TV News & Features | GAY TIMES https://www.gaytimes.com/category/television/ Amplifying queer voices. Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:16:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 Indya Moore calls out Ryan Murphy for his silence on trans rights: “We need you to do more” https://www.gaytimes.com/culture/indya-moore-calls-out-ryan-murphy-for-his-silence-on-trans-rights-we-need-you-to-do-more/ Wed, 01 Oct 2025 08:18:48 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1452164 Indya Moore has criticised Ryan Murphy for his lack of public support for the trans community. On September 28, the Pose star took to Instagram to reflect on the growing…

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Indya Moore has criticised Ryan Murphy for his lack of public support for the trans community.

On September 28, the Pose star took to Instagram to reflect on the growing hostility and political attacks directed toward trans people.

“I just want to say thank you to everybody who has ever supported trans people, even if I’m upset with you for not doing enough for Black folks, for not doing enough for other marginalised groups,” she tearfully exclaimed at the start of the video.

“But I just want to say thank you to everyone who has ever actually done anything to help us, to take us out of poverty, to help us to not be struggling, to help us not be in the centre of violence all the time.

“Because seeing all of these reports that are coming out about what the federal government is trying to do to persecute trans people and put us in concentration camps it’s really disturbing.”

While Moore said that she’s never one to be scared, she admitted to feeling hurt and shocked over the troubling state of trans rights.

After expressing her gratitude for the people who have supported the trans community with work opportunities and platforms, the 30-year-old called out Pose co-creator Murphy for being silent during the Trump Administration’s latest round of anti-trans attacks.

“We really need y’all. We really, really need y’all. The fact that Ryan Murphy has been this silent. We really pissed you off that much, Ryan? Like, Ryan Murphy, who upset you that much? Janet really pissed you off that much?” Moore said.

The actress was seemingly referring to Pose writer Janet Mock and her passionate 2021 speech calling out her unfair payment on the series, as well as the lack of trans support in the industry/Murphy’s productions.

“I’m trying to understand. How is it that you could do something like Pose during Donald Trump’s administration, and then it’s like, poof, you’re gone? It’s, like, garbage. It’s like an embarrassment. Like, that’s how it feels.”

Moore continued: “Ryan Murphy, we need you to do more. You do need to address the racism, the violence and the targeting of people on your productions, Ryan Murphy. Yes, you do. You do need to make sure trans people are paid equally. Yes, Janet did the right thing.”

Moore went on to express her shock over how quickly everyone had forgotten about Mock, who also wrote and produced on other Murphy-created projects, such as Hollywood and Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.

“And let me tell you something: trans people, we are not loving each other the way that we should. We’re catty, we’re jealous, we compare ourselves to the next woman,” the Nimona star continued. “We need more love from each other and from others.

“Janet Mock’s grievances about Hollywood, her breakdown, her upset, should have never resulted in us stopping talking about her.

“Y’all failed her. Y’all failed her, because you know what? Too many of the girls are out here waiting for the other girl to move over so she can have her spotlight. That is what happens to marginalised people. We are competing with each other too much.”

Towards the end of her video, Moore called on people to stop being “passive observers” of the struggles impacting the trans community.

“I am looking at who will take me as an asylum seeker right now. I had never thought I would have to seek asylum from America… We need help. Trans people need help. We need places that we can go for asylum. In your countries, please advocate for our safety, for us to be able to have refuge,” she added.

Since uploading her powerful video, Moore has received support from fans and her LGBTQIA+ peers in the industry.

Acclaimed trans actress Laverne Cox wrote: “Love you so much, my sister. This call to action, this call to love, this call for empathy, acknowledging each other’s humanity, both intra-community and for those who proclaim allyship. I’ve been weeping just like this. Weeping.

“But not showing it. But I hear you. I feel you deeply. I’m right there too.”

Trailblazing activist, author and model Munroe Bergdorf wrote: “I love you so much.”

Drag Race star Shea Couleé added: “To my trans family. I love you. I see you. And my very existence is indebted to you and all of the sacrifices you make to live an authentic life. I stand with you, and thank you for all that you do.”

You can watch Moore’s full video here.

The new issue of Gay Times, featuring King Princess, A Night Like This stars Alexander Lincoln and Jack Brett Anderson, NFL’s first trans cheerleader Justine Lindsay, and more, is out now – available exclusively to subscribers.

