You searched for Drag Race UK - GAY TIMES https://www.gaytimes.com/ Amplifying queer voices. Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:41:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 G-A-Y Bar to close, marking another major loss for London’s queer nightlife https://www.gaytimes.com/community/g-a-y-bar-london-soho-to-close/ Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:41:04 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1452516 Jeremy Joseph, the owner of the legendary G–A-Y Bar in Soho, has announced its closure. Speaking to Metro, Joseph explained that long-running rent struggles, particularly during COVID, combined with Soho’s…

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Jeremy Joseph, the owner of the legendary G–A-Y Bar in Soho, has announced its closure.

Speaking to Metro, Joseph explained that long-running rent struggles, particularly during COVID, combined with Soho’s fading queer identity and safety concerns, led him to close G-A-Y Bar. He said these issues made his decision to concentrate on keeping Heaven open “a lot easier.”

“When I opened the Old Compton venue, it was the gayest street in London, but now it has lost its identity,” he said. “This weekend half of Old Compton Street was closed because there was a crime scene up. Most of the pride flags have been taken down, it’s really sad to see.”

Despite living above G-A-Y Bar, Joseph said he was forced to choose between it and Heaven when landlords ArchCo sought to increase Heaven’s rent. He explained that it was “better to protect one venue that’s got more history than another which is an area I cannot see improving.”

Joseph expanded on the difficulties with rent: “We underwent arbitration with ArchCo which was nearly two years of hell. But we didn’t let them bully us – we have come out the other side. I will say this to all business owners – never let your landlords bully you.”

He also posted an impassioned message on social media, recalling some of his fondest memories of G-A-Y Bar.

“I will never forget when Madonna performed at G-A-Y at the Astoria,” he wrote. “All night people were singing Madonna songs, the street was alive and electric and queer. Imagine that happening today, residents would be on the phone complaining, the gays are singing too loudly!”

Another moment that “will always stand out” for Joseph was the 2019 Pulse Nightclub shooting — the deadliest attack on LGBTQIA+ people in U.S. history, when 49 lives were tragically taken — which, he said, “brought everyone together and the focal point was Old Compton Street.”

Joseph reflected on how venues, artists and charities, devastated by the loss of life, wanted to “do something special” to bring people together and pay tribute to the LGBTQIA+ community and their “family in the US.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jeremy Joseph (@jeremy_joseph)

With just 24 hours to organise, the word quickly spread: “By 5pm Old Compton Street was starting to get busier, by 6pm it was nearly full, and by 7pm you couldn’t move – the community came together in their thousands.”

Joseph ended his post by expressing gratitude to G-A-Y’s customers over the decades, while making clear that Heaven is his “future.”

“As of today, I hope to continue making Heaven a second home for so many LGBTQ+ people,” he said. “Being part of your lives and continuing toward Heaven’s 50th in 2029.”

His message was met with an outpouring of love and support from G-A-Y fans and performers, particularly the queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race, who have long been a mainstay of G-A-Y and Heaven’s nightlife. Several performers shared their memories and gratitude on social media.

Kyran Thrax said: “My love I’m so sorry – proud of you for how you’ve handled all of this.”

Peppermint commented: “One of the first places that allowed me to come and perform years before I was ever even on Drag Race. Appreciate you so much and definitely feeling this loss. Here’s to another chapter together my love! Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for our community.”

Laganja Estranja said she’s “so grateful” to Joseph to “have performed here and made many memories.”

One of Soho’s most iconic queer landmarks, G-A-Y Bar has been credited with helping make queer nightlife more mainstream and accessible to the LGBTQIA+ community.

Its closure, following the 2023 shutdown of G-A-Y Late, is a stark reminder of the threats facing London’s queer spaces, and for many, the loss is truly devastating.

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]]> The verdict is in: Here’s how Drag Race UK fans reacted to the season 7 premiere https://www.gaytimes.com/drag/the-verdict-is-in-heres-how-drag-race-uk-fans-reacted-to-the-season-7-premiere/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 22:55:36 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1451671 Fans have shared their candid opinions about the season seven premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. Warning! Major spoilers ahead! The search for ‘Britain’s Next Drag Superstar’ continued on Thursday…

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Fans have shared their candid opinions about the season seven premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.

Warning! Major spoilers ahead!

The search for ‘Britain’s Next Drag Superstar’ continued on Thursday (25 September) with 12 fierce new queens: Bones, Bonnie Ann Clyde, Catrin Feelings, Chai T Grande, Elle Vosque, Nyongbella, Paige Three, Pasty, Sally™, Silllexa Diction, Tayris Mongardi and Viola.

(You can read our digital cover with all 12 queens here.)

Wasting no time to serve their charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent, the premiere episode kicked off with the new crop of contestants strutting into the werkroom, delivering iconic one-liners and jaw-dropping ensembles.

Once everyone arrived, Mama Ru sashayed onto the scene, warmly welcoming the queens and spilling the tea on the competition’s grand prize.

“Now from this moment on, the power of your charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent is unlimited. But remember, in the end, only one of you will be crowned the UK’s Next Drag Race Superstar and walk away with a cash prize of £25,000.”

After toasting to the season with a cheeky glass of bubbly, Ru revealed their very first maxi-challenge.

“You are cordially invited to attend the star-studded Brit Gala. The biggest night in fashion with the smallest staircase,” she explained.

“First, you’ll need to work the pink carpet in a signature drag look that will blow us away. Plus, you need to answer thirsty questions from a hungry pack of VIQs. As in: very important queens.”

The VIQs were iconic queens from across the Drag Race franchise, including Baga Chipz (UK), Plane Jane (US), Tessa Testicle (Germany), Angeria Paris Vanmichaels (US) and Marina Summers (Philippines). 

The queens then headed to the pink carpet to take part in the Brit Gala, where they delivered showstopping, unique and fashion-forward looks.

The queens’ VIQ interviews were also full of unforgettable moments, including Silllexa’s wild poop story, Tayris and Plane’s very awkward exchange, Pasty revealing her bilateral coloboma diagnosis, and Nyongbella’s camp party trick.

Following their Brit Gala debut, Ru dished about elimination day, revealing that their first runway theme will be “Queen Of Your Hometown”.

However, in true Drag Race premiere fashion, Ru ended his announcement by teasing the season’s new twist.

“This will be your last chance to make a first impression, because tomorrow, one of you will be going back to your hometown,” she ominously added. “Unless, that is, you hear this sound [cows mooing]. But more on that later.”

The ladies then returned to the werkroom to unpack their things and reflect on their first day in the competition.

