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Drag Race UK to Leave BBC for Streaming Platform Wow Presents Plus
Confirmed
In Short: Drag Race UK, a staple of British entertainment, is ending its run on BBC after eight series and moving to a new streaming platform.
Drag Race UK, a long-standing fixture in British entertainment, is set to leave the BBC after eight series, the broadcaster has confirmed. The show, which began in 2019, has brought British drag into the mainstream and made stars of performers like Danny Beard, La Voix, and Tia Kofi.
Wow Presents Plus, the streaming platform owned by the production company behind the show, will host future series of Drag Race UK, including a new All Stars edition premiering in autumn 2027. The move comes amid major cuts at the BBC, according to reports.
At its peak, the UK version of the show attracted around 1.5 million viewers per episode. The competition sees drag queens compete in challenges judged by RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Graham Norton, and Alan Carr, with celebrity guest judges often appearing. The show has become a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ culture, celebrated for its portrayal of British drag.
Drag Race UK's departure from the BBC marks a significant shift in the show's broadcast landscape. The current series, which launched in September 2026, will continue to air on BBC Three and iPlayer, with all existing series remaining available. However, future series will be exclusive to Wow Presents Plus.
Wow Presents Plus expressed gratitude to its members for their support, stating, 'We at World of Wonder are so grateful to our members for their support, and we remain steadfast in the values that make RuPaul’s Drag Race more than just a fiercely entertaining show.' The platform is also set to host the first-ever All Stars edition of the show, celebrating the artistry of the queens who have worked the UK runway.
What's still developing
- A few days after its new season premiere, RuPaul's Drag Race UK is sashaying away from the BBC.
- But don't fret, as the British spinoff's first-ever All Stars series has found a new streaming home for fans this side of the pond.