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]]> Celebrity Big Brother icon Tiffany Pollard has come out as non-binary https://www.gaytimes.com/culture/celebrity-big-brother-icon-tiffany-pollard-has-come-out-as-non-binary/ Wed, 01 Oct 2025 06:27:23 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1452171 Reality TV icon Tiffany Pollard has come out as non-binary. On 8 October, the beloved Celebrity Big Brother star will be heading back to our screens to host OUTtv’s new…

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Reality TV icon Tiffany Pollard has come out as non-binary.

On 8 October, the beloved Celebrity Big Brother star will be heading back to our screens to host OUTtv’s new reality competition series, Slayers: Wheel of Fate.

The new series follows 10 queer competitors who take part in an “immersive gaming experience” that features a “mysterious castle, a villain named Queen Karen, and a ‘dragon’ that eats the eliminated contestant every week.”

The synopsis adds: “The players who survive will get to stand alongside Pollard as the ultimate Slayer and have the chance to walk away with a grand prize of up to $25,000, provided by Taimi, a leading LGBTQ+ dating app.”

Ahead of its world premiere, Pollard opened up to PinkNews about all things Slayer: Wheel of Fate, as well as her own non-binary identity.

⁠“I really do resonate with non-binary because I feel like we are so dual without even recognising it, because it takes two sexes for us to get here. So some days, you know, I may feel a lot more masculine, and some days I’m super feminine, and that’s okay,” she explained to the news outlet.

⁠Elsewhere in the interview, Pollard opened up about the first time she kissed a girl in middle school, revealing that it “felt right.”

⁠“It had to happen at some point. You gonna come out of that closet, and once you do, it’s like, ‘Okay, wow, this world is open to me in new ways,’ and sweetie, shoving me back in the closet is never gonna be an option.”⁠

⁠Towards the end of her sit-down, the College Hill: Celebrity Edition star reflected on why she has such a dedicated LGBTQIA+ fanbase.

“Well, I mean, look at me, am I not a drag queen? I mean that in all seriousness. I was bullied a lot, especially coming up as a kid, and I feel like the gays understand that and accept it and see me in a lot of the, and vice versa,” she explained.

⁠Pollard’s recent interview isn’t the first time she’s opened up about her queer identity.  

During a 2024 appearance on The Jason Lee Show, reality TV icon exclaimed that she has “lived a very, very broad life.”

 

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“I’ve never been afraid to do anything I wanted to do. I’ve seen it all, I’ve been it all, and I’m good at it all. Real good at it all,” she exclaimed.

Pollard also revealed that she began exploring her masculine side while she was in middle school.

“I talk like a man, I think like a man, I have a lot of male tendencies. That started coming out probably in middle school. The aggression and just feeling a certain masculinity, if you will,” she explained.

“And why is that something that I have to suppress if I know it’s there? But can I throw on a heel and a wig and feel amazing? Yes. But there’s still another side to me.”

Check out the trailer for Pollard’s new series, Slayers: Wheel of Fate, below.

The new issue of Gay Times, featuring King Princess, A Night Like This stars Alexander Lincoln and Jack Brett Anderson, NFL’s first trans cheerleader Justine Lindsay, and more, is out now – available exclusively to subscribers.

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]]> Mid-Century Modern: Hulu cancels LGBTQ+ sitcom after one season https://www.gaytimes.com/television/mid-century-modern-hulu-cancels-lgbtq-sitcom-after-one-season/ Mon, 29 Sep 2025 20:58:39 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1452017 The fate of Mid-Century Modern has been revealed. Back in March, TV viewers were finally treated to the LGBTQIA+ multi-cam sitcom – created by Will & Grace’s Max Mutchnick and…

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The fate of Mid-Century Modern has been revealed.

Back in March, TV viewers were finally treated to the LGBTQIA+ multi-cam sitcom – created by Will & Grace’s Max Mutchnick and David Kohan.

Starring Matt Bomer, Nathan Lane, Nathan Lee Graham and the late Linda Lavin, the series follows “three best friends — gay gentlemen of a certain age – who, after an unexpected death, decide to spend their golden years living together in Palm Springs, where the wealthiest one lives with his mother.

“As a chosen family, they prove that no matter how hard things get, there’s always someone around to remind you it would be better if you got your neck done.”

While Mid-Century Modern received rave reviews from critics and viewers – earning an 88% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes – it looks like our favourite Palm Springs natives will not be returning to our screens.