“So, we’re finally getting out drag and I’m looking around the room and getting to see who all the divas are,” Paige says in a confessional.

“Everyone’s sniffing each other’s bums like dogs. We all want to know what we’ve got to give in this competition.”

Elsewhere in the workroom, Pasty asked Chai and Catrin how they felt about the challenge. While Catrin was happy with what she presented, Pasty felt that the challenge was “quite hard”.

At the make-up station, Nyongbella gushed to Tayris about representing the trans community this season.

Lastly, Elle and Sally bonded over their limited travel experience and being relatively unknown queens compared to some of their castmates.

The next day, the queens returned to the workroom to get into full geish for their first runway. During their preparation, Nyongbella opened up about living in Cameroon from the age of 12 to 16, describing it as “interesting.”

“It was quite the adjustment. Obviously, being queer and everything like that is a criminal offence,” she explained.

While the London-based queen initially struggled, she ultimately decided to live her truth openly and authentically during her final year in Cameroon.

“So even if people did have thoughts or opinions about me, I was just like, ‘I don’t really care any more,'” she added.

With their make-up set and hair secured, the queens hit the runway in their sickening “Queen of Your Hometown” looks in front of Ru, Michelle Visage, Alan Carr, and guest judge Joel Dommett.

After showing off their ensembles, Catrin, Paige, and Elle were named the top three queens of the week, while Nyongbella, Patsy and Tayris landed in the bottom.

However, instead of sending the safe queens to Untucked, Ru instructed them to go to the back of the stage before jumping into critiques.

Following the performance reviews, Ru finally revealed the major twist of the season.

“Two of you will be chosen to lip sync for your life, and if you lose, you will go home. But there is one way to escape your fate,” she explained.

“In a moment, back in the werkroom, your fellow queens will secretly vote for the Lucky Cow. The Lucky Cow is the bottom queen that the majority of your fellow competitors think should be saved from a final elimination. But I will not reveal the Lucky Cow until after you lip sync for your life.”

With the twist in their hands, the queens headed backstage to have a cheeky drink and decompress.

Understandably, Nyongbella, Patsy and Tayris shared emotional reactions to their bottom placement, with each of them delivering heartfelt pleas for the Lucky Cow.

Back on the mainstage, Ru named Elle the winner of the challenge before announcing Pasty and Nyongbella as the bottom two queens.

To the beat of Charli XCX’s iconic track ‘Von Dutch,’ the two talented queens laid it all out on the stage, delivering dips, a slight wardrobe malfunction and a c*nty duck walk moment.

In the end, Ru announced Nyongbella as the winner. Fortunately, Pasty was saved from elimination by the Lucky Cow twist.

Since its release, fans have flocked to social media to share their thoughts on the premiere episode and the season’s new batch of Ru girls.

One fan wrote: “It’s not even fair. How did Bones win the crown in one episode?”

Another viewer tweeted: “ANGERIA PARIS VAN MICHAELS ON AN INTERNATIONAL DRAG RACE FRANCHISE!”

A third fan added: “Not being dramatic, but I would die for the lucky cow.”

On next week’s episode of Drag Race UK season seven, the queens will be making an original fashion statement using leftovers from past seasons.

Check out more fan reactions to the premiere below.

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]]> Drag Race UK: Joel Dommett strips off for the season 7 premiere https://www.gaytimes.com/drag/drag-race-uk-joel-dommett-strips-off-season-7-premiere/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:43:35 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1451632 RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is back for season seven — and Joel Dommett is baring all (quite literally) for the occasion. In a teaser for the upcoming episode, RuPaul welcomes…

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RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is back for season seven — and Joel Dommett is baring all (quite literally) for the occasion.

In a teaser for the upcoming episode, RuPaul welcomes the comedian and presenter “back by popular demand”, only for viewers to discover him on the judging panel alongside Michelle Visage and Alan Carr wearing – well, absolutely nothing.

“Joel, what is going on here?” Ru asks, to which Dommett replies: “Uhh, Alan told me it was the naked episode. I’m livid! I look like an idiot.”

Without missing a beat, Carr raises his specs, takes a glance at Joel’s nether regions and quips: “But he’s very excited to be here…”

Watch the hilarious clip below:

Season seven of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK premieres Thursday 25 September on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.

The 12 queens competing for the title of the UK’s Next Drag Superstar are Bones, Bonnie Ann Clyde, Catrin Feelings, Chai T Grande, Elle Vosque, Nyongbella, Paige Three, Pasty, Sally™, Silllexa Diction, Tayris Mongardi and Viola.

Guest judges this season include Nadine Coyle, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Jane Horrocks, Michelle de Swarte, Sophie Willan, Susan Wokoma, Joel Dommett, Mazz Murray, Jordan North and Mutya Buena.

Meanwhile, the stars embracing their inner charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent for the makeover are Charlotte Church, David Potts, Dani Harmer, Diane Parish, Michelle McManus and Shobna Gulati.

In an interview with Gay Times, the cast teased what’s in store for the new season, with Viola promising “ridonkulously gag-worthy” twists and turns.

“If the girls on the show were gagged left, right and centre… the audience will be too. I was gagged the whole time. I was like, ‘Wait, what?’” said Paige.

Tayris added: “I’ve already said this offline, but I’ll say it here… this is the best collection of runways this show has ever seen.”

With the political climate growing increasingly hostile towards LGBTQIA+ people – particularly the trans community – the queens also reflected on the importance of using their platforms as “queer figureheads” to champion resilience, visibility and joy.

“We see so much hatred toward our trans sisters and brothers, toward Black people and POC, especially with what’s going on in politics right now, not just in the UK,” explained Sally. “America coughs, and we catch a cold.

“It’s so important that we as individuals are visible, so people don’t look at the news and think, ‘That is the future.’ We are the future.”

You can read our full interview with the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season seven here.

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]]> Juliet Stevenson is captivating in new drama The Land of the Living – review https://www.gaytimes.com/performance/juliet-stevenson-is-captivating-in-new-drama-the-land-of-the-living-review/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:43:14 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1451623 The Land of the Living tells an absolutely fascinating story: the play opens in 1990, when Ruth (Juliet Stevenson), a former UN relief worker, is visited by Thomas (Tom Wlaschiha),…

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The Land of the Living tells an absolutely fascinating story: the play opens in 1990, when Ruth (Juliet Stevenson), a former UN relief worker, is visited by Thomas (Tom Wlaschiha), who had been a displaced child in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. We don’t stay in 1990 for long, however: most of the play is set in 1945, with Ruth recounting her memories of what happened after the war was over. We establish quickly that Thomas had been in Ruth’s care as a young boy during that period, and he is now in search of answers.

