, began her drag career in Liverpool and became a familiar face in the city's Pride Quarter, regularly performing at Heaven on Victoria Street. Although originally from Dudley and now living in Manchester, Naya has previously spoken about the importance of Liverpool to her career. She said: "For the past five years, I've travelled the country establishing myself as a queen of very high standards. Currently, I live in Manchester, but I did start drag in Liverpool, where I saw, I came, and I conquered." She added: "I am over the moon to be on Drag Race UK, and I'm here to win. I am very in touch with my chakras, and my chakras are telling me that this season's going to be full of talent and thorns."
Also representing the region is Ma Danni x, 48, who was born on the Wirral and has 28 years of experience as a performer. Now based in West London, Ma Danni x started her career as a dancer on cruise ships before becoming a drag queen. Her career has seen her work alongside major names including Cliff Richard, Ruby Wax, Lily Savage, George Michael, Samantha Fox, Ant and Dec, Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden. Speaking about her Drag Race journey, she said: "It'll be the ultimate dream to go all the way - I deserve my place in this fabulous competition, I've worked so hard to be here, and I want to prove to the nation that I can be the ultimate winner on this massive platform."
Earlier this year, the BBC announced it was dropping I Kissed a Boy, which made history as the UK's first gay dating show, as well as its female counterpart I Kissed a Girl. The BBC said at the time it was "exceptionally proud" of both programmes but had to make "difficult choices" because of its funding challenges.