On 29 September, Mutchnick took to Instagram to reveal that the show had not been renewed for a second season.

“Ten great episodes… Not enough. But we loved making every single one of them,” he wrote. “We’re gonna miss our very special show. Thanks to everyone who watched.”

Since the news was announced, fans have taken to Mutchnick’s comment section and social media to express their sadness over the cancellation of Mid-Century Modern.

“Ugh! Another funny, wonderful show we love not getting renewed. Do execs know how badly we need good comedy right now??? Good comedy is unifying! Much love & appreciation to you all,” one fan wrote.

A second wrote on X/Twitter: “A shame. This was a very funny show and deserved a second season.” 

Another viewer added: “So sad to hear Mid-Century Modern wasn’t renewed for another season.”

In addition to Bomer, Lane and Graham, Mid-Century Modern featured guest appearances from Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family), Billie Lourd (American Horror Story), Stephanie Koenig (English Teacher) and Kimberly Coles (Living Single).

Pamela Adlon (King of the Hill) and Zane Phillips (Fire Island) also held recurring roles as Mindy Schneiderman and Mason, respectively.

 

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The new issue of Gay Times, featuring King Princess, A Night Like This stars Alexander Lincoln and Jack Brett Anderson, NFL’s first trans cheerleader Justine Lindsay, and more, is out now – available exclusively to subscribers.

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]]> “Team Zelah!”: Big Brother UK fans rally behind trans housemate https://www.gaytimes.com/television/team-zelah-big-brother-uk-fans-rally-behind-trans-housemate/ Mon, 29 Sep 2025 12:06:09 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1451963 ‘The winner of Big Brother 2025 is… Zelah!’ sounds about right, doesn’t it? The iconic reality series has returned for its 22nd season — and third since the ITV reboot…

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‘The winner of Big Brother 2025 is… Zelah!’ sounds about right, doesn’t it?

The iconic reality series has returned for its 22nd season — and third since the ITV reboot — with co-hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best introducing 12 new housemates to the nation.

Among them is Zelah Glasson, a 25-year-old personal trainer from South London who says he’s “constantly compared to a spaniel dog” and is “pretty unbearable if I don’t get my 12,000 steps a day.”

“I’m half-Indian, half-English, so my mum’s from Calcutta and my dad was from Cornwall,” he explained in his VT.

“The kind of people I don’t usually get along with are bro-y guys, which I know is ironic to say as I sit here in a wife pleaser with a mullet.”

Zelah went on to share that people are “usually pretty shocked” to learn he’s a trans man, having “lived as a woman for 23 years” of his life.

“I think I’m living proof that being transgender is not a choice, because why would I choose to go from the luxury, the sanctuary that is the women’s toilets to the horror that is the men’s?”

Zelah was immediately met with an overwhelmingly positive reaction from Big Brother UK viewers, who have already declared him the winner.

Many responded with thirst, while others praised the show for casting a trans man “in our current political climate.”

“I’ll start walking 12,000 steps a day for him,” one viewer wrote on X/Twitter, with another adding: “A trans man on BBUK in the big 2025 is a huge win for representation, team Zelah!”

A third said: “Call me old fashioned but yes, I was born to serve my husband. Cook for him. Do the laundry. Wake up at the crack of dawn to make his breakfast, prepare his clothes, clean the house, take care of him and run a bath after work.”

Check out the support for Zelah below.

https://twitter.com/Dutchbbfan/status/1972408129133682827/photo/1

Before entering the house, Zelah explained that he signed up for the series because he’s “in this weird in-between where I’ve recently left the corporate world into having a bit of a looser schedule while I get qualified and build my business.

“So it felt like a ‘why not’ situation. I’m someone who doesn’t have much of a social battery that runs out, so I’m very intrigued to see how far that goes in the house.”

He also addressed the onslaught of attacks in mainstream media aimed at the trans community, saying it “will be nice to re-centre that and retake control.”

With Big Brother UK having crowned two trans winners in prior seasons – Nadia Almada in 2004 and Luke Anderson in 2012 – Zelah praised the series for showing “the normality of people. You can’t get more personal than watching someone 24/7.”

