As far as British television goes, there are a few shows that capture the culture of our isles. The Great British Bake Off, which I am embarrassed to say, I have cried at when watching a six-tier cake collapse and fall onto the floor. Killing Eve manages to arouse and scare us at the same time. Let's not forget everyone’s favourite show to argue about Love Island. However, in my opinion, one show defies the rest as the best show on British telly: RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
RuPaul’s Drag Race is an American, award-winning phenomenon and international franchise. The fourth season of its sister show, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, aired this month on BBC Three. Even though the show isn’t inherently British, it encapsulates everything we love about British television.
Last week’s extra special guest judge, Dame Joanna Lumley (a gay icon in her own right, thanks to Absolutely Fabulous’ Patsy), was asked, on Instagram, ‘Why do you love RuPaul’s Drag Race?’ she said: “The sheer drop-dead glamour of the whole thing” and I couldn’t agree more.
Every week the queens stomp the runaway in their creations: sometimes looking like “sex on legs” in the words of Krystal Versace, or sometimes they are more like a Halloween costume that your mum made. Nevertheless, each queen has brought innovation and artistry to the runway, unveiling a part of British culture that some are likely to forget about.
It brings colour and a new sense of humour that we desperately need when the whole country seems to be crumbling around us. The Vivienne perfectly impersonating Donald Trump and UKD performing UK Hun are moments of television gold that bring a smile to my face every time I think about them.
In all seriousness Drag Race, UK isn’t just about drag queens making a complete fool of themselves. It’s an important form of education. The show has made queer culture mainstream by being one of the only shows representing the British LGBTQ+ community.
From Ginny Lemon and Bimini Bon Boulash openly talking about their gender identities to Davina De Campo’s matter of fact discussion of Margaret Thatcher’s Section 28 (a series of laws which prohibited the ‘promotion of homosexuality’). It provides us with an opportunity to learn from the past and create a more accepting place for everyone to thrive. So, Shantay you can stay on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
Edited by Lucy Wilcox