It feels like a timely and urgent story to be told, and brings to mind the treatment of children who are being displaced by war (in Ukraine and Gaza) in the present day.

It also shines a spotlight on the Nazi regime’s ‘Lebensborn’ programme – an attempt to steal children with seemingly perfect features from neighbouring countries and have them adopted by German families, in order to create a ‘perfect’ Aryan super race. Ruth’s UN team uncovers evidence of the scheme and they suddenly find themselves in a moral dilemma – should these children remain with the families that raised them, or return to their parents who they may not have known for many years? Not to mention the Herculean task of reuniting families across borders, at a time when record keeping wasn’t what it is today.

Juliet Stevenson is, of course, absolutely fantastic and utterly compelling to watch – in a typically nuanced performance, we see her genuinely grappling with the dilemmas the play presents. It’s an ensemble piece and most of the supporting performances are strong, although we felt on occasion the play did revert to stereotypes – in particular the American and Soviet soldiers that are encountered along the way seemed a bit one-dimensional. It all looks and sounds great – the set and sound design both impress throughout.

We enjoyed our time with The Land of the Living, although we would likely have enjoyed it more if it were a little shorter. It runs to nearly three hours, with the second act starting to feel like it drags towards the end. It’s still well worth a visit, though – the story it tells is genuinely captivating and there’s some wonderful acting in here, too.

GAY TIMES gives The Land of the Living – 4/5

More information can be found here.

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]]> Drag Race UK season 7 cast on why queer joy and visibility are more vital than ever https://www.gaytimes.com/amplify/drag-race-uk-season-7-cast-interview/ Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:18:41 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1451438 RuPaul’s Drag Race UK cast interview! Round 7!  WORDS BY SAM DAMSHENAS DESIGN BY JACK ROWE SPECIAL THANKS TO NIALL HAY AND JO SEAR AT THE BBC If your engines aren’t started,…

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RuPaul’s Drag Race UK cast interview! Round 7! 

WORDS BY SAM DAMSHENAS
DESIGN BY JACK ROWE
SPECIAL THANKS TO NIALL HAY AND JO SEAR AT THE BBC

If your engines aren’t started, consider this your ignition: RuPaul’s Drag Race UK roars back on the BBC tomorrow with Girls Aloud icon Nadine Coyle “fearing for her life,” legendary Brits like Tracy Beaker, Charlotte Church, and Denise from EastEnders fully transformed in drag, and a “ridonkulously gag-worthy” lineup of queens, runways — and, blimey, this part is just so unexpected — twists! and! turns!

Reminder incoming: the 12 queens hoping to usurp Kyran Thrax as the UK’s Next Drag Superstar are Bones, Bonnie Ann Clyde, Catrin Feelings, Chai T Grande, Elle Vosque, Nyongbella, Paige Three, Pasty, Sally™, Silllexa Diction, Tayris Mongardi and Viola.

While the cast promise that season seven will deliver all the charisma, uniqueness, nerve, talent, and reality-TV shenanigans we’ve come to expect, they emphasise that Drag Race’s impact goes far beyond the werkroom and the runway. In a political climate increasingly hostile towards LGBTQIA+ people — especially trans and non-binary communities — they see the series as a platform to uplift, inspire and “be queer figureheads for our community.” This season isn’t just about entertainment; it’s about celebrating resilience, visibility, and queer joy when it’s needed most.

From inspiring the next generation of queer viewers to subverting Drag Race expectations — and a judge who may or may not have been “punched in the tit” (confirmation pending) — all of this and more is covered in the following interview with the cast of season seven. Disclaimer: 12 drag queens on one call means this conversation has been lovingly condensed for clarity (and shade).

GT: Queens, condragulations on becoming RuGirls with RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season seven! Let’s go back to the beginning: when you first sashayed into the werkroom, what were your initial impressions of one another?

Sally: I was really overstimulated! It felt like The Truman Show. I’m a Rolodex diva, so I knew these people before they knew me. I knew Bones was Queen Soho. I knew Paige was dippy dancing about on the West End. I knew Tayris had won Brighton’s big drag pageant. I’d even seen Catrin’s TikToks before I came in. Then they all came in and I was like, ‘What are they good at? What will I be able to beat them in?’ Of course, Silllexa came in and I was like, ‘Shit, there’s my competition — the seamstress!’ I really enjoyed it… while simultaneously shitting myself.

Pasty: You don’t see anything until you literally walk in and then [production are] like, ‘You need to hit this mark.’ It’s such a blur!

Silllexa: It was such an early start. I was jittering. It was chaos. I should not have had four Red Bulls.

Pasty: My breast plate was just [starts jiggling her tig ol’ biddies]! I did them in.

Tayris: Everyone was good at representing their drag from the moment they walked in. I think the only person I completely misread… I thought Elle Vosque was a cis woman. She came in and I was like, ‘Oh diva!’ She got out of drag and I was like, ‘Who is that?’

Viola: The majority of us thought Elle was cis, and it was a big revelation. But walking into that workroom, the excitement levels were crazy. I was feeling very confident walking in, but as soon as I turned around and saw the girls, terror flooded the basement. I dunno what it is about the hamster cage, but it just makes you so on edge and so terrified.

Paige: Overstimulation at its absolute finest. But I was really reveling in the fact that I was there. Walking around that corner, they don’t really give you a warning. They go, ‘Okay, off you go!’ It was like, ‘Mama… I’m on Drag Race, honey.’

Pasty: You get to see everything that you don’t usually see when you watch the show, which is weird.

Elle: It’s also weirdly like watching the show. I turned the corner and literally was like, ‘Oh my god, I’m in an episode of Drag Race.’ It didn’t feel that different?

Chai: Being met by that wall of cameras and a group of queens, you forget how to do the simplest things. What could go wrong? Turns out… quite a lot could go wrong. You could pass your mark, bubble your line, fall over.

Bonnie: The initial impression was how visually different everyone was. Every single person here is bringing something unique to the show. Everyone’s going to have their favourite because we’re all so different.

Chai: I mean, look at us now, for example.

Sally: Speak for yourself!

GT: Fans have gotten to know you through your promos and Meet the Queens videos, but what’s one thing about your artistry or persona that might surprise them this season?

Tayris: How much heart and vulnerability I display. Especially when you see a drag queen or a drag artist, it’s big, it’s bold, and it almost feels like a highly decorative object. Sometimes, even the fans and people at our gigs forget that we’re people underneath it. So much of what I do at my core is political. It’s a celebration of my queerness, my blackness. I knew walking into the workroom that this was a platform not only to entertain, but because Drag Race is such a part of the mainstream queer zeitgeist, it’s really an opportunity to inspire the people who need to see themselves in us.