The 11 additional contestants on the 22nd season of Big Brother UK are as follows: Cameron Kinch (22, Taunton), Caroline Monk (56, Canvey Island), Elsa Rae (21, Essex), Emily Hewertson (25, Northampton), Gani Khan (39, Bromley/India), Jenny Baird (20, Derry), Marcus John (22, Manchester), Nancy Nocerino (22, Glasgow/Italy), Sam Ashby (27, Skipton), Tate Reynolds (27, Falkirk) and Teja Dalphy (18, Bristol).

Big Brother UK airs Sunday to Friday on ITV2/ITVX.

The new issue of Gay Times, featuring King Princess, A Night Like This stars Alexander Lincoln and Jack Brett Anderson, NFL’s first trans cheerleader Justine Lindsay, and more, is out now – available exclusively to subscribers.

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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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]]> “Holy wow”: Dylan Efron’s shirtless TikTok dance goes viral https://www.gaytimes.com/culture/dylan-efron-shirtless-dance/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 16:06:44 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1451644 It’s not unusual for Dylan Efron to go shirtless, but this time he’s doing it while showing off his dance moves. One fan perfectly summed up the moment: “For free?!”…

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It’s not unusual for Dylan Efron to go shirtless, but this time he’s doing it while showing off his dance moves. One fan perfectly summed up the moment: “For free?!”

The reality star and younger brother of Zac Efron, also known as Miss Guided, is currently competing on the latest season of Dancing With The Stars, paired with Daniella Karagach.

After surviving the first two eliminations, which saw Baron Davis and Corey Feldman sent home, Efron shared a behind-the-scenes video from his and Karagach’s rehearsals.

To the beat of the viral song ‘Assumptions’ by Sam Gellaitry, the duo deliver a samba — but no one was focused on the accuracy of their moves, thanks to Efron’s shirtless display and insane abs.

“TikTok dances are fun,” he captioned the video, which has over 430k likes and is nearing four million views, alongside the hashtags: #DWTS, #whisk, #blueshirtguy and #dancetrend.

The comments were predictably thirsty.

“Yes, of course you can have all of my votes,” wrote one fan, while another exclaimed: “Oh my dear heavenly father.” A third added: “I don’t know what to stare at, the hips or those abs.”

@dylanefron TikTok dances are fun. @Dancing with the Stars #DWTS #whisk #blueshirtguy #dancetrend ♬ Assumptions (slowed down version) – Sam Gellaitry

Variations of “holy wow” and “why is this video 30 minutes long?” also flooded Efron’s comments section.

Asked about the viral reaction in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Efron said: “Honestly, my fans on social media are like… they’re the best. It makes me want to post more because they’re always so kind to me.

“I’m, like, tingling thinking about it. It’s awesome.”

Efron made his reality TV debut earlier this year as a contestant on The Traitors, alongside LGBTQIA+ stars such as Bob the Drag Queen, Chrishell Stause, Gabbey Windey, and Ivar Mountbatten.

During an infamous roundtable exchange, Bob clashed with a “misguided” Efron and quipped: “That should be your drag name. Welcome to the stage, Miss Guided.”

Efron has since fully embraced his drag alter ego — posing for Cosmopolitan in a t-shirt emblazoned with “Miss Guided,” while, naturally, still showing plenty of skin.

Here’s a reminder for you…

 

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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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]]> John Partridge reveals secret bedroom rule for his gay EastEnders character https://www.gaytimes.com/television/john-partridge-reveals-secret-bedroom-rule-for-his-gay-eastenders-character/ Thu, 25 Sep 2025 07:51:19 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1451554 John Partridge has shared some shocking behind-the-scenes information about his time on EastEnders. In 2008, the 54-year-old actor made his debut on the long-running UK soap as Christian Clarke, a…

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John Partridge has shared some shocking behind-the-scenes information about his time on EastEnders.

In 2008, the 54-year-old actor made his debut on the long-running UK soap as Christian Clarke, a gay personal trainer and the brother of Jane Beale (Laurie Brett).

Following his arrival in Albert Square, Christian quickly became a fan favourite due to his groundbreaking storylines, including his beloved and tumultuous relationship with Syed Masood (Marc Elliot).

After starring on EastEnders for four years, Partridge left the series in 2012, reprising his role for brief stints in 2015 and 2016.

During a recent interview on Good Morning Britain, the openly gay actor briefly reflected on his time with the show, including the alleged rule the BBC had for his and Elliot’s characters.

“When I was in EastEnders, when Marc Elliot and I would do any scenes in the bedroom, only one of us was allowed to have our shirt off because we were a gay couple,” he explained.

