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Drag Race UK to Move from BBC to Streaming Platform Wow Presents Plus
Confirmed
In Short: RuPaul's Drag Race UK is ending its eight-year run on the BBC to join streaming platform Wow Presents Plus, where a new all-stars series will premiere in 2027.
The British version of RuPaul's Drag Race is leaving the BBC after eight successful series, the broadcaster has confirmed. The show, which has brought British drag into mainstream entertainment and made stars of performers like La Voix, Danny Beard, and Tia Kofi, will now air on Wow Presents Plus, a streaming platform owned by the show's production company.
At its peak, the UK version of the show attracted around 1.5 million viewers per episode, making it a staple of LGBTQ+ culture and praised for its unique style of British drag. The move comes amid significant financial pressures on the BBC, which has had to make difficult choices to save costs.
A new series, Drag Race UK All Stars, will premiere in Autumn 2027 exclusively on Wow Presents Plus, celebrating the artistry of previous fan favorites. The platform will also stream all eight seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race UK and the three seasons of Drag Race UK vs The World.
In a statement, World of Wonder, the production company behind the show, expressed gratitude to its members for their support and commitment to the values that make RuPaul's Drag Race more than just entertainment.
What's confirmed
- The British version of RuPaul's Drag Race is leaving the BBC after eight successful series, the broadcaster has confirmed. The show, which has brought British drag into mainstream entertainment and made stars of performers like La Voix, Danny Beard, and Tia Kofi, will now air on Wow Presents Plus, a streaming platform owned by the show's production company.
- At its peak, the UK version of the show attracted around 1.5 million viewers per episode, making it a staple of LGBTQ+ culture and praised for its unique style of British drag. The move comes amid significant financial pressures on the BBC, which has had to make difficult choices to save costs.
- A new series, Drag Race UK All Stars, will premiere in Autumn 2027 exclusively on Wow Presents Plus, celebrating the artistry of previous fan favorites. The platform will also stream all eight seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race UK and the three seasons of Drag Race UK vs The World.
- In a statement, World of Wonder, the production company behind the show, expressed gratitude to its members for their support and commitment to the values that make RuPaul's Drag Race more than just entertainment.
What's still developing
- The show sees drag queens compete in a series of challenges to impress judges RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Graham Norton and Alan Carr, and often features big name celebrity guest judges.
- A BBC 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." Announcing the news on Instagram, Wow Presents Plus said a "new era" of Drag Race UK was on the way.
- News of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK All Stars came after The Sun reported the BBC had axed the main series amid major cuts at the British broadcaster.
- 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.
- The streamer also confirmed the news in an Instagram post, calling the upcoming season "herstoric" and confirming the move onto WOW, where previous seasons of Drag Race UK and Drag Race UK vs The World will also be available on catchup.