I said to myself: I’ll do the fierce drag, I’ll be the c**ty boots and all that too, but I need to make sure that everything I do rings true to all my experiences, all my heart, and all my vulnerability. I want to be an emblem for blackness, and I know that is what I did on that platform.

Sally: Similar sentiments to Tayris. For me, it’s about being an artist at the forefront. Also, a lot of people might see my look and think, ‘Oh, she’s a bit cold, a bit intimidating.’ But when you get to know me, I’m just a lovely person. Just like everyone from the North, know what I mean?

Catrin: That I’m actually a man! I’m just a bit of an open box, truth be told. I feel like, because people see me as sort of a camp cow, they probably think that I can’t do certain things. But those certain things… You’ll have to find out on the show. RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Thursday nights at 9 p.m. on BBC iPlayer.

GT: Shameless plug.

Chai: She’s buying time.

Bones: For me, I think I come from a drag family that is infamously known for their opinions.

[A moment of silence, as everyone on the call expected Bones to continue.]

Pasty: … and that’s it.

Nyongbella: End sentence!

Bones: We’re quite known for our opinions, even when people haven’t asked for them. Going in, people might think I’m there to cause trouble. But I have a very motherly energy that the girls got to see. I am very opinionated, but it always comes from a place of love.

Viola: I would say my age. Everybody thinks I’m 40. I dunno why. I filmed the show when I was 22. I’m the second youngest on the cast, and every one of these girls thought I was in my thirties at least. And this isn’t just in drag, this is out of drag as well.

Paige: No, no, not out of drag!

Catrin: You look younger out of drag.

Viola: I obviously paint very big. I think my makeup is quite ageless. But I put on the updos, I wear glamorous gowns, and I don’t really do bodysuits.

Paige: And your vocals, Viola! Your vocals!

Elle: Lady Vi!

Viola: There’s a lot of bravado.

Paige: [Impersonating Viola] ‘Oh my goodness!’

Viola: ‘Hello, darlings!’

Paige: You could play an 86-year-old.

Viola: Because of the singing as well, most people expect that I won’t be able to perform through lip-sync. But darling, a performer is a performer, whether they’re singing or lip syncing or not.

Catrin: And she’s good with her mouth.

Viola: Oh, exactly!

Pasty: In the promo my personality comes off as very stupid. I think when you watch the show, you’ll see how stupid my drag can actually go in terms of looks and the things I do. Also, people might be surprised that I can look pretty sometimes.

Viola: No!

Silllexa: Don’t say that!

Pasty: No, not like that. I don’t just do stupid camp stuff all the time.

Viola: I saw it when you walked into the workroom, babe, that you were gorgeous.

Pasty: Thank you, babe.

Nyongbella: I dunno. I feel like I show off every facet of myself pretty much. I can look gorgeous. I can be crazy cuckoo cu – oh, I can’t say that word.

GT: You bloody well can.

Nyongbella: Oh, I can say c**t?! Perfect! Finally!

Pasty: She’s been told off all afternoon.

Nyongbella: Literally. It’s on my necklace still…

GT: Disclaimer: you can all say c**t as much as you want. We’re all British here.

Paige: Ready, girls? One, two, three…

The cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season 7: C**T!

Bonnie: And scene!

GT: Back to business…

Nyongbella: So, I like to be that crazy cuckoo – c**t! I like to do all kinds of things. I’m very ‘what you see is what you get.’ I can be nice if I want to be nice, and if I want to be a bitch, I could be a bitch. I have no qualms about cussing someone out or doing whatever. As I said in my ‘Meet the Queens: “If you don’t like that, if you have thoughts, suck your mum.”

Elle: I would actually say that people don’t know a lot about me. Unlike a lot of the other queens, they had more of an online presence before the race, whereas I feel like the audience won’t really know what to expect from me — period. I think that’s the answer.

Paige: Catrin, can I just ask… Are you cleaning your teeth out with your nails?

Catrin: No, I’m picking my nose.

Bonnie: Alright, show us Catrin.

Catrin: Pardon?

Pasty: Catrin, are you finished picking your nose?

Catrin: All clean!

Paige: I’m probably most known for being a stage performer. I think it’s important, like a lot of the other girls have said, to show that there’s a person behind it, a human, and there’s a lot of reason why I do things and why I love what I do. I want to try and highlight the humanity side of being a stage performer. I’m actually a bit nuts. I probably should be locked up and put away. I mean, the bus journey home [from set], girl…

Sally: She’s cuckoo bananas!

Catrin: Honestly, if you’ve seen Paige have a drink…

Elle: Paige doesn’t need a drink.

Paige: I don’t need a drink.

Chai: People think Vi is older, but people tend to think I’m younger, which is a little humble brag, I’ll admit! Whereas Vi is giving those classical references, I very much engage with LaBuBu culture and dress in that sort of style. People always expect the oldest queen to be a battleaxe — that staple on every Drag Race cast! I might surprise people in that way. Like Elle, I’m fairly unknown compared to the rest of the cast. I’m known in a very specific niche, East London circle where I competed in a competition, but I wasn’t that well known until recently. That’s a bit of a superpower.

Bonnie: I’m a bit of the opposite. I’ve been doing drag for so long and have been quite international — performing in Dublin, Gran Canaria, Manchester and all across the UK. So, there’s an expectation for me to do well. People are going to be surprised by the crazy, cuckoo things I come up with and how I present them in the Drag Race capsule.

Silllexa: I’m very visual. If you come to watch me, you’re not going to see me throwing myself around — well, maybe a few splits! – but people expect me to be quite hard, moody and miserable. Which I am, but I’m also really stupid! All the girls know I’m not afraid to take the piss out of myself and look like an idiot. Ultimately, I’m still the 13-year-old boy who just wanted to go out, have fun, be flamboyant, and live my life. I just have tits now. I’m quite nice and really humble… oh, and gorgeous!

GT: With all of this in mind, let’s play a very original and groundbreaking game of, ‘Who’s most likely to…’

Paige: This is fun! We haven’t done this.

Viola: I love this.

GT: Who is most likely to sob on the main stage?

Catrin, Elle, Viola, Sally and Pasty: Tayris!

Tayris: I’m an Aries sun with a Leo rising! I feel!

GT: Most likely to throw shade on the main stage?

Catrin and Bones: Viola.

Viola: Catrin!

Tayris: Nyongbella.

Silllexa: I’d say Catrin or Nyongbella, to be honest.

Elle: I’d say Catrin too.

Sally: Yeah, I’d say Catrin.

Catrin: Who did I shade on the main stage?

[Awkward silence and laughter.]

Pasty: You’re just shady!

Catrin: I am.

Paige: Shady fun, though. Shady fun.

GT: Oh wow, is this going to be a… moment? Catrin, will you be attacking the judges?

Catrin: I won’t!

Tayris: Not verbally, physically.

Sally: Yeah, she punched Michelle Visage in the tit.

Chai: Through her heel!

GT: I’ve got my headline, then?

Catrin: If I get RuPaul ringing me up, it’s on you Sam!

GT: Who’s most likely to make RuPaul unleash his signature cackle?

Catrin: Paige.

Viola: Ella.

Bones: I was going to say Sally.

Elle: I’m going to say Bonnie.

Catrin: Yeah, Bonnie is very witty.

Bonnie: I’m gonna say myself.

GT: And most likely to embrace their inner Ginny Lemon and just… leave?

Everyone: Bella!

Nyongbella: 100 per cent, me.

GT: I would love to continue with this game but I fear retribution from the powers-that-BBC-be. So let’s turn to something more pressing: outside of Drag Race, the world feels increasingly dire, with escalating attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community – especially our trans brothers and sisters. What does it mean to you to step into the werkroom and make your Drag Race debut right now?

Viola: It offers an escape. It’s a place where you can live in a fantasy world, where Drag Race *is* the world. You know you’re going to be loved, accepted and supported in whatever you do, because that’s what our community is known for.

Sally: We all have different lived experiences as artists within this microcosm of queerness. Drag Race is a platform where people can find pillars of community, people who are the positive within the negative. We see so much hatred toward our trans sisters and brothers, toward Black people, and POC, especially with what’s going on in politics right now, not just in the UK. America coughs, and we catch a cold. It’s so important that we as individuals are visible, so people don’t look at the news and think, ‘That is the future.’ We are the future. We are pillars of the community. We are here to fight, make our voices heard, and ensure everyone, no matter what they identify as, has someone to look up to and say, ‘I want to be like them.’

Silllexa: Sally for president.

Tayris: Yeah, I think Sally hit it on the head. Drag is inherently about entertainment, but it’s also political, and in today’s world, being visible as a queer person — especially as a person of colour — comes with responsibility. Walking into the workroom, I asked myself: do I have the skills to succeed in the challenges? I hoped so, but more than that, I wanted to exemplify strength, richness and the understanding I’ve gained as a queer person of colour, while acknowledging my privileges.

The world is becoming increasingly dangerous for our trans+ siblings – not just in the UK, but globally. I know how much our work can connect with people. I meet young queer folks who’ve had to move just to be themselves, and I realised I needed to show fight, fire, and vibrance for them… People we didn’t see growing up. There will be highs and lows, drama and competition, but at its core, Drag Race is a celebration. It shows that queer people can and should thrive in the mainstream. We’re artists, but we’re also human beings who deserve to be loved, safe and celebrated. I feel lucky to have this platform, and I trust every member of this cast to not only entertain, but to be queer figureheads for our community.

Elle: I’m representing Northern Ireland, and I’m very honoured to be doing so. The world at the minute is quite messed up, and it’s really heartbreaking and sad. On a local level, this year, Ballymena, a town close to Belfast, had its first-ever Pride, and there were huge protests. Slurry was actually spread across the road to make it impossible for people to enjoy the parade.

It just highlights how important it is for us to show up, support these events, and live life authentically. People like that are winning at the minute, but we have to make sure we’re visible. Being gay, a drag queen, and queer, and coming from Northern Ireland, I feel a huge responsibility. Representing Northern Ireland on such a great show, which is historic for LGBTQIA+ representation, is an honour, and I don’t take the opportunity lightly.

Pasty: I agree with Elle. I’m from Cornwall originally, and over the last few years, they’ve started doing Cornwall Pride, but because Cornwall’s so big, they do lots of mini Prides. Just last month, a few of them actually got canceled because of underfunding. It’s tiring at the minute to even look at the news, because as queer people, we’re just pawns in a game of chess in politics. We’re used as cannon fodder to push these horrible rhetorics. As Elle said about Northern Ireland, I hope that people from Cornwall get to see that. I’ve had people reach out on Instagram already saying that seeing someone from Cornwall on the show is very empowering. I don’t take that lightly.

Paige: Yeah, none of us take the opportunity of being part of Drag Race for granted. Most of us, given the average age of the cast, pretty much grew up watching Drag Race. I was probably about 14 when I started watching it, and as someone who was questioning whether it was okay to feel the things I was feeling and experiencing as a young boy, Drag Race allowed me to go, ‘Hmm, I’m not alone here. There are other people who do what I do and make mountains out of something that felt so small inside them.’

I feel very lucky to be part of that for the next generation. I can’t really imagine what it’s like for 14-year-olds now – especially if you’re queer or from a minority in any sense, not knowing where you can go in life or what is okay. So if we can do even half the job that people like Detox and Alyssa Edwards did for me when I was 14, then we’re onto a winner.

Bones: Just as it was for us growing up, it’s a reminder to create a fantasy for queer people. Drag Race is an escape for so many, and as much as it’s important to highlight and use our platform, it’s also really important to provide that escape — the same way Alyssa Edwards and Detox did for us in our bedrooms when we were younger. Face the facts: we are all icons in the making!

Bonnie: In my lifetime, this is the worst it’s ever been politically. The shift to the right has been immense, and for whatever reason, there’s been such a devaluation of human existence and life. People just don’t care anymore about whether others live or die, whether they can exist authentically, or whether their life has any value. Drag Race does something really important: it not only showcases our talents, creativity, runway looks and funny moments, but it also humanises us. Because we’ve moved so far back, it’s crucial that we show who we are underneath all of our drag. Even if we only change a few minds here and there, it’s a start, though it will be a slow process.

Catrin: Going off what Bonnie said — although we are performers, we are still human. One thing I want to highlight is the mirror talks we have this season. I won’t give any spoilers, but one of my favourite parts of being on the show is having the opportunity to talk about issues that affect all of us. Not just within the cast, but across the queer community as well. Even though we all come from different backgrounds, the one thing we share is that we are queer, and throughout our lives, we’ve lived similar experiences in certain ways.

One thing I loved was listening to The Vivienne and Baga Chipz talk about their sobriety, for example. These moments are something people don’t focus on enough. Everyone’s always thinking about the challenges, who’s winning or losing, or the looks. But the mirror chats show us not only as performers, but as queer people who share experiences with the audience watching the show, especially in times like this. Watching the first episode and seeing one of the queens’ mirror chats was so inspiring and uplifting. I just want to thank everyone in the cast who had a mirror chat. It’s honestly such an inspiring group to be with, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it. My sisters, I love you all!

Chai: I totally agree with everything that’s been said. The sociopolitical climate right now is terrifying. Every time I step out the door, even in London — the most multicultural city ever — I feel scared. It’s not as simple as the queer community versus everybody else, because some of the hatred I’ve received comes from within our own community. It’s important to highlight that it’s not just the far right against liberals; there are issues within the queer community too. I wish it were simpler than that.

Pasty: It’s scary, isn’t it? It’s sad.

GT: Thank you all for sharing that – it really highlights just how vital Drag Race feels in this moment. With that in mind, what do you hope the legacy of UK season seven will be within the wider franchise?

Catrin: Don’t quote me on this, I don’t know the stats, but I think we’re one of the youngest casts in UK Drag Race history.

Viola: We are. I did the numbers.

Pasty: Viola double-checked!

Paige: Viola’s like, ‘You keep calling me 40, I have to check if we’re the youngest.’

Catrin: She’s the La Voix of the season! People often talk about casting younger queens and how they might not have as much experience as others who’ve been in the scene for years. But we succeed in what we do. We’re self-critical, sure, but we work on ourselves to be the best performers and people we can be. I think that shows on the season, every single one of us is polished in our own style of drag. We’re a great representation of the next wave of drag, I’d say.

Sally: To echo Catrin, I feel like this is the most unique cast Drag Race has had. There are multifaceted talents that haven’t been represented before. Usually, when the “Meet the Queens” comes out, people make comparisons, but I feel like the legacy of season seven will be an onslaught of inspiration. Every time I go on social media, someone’s rooting for a different queen, and that’s amazing. That’s the talent of a strong cast. People will be inspired by Bones, Bonnie, Paige, and so many others.

Bones: There’s a lot of well-branded queens, I think.

Sally: It’s like a Pinterest board of inspiration. Personally, I wanted my representation to show that the dream doesn’t die for alternative and creative queens. My drag isn’t the typical Drag Race style, and I hope my legacy inspires others to say, ‘She’s fierce and I want to be like her.’

Silllexa: I think they will.

Catrin: Maybe next season people will say, ‘Oh, she looks like Catrin Feelings’ or ‘she looks like Chai.’ It’s an endless cycle. I get compared to Lawrence Chaney, and in five seasons, someone might say, ‘Oh, she looks like Catrin.’

Pasty: Well, we’re twins, people say.

Catrin: Yeah, basically. I’m actually Pasty!

Paige: One thing I love is when people say a queen looks like someone who started drag after them.

Pasty: Our season is real fun energy when we’re all together. There’s so much banter, but the legacy of this season is going to be queer joy. Right now, in the current climate, it’s like a bubble of what community can be — queer people meeting up and enjoying themselves. Are you picking your nose again, Catrin?

Catrin: No. Fuck off.

Pasty: See? That’s the joy of the season. With the world the way it is, it’s nice to have a little bubble like this. We all love each other.

Bonnie: There’s no clear frontrunner for the crown. People have been predicting who’ll be on top, ranking our promo looks, but everyone brings something unique in personality and aesthetic. So people will pick their favourites, and everyone will be #TeamSomeone because we’re all amazing.

GT: Finally, I know you can’t give too much away. So, spoiler-free: how much of a gag is this season? Exaggerated adjectives encouraged.

Viola: Ridonkulously gag-worthy. Gagatrongery! Twists and turns left, right, center… everywhere. I can’t even remember half the stuff that happened.

Paige: If the girls on the show were gagged left, right, and center… the audience will be too. I was gagged the whole time. I was like, ‘Wait, what?’

Tayris: I’ve already said this offline, but I’ll say it here… the best collection of runways this show has ever seen.

Everyone: Yes!

Sally: Fierce is drag, fierce is gag, you know what I mean?

Pasty: With what Bonnie was saying earlier, the fact that we’re all so unique but so good at what we do… you never know where the season’s going to go.

Catrin: It’s very unexpected. Even filming we were like, ‘Did that actually just happen?’

Paige: Exactly. Moments of silence in Untucked. That’s a giveaway, where we’re all just looking at each other, like, ‘What just happened?’

Viola: Pretty much every week when the girls came back from the stage into Untucked, you wouldn’t know who’s top or bottom. Everyone’s so strong, it’s really down to the tiniest details.

Bonnie: I truly think we have All Stars-level talent and looks on this season. It’s an All Stars-level Drag Race, brought to a regular season. You don’t need to wait for us to come back. We’re already bringing it.

Chai: That should be the quote. The headline.

Viola: “You don’t need to bring any of us back [for All Stars]”.

Bonnie: We should do it all over again. Bring us back. One more time.

Catrin: All will be revealed soon. Thursdays at 9pm on BBC iPlayer.

Pasty: I can’t wait for people to watch it.

Bonnie: It’s really funny too. We’re all really funny.

Nyongbella: It’s true.

Tayris: And we’re all really shady! Every person said something that made me go, ‘Ooh?’

Catrin: But we love each other nonetheless.

GT: Okay – who’s claiming the final word? How should we wrap this up?

Bonnie: Go on, Catrin. You know you want to.

Catrin: Oh… I’m on the spot now.

Pasty: Should we all just yell it again?

GT: Alright then. One, two, three…

Everyone: C**T!

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season 7 premieres 25 September on BBC iPlayer. 

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]]> Nadine Coyle ‘fears for her life’ in camp first trailer for Drag Race UK season 7 https://www.gaytimes.com/drag/drag-race-uk-season-7-official-trailer/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 16:37:19 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1450935 The first trailer for RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season seven has (finally) arrived, and it’s as dramatic, camp and chaotic as ever. Premiering Thursday 25 September on BBC Three and…

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The first trailer for RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season seven has (finally) arrived, and it’s as dramatic, camp and chaotic as ever.

Premiering Thursday 25 September on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer, the new season introduces a brand new batch of British queens to the franchise (including Sasha Colby’s drag daughter!).

As always, RuPaul is on hosting duties – joined once again by Seduction’s Michelle Visage and comedians Alan Carr and Graham Norton.

In the trailer, RuPaul channels her inner Evil Queen, asking: “Mirror, mirror, on the wall – who’s the fiercest of them all?”

Viewers are then treated to snippets of the queens sashaying into the werkroom for the first time, a glimpse at the six British icons joining them for the beloved makeover challenge, and a moment where Nadine Coyle tells an unidentified queen: “I ought to be fearing for my life.”

The 12 queens competing for the title of the UK’s Next Drag Superstar are Bones, Bonnie Ann Clyde, Catrin Feelings, Chai T Grande, Elle Vosque, Nyongbella, Paige Three, Pasty, Sally™, Silllexa Diction, Tayris Mongardi and Viola.

Guest judges this season include Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Jane Horrocks, Michelle de Swarte, Sophie Willan, Susan Wokoma, Joel Dommett, Mazz Murray, Jordan North and Mutya Buena (!).

Meanwhile, the stars embracing their inner charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent for the makeover are Charlotte Church, David Potts, Dani Harmer, Diane Parish, Michelle McManus and Shobna Gulati.

Outside the UK, viewers can watch Drag Race UK season seven on WOW Presents Plus.

Check out the camp first trailer below.

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]]> Drag Race UK lines up British legends for makeover challenge https://www.gaytimes.com/drag/drag-race-uk-season-7-makeover-celebrity-guests/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:31:22 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1450891 Six British icons have been announced as the guest stars for Drag Race UK’s annual makeover challenge. On 12 September, BBC Three confirmed Welsh singer-songwriter Charlotte Church, Celebrity Big Brother…

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Six British icons have been announced as the guest stars for Drag Race UK’s annual makeover challenge.

On 12 September, BBC Three confirmed Welsh singer-songwriter Charlotte Church, Celebrity Big Brother winner David Potts, Tracy Beaker’s Dani Harmer, EastEnders legend Diane Parish, Pop Idol champion Michelle McManus and Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati as the makeover subjects for season seven.

“Working with the amazingly talented queens was an absolute joy and privilege,” said Church.

“My transformation into my inner goddess was a wonderful exploration for me. I have loved the show for a long time and every second of my experience was delectable and juicy!”

Harmer described the experience as “the best day” of her life, before joking (?): “It beats the birth of my children!”

Gulati, who publicly came out as non-binary earlier this year, said: “What’s not to love?

“Little old me serving face in a room of fierce queens, with of course the charisma, nerve and talent of our Mama Michelle and the one and only RuPaul. To quote Ru, we’re all born naked and the rest is drag!”

For Potts, it was a “dream come true and an experience I will cherish forever”, while McManus said it was “an absolute joy to unleash” her inner queen on season seven.

Parish added: “I had such an amazing time with the incredibly talented queens, and of course meeting RuPaul in the flesh was truly sublime! I can’t wait for everyone to see this season; it will be legendary!”

Drag Race UK season seven premieres Thursday 25 September on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and internationally on WOW Presents Plus.

RuPaul returns as host, alongside regular panellists Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton.

The star-studded line-up of guest judges include actors Jamie-Lee O’Donnell (Derry Girls), Jane Horrocks (Absolutely Fabulous), Michelle de Swarte (Spent), Sophie Willan (Alma’s Not Normal), and Susan Wokoma (Chewing Gum), comedian Joel Dommett, West End star Mazz Murray, and radio host Jordan North.

Girl band royalty will also sashay onto the main stage in the form of Nadine Coyle (Girls Aloud) and Mutya Buena (Sugababes). Additionally, choreographer Claudimar Neto returns to “whip the queens into shape when they slip into their dancing heels.”

The queen crowned the UK’s Next Drag Race Superstar will join The Vivienne, Lawrence Chaney, Krystal Versace, Danny Beard, Ginger Johnson and Kyran Thrax in the Drag Race UK Hall of Fame.

Meet the cast of Drag Race UK season seven here.

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]]> JoJo Siwa addresses the Chris Hughes relationship backlash: “It’s really hard” https://www.gaytimes.com/culture/jojo-siwa-addresses-the-backlash-to-her-relationship-with-chris-hughes-its-really-hard/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 02:49:25 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1450851 JoJo Siwa has reflected on the pushback she received for her romance with Love Island’s Chris Hughes. Earlier this year, the ‘Karma’ singer embarked on a transformative journey after she…

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JoJo Siwa has reflected on the pushback she received for her romance with Love Island’s Chris Hughes.

Earlier this year, the ‘Karma’ singer embarked on a transformative journey after she entered the Celebrity Big Brother UK house.

While competing in the competition, the 22-year-old revealed to Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard that, after previously referring to herself as a lesbian, she now identifies as queer. 

“I feel, like, so queer, do you know what I mean? I think that’s the thing. I’ve always told myself I’m a lesbian, and I think being here, I’ve realised, ‘Oh, I’m not a lesbian, I’m queer.’ And I think that’s really cool,” she explained.

“I’m switching letters! I’ve dropped the L, and I’ve gone to the Q, baby! That’s what I love about sexuality.”

However, the biggest thing to come out of Siwa’s run on Celebrity Big Brother UK has been her romantic relationship with Hughes, which she confirmed to The Guardian in June.

“It’s not platonic any more, and it’s been a beautiful development, a beautiful connection, and I’m absolutely head over heels for him, and he’s the same way,” she revealed.

While Siwa has stepped further into her truth and seems happier than ever, it hasn’t stopped the online biphobic backlash, with some critics even accusing her of “turning straight”. 

In a recent interview on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, the 22-year-old singer addressed the pushback, describing it as “really hard.”

“It’s hard because it feels like my own family turned a little bit. And I think we are the LGBTQIA+ family, not the LG community, and it’s a beautiful rainbow. And the number one saying of the queer community is, ‘Love is love.’ And that goes both ways,” she explained.

“And I think that’s beautiful, because it just shows once again, love is love. I guess what I’m trying to say is that just because you’re in a heterosexual relationship, that doesn’t discredit my past. You know what I mean?”

Elsewhere in her interview, Siwa opened up about her bond with fellow queer singer Fletcher, who faced similar backlash for also entering into a relationship with a man.

“She and I have a very similar story at a very similar time, and I saw people doing the same thing to her. And her and I have kind of been able to talk and be there for each other and be like, ‘Dude, this is crazy.’ And she’s like, ‘I get you, you get me.’ Like, what’s happening? This is from inside our own house,” she continued.

Siwa went on to detail some of the in-person bullying she faced from other queer people.

“Women holding hands, women cuddling together in public, I see them see me and I see them laugh, I see them point, I see them roll their eyes. Now I see them come up to me and take a photo and run away,” she explained.

“I see them flip me off while I’m driving. I see them. Someone the other day came and stood outside my studio with the middle finger up for about two minutes, and then just walked away – from within the queer community.”

Due to the public response, Siwa revealed that she is now guarded whenever she meets other queer people.

“I immediately go, ‘Do you like me or do they hate me? Does he already have a preconceived opinion of me? Is he on the side of the internet, that is, ooh, she’s a horrible person?'” she continued.

Towards the end of her interview, Smith asked the Dance Moms star how she identified, to which she replied: “Queer.”

“I think that’s a beautiful umbrella term, and it gives flexibility and it gives fluid. I think that pansexual, obviously, is exactly what I feel. I think some people would also say bisexual, I think that’s very, very easy,” she said.

“But yeah, I don’t get hung up on that. I think that I was, and I felt that I needed to be, and it’s just exhausting. What’s the point? I’m happy.”

You can watch her full interview below.

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]]> Steps musical Here & Now is a fun, feel-good and fabulous night out – review https://www.gaytimes.com/performance/steps-musical-here-now-is-a-fun-feel-good-and-fabulous-night-out-review/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 16:33:07 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1450747 Following its debut in Birmingham last year, Here & Now – the new musical based on Steps’ back catalogue – has embarked on a UK tour, opening last week at…

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Following its debut in Birmingham last year, Here & Now – the new musical based on Steps’ back catalogue – has embarked on a UK tour, opening last week at the Manchester Opera House. You’re probably already familiar with the songs – Steps’ music has been a staple of many a queer night and pride event for the best part of three decades – but what is the show all about?

This new musical – book by Shaun Kitchener, directed by Rachel Kavanaugh – is set in an English seaside town, with the action largely unfolding in a supermarket called Better Best Bargains (we see what they did there)… or more specifically in and amongst aisles 5, 6, 7 and 8 (we also see what they did there).

We’re introduced to co-workers and besties Caz (Rebecca Lock), Vel (Jacqui Dubois), Neeta (Rosie Singha) and Robbie (Blake Patrick Anderson). At the opening of the show, it is two weeks until Caz’s 50th birthday; the quartet decide that they are going to use the two weeks productively, and make a pact to finally sort their love lives out. Cue two hours of being pushed outside of their comfort zones, with each character taking a chance on their own respective happy ending.

It’s not the deepest or most profound show, but then we weren’t expecting that. What Here & Now does very effectively is blend the every day with occasional moments of emotional depth; with the supermarket setting and the very ordinary dilemmas our characters find themselves in, it feels a bit like watching a soap – perhaps unsurprising, given that Shaun Kitchener has been a regular writer on Hollyoaks for the last few years.

Like any jukebox musical, the narrative has been written to fit the songs – in other shows this often feels somewhat forced, but for the most part it works here. Sure, one or two tunes are bit shoehorned in, but most of the time the lyrics work well with the story. The highlight is undoubtedly the truly inspired use of tender ballad ‘Heartbeat’; it’s reimagined in an entirely different light (we shan’t spoil it here) which provides the show’s most poignant moment – it’s really rather moving.

Speaking of the songs – what absolute bangers they are! Of all the back catalogues to choose, Steps’ music really lends itself well to a musical: they have countless upbeat tunes and plenty of choreography ready to go. Choreographer Matt Cole has done a fantastic job reimagining these iconic routines – it’s far from simply a copy/paste job, although there are plenty of references to the original moves in there. Highlights include the absolutely ridiculous ‘half price hoedown’ that accompanies ‘5, 6, 7, 8’, which we thought was one of most outlandish sequences we’d seen on stage until we witnessed RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star River Medway fronting a rendition of ‘Chain Reaction’, which is camper than any Rusical episode we’ve ever seen.

Each member of the cast absolutely holds their own, though we wanted to draw attention to Rebecca Lock in what is effectively the lead role of Caz – the musical hinges on her story, and she handles the majority of the lead vocals. Her voice is surprisingly reminiscent of Claire Richards – which of course works very well here.

We had a great time with Here & Now – no, it’s not high art, but were you expecting that from a jukebox musical based on Steps songs? We were expecting a fun, feel-good and fabulous night out, and that’s exactly what we got. If you’re a fan of Steps, or if you just fancy a hearty dose of escapism right now, this is the show for you.

GAY TIMES gives Here & Now – 4/5

Here & Now is touring the UK until May 2026; more information can be found here.

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]]> RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season 7 premiere date revealed! https://www.gaytimes.com/drag/rupauls-drag-race-uk-season-7-premiere-date-revealed/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:10:06 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1450727 FINALLY: BBC Three has confirmed the premiere date for the seventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. On 10 September, the series’ social media channels announced that our “wish has…

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FINALLY: BBC Three has confirmed the premiere date for the seventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.

On 10 September, the series’ social media channels announced that our “wish has been granted” and “fairy godMOTHER Ru has spoken,” before ruvealing that the show returns on Thursday 25 September.

“Dust off your heels – you’re going to the ball!” they added.

The Instagram post sparked a flurry of excitement from fans and franchise alumni, with UK vs the World winner Blu Hydrangea writing: “As one supreme rises, Kyran Thrax fades.”

“Wait what’s happening on the 25th September I’m confused?!” wrote Paige Three, one of the 12 queens competing on the season, while her competitor Catrin Feelings added: “Do I still get 2 more wishes?”

As with every season of Drag Race, the cast will battle it out in a variety of iconic challenges: designing their own runway looks, delivering Oscar-worthy performances in acting skits, and, of course, impersonating celebrities in the Snatch Game.

The winner of each maxi-challenge earns a coveted RuPeter Badge, while the bottom two queens lip-sync for their lives to stay in the competition.

The queen crowned the UK’s Next Drag Race Superstar will join The Vivienne, Lawrence Chaney, Krystal Versace, Danny Beard, Ginger Johnson and Kyran Thrax in the Drag Race UK Hall of Fame.

Season seven sees the return of RuPaul as host, alongside regular panellists Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton.

Guest judges include actors Jamie-Lee O’Donnell (Derry Girls), Jane Horrocks (Absolutely Fabulous), Michelle de Swarte (Spent), Sophie Willan (Alma’s Not Normal), and Susan Wokoma (Chewing Gum), comedian Joel Dommett, West End star Mazz Murray, and radio host Jordan North.

Girl band royalty will also sashay onto the main stage in the form of Nadine Coyle (Girls Aloud) and Mutya Buena (Sugababes). Additionally, choreographer Claudimar Neto returns to “whip the queens into shape when they slip into their dancing heels.”

Visit here for more on the Drag Race UK season seven cast.

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