“Any other scenes, in any other soaps or any other TV dramas, heterosexual couples were allowed to show as much skin as they like. But we were not allowed to do that, and that was recently.”

When anchor Richard Madeley asked if Partridge or Elliot would flip a coin on who would go shirtless, the Queen Cleopatra star said: “Well, needless to say, that I was the one who had his top off. But that just goes to show that it is alive and well.”

In addition to discussing EastEnders, the British actor dished about his new play, The Code.

Set in 1950, Partridge plays Billy Haines, a former silent movie actor turned interior designer who was thrust out of Hollywood for being gay.

The official synopsis adds: “The Code brings together a fading star, a rising talent, a power-hungry agent, and a legend who’s seen it all. When iconic screen siren Tallulah Bankhead stops by the home of her longtime friend, former matinee idol Billy Haines, tensions rise as secrets unfold over martinis and memories.”

While talking about the show, Partridge opened up about Haines’ legacy and the homophobia he faced.

“In 1930, Billy Haines was the biggest box office drawer at MGM through that golden period of Hollywood. By 1933, he was the first victim of cancel culture, and that was for being gay,” he explained.

“Other artists at the time, like [Ramon] Novarro, [Rudolph] Valentino, Cary Grant, were all posed the same question – give up your gay lover or lose your career. They chose the former; he chose the latter.”

The Code is now playing at the Southwark Playhouse Elephant on the West End until 11 October.

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]]> 9-1-1 star Oliver Stark pays homage to Buck in honor of Bi Visibility Day https://www.gaytimes.com/culture/9-1-1-star-oliver-stark-pays-homage-to-buck-in-honor-of-bi-visibility-day/ Wed, 24 Sep 2025 22:55:42 +0000 https://www.gaytimes.com/?p=1451542 9-1-1 star Oliver Stark has reflected on bringing Evan ‘Buck’ Buckley’s bisexuality storyline to life.   On 23 September, the beloved talent took to his Instagram story to ring in Bi…

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9-1-1 star Oliver Stark has reflected on bringing Evan ‘Buck’ Buckley’s bisexuality storyline to life.  

On 23 September, the beloved talent took to his Instagram story to ring in Bi Visibility Day with a heartwarming video.

“Good Morning, I just want to come on here and make a quick video because it is [Bi Visibility] Day, and one of my biggest joys of playing Buck over the past eight and nine seasons is getting to tell the story of him discovering his bisexuality,“ Stark exclaimed while walking on a treadmill shirtless.

“I hope truly that we offered up some kind of positive representation. I’m really super proud of getting to be a part of this storyline, and I know that there are a lot of people who think bisexual men are just too scared to come out as gay and whatever it is, and that’s obviously not the case.”

Towards the end of his statement, Stark expressed his hopes of “hammering that point home“ in the upcoming ninth season of 9-1-1, adding that he was excited to delve deeper into it.

“It’s just such an honour to get to be a part of telling this story. So, thank you guys,“ he concluded.

Of course, it didn’t take long for fans to embrace the 34-year-old’s sweet video on social media.

“If nobody got us, I know Oliver Stark got us,“ one person wrote on X/Twitter.

Another fan echoed similar sentiments, writing: “Oh God, I love him so much. Thanks for just being our Buck.”

A third Buck enthusiast cheekily added: “Still obsessed that he did this shirtless.“

Stark’s Bi Visibility Day video arrives over a year after his beloved character came out as bisexual.

Taking place in 9-1-1’s seventh season, Buck’s queer awakening kicked off after he shared a passionate kiss with former firefighter and LAFD Air Operations pilot Tommy (Lou Ferrigno Jr.).

Following the monumental episode, Buck has continued to explore his sexuality, coming out to his family and best friend Edmundo ‘Eddie‘ Diaz (Ryan Guzman), and getting into a full-fledged relationship with Tommy.

Naturally, fans have warmly embraced Buck’s coming-out storyline, with many celebrating his journey on social media.

Stark has also expressed his support for his character’s LGBTQIA+ inclusive storyline on numerous occasions.

In a 2024 sit-down with GAY TIMES, the British actor revealed that he had planned to explore Buck’s sexuality in season seven, regardless of whether the writers made it canon.

“Yeah. It was brought to me a couple of years ago as a possibility, and I had said yes, and then it was shut down from somewhere else above. So, I had known that this was a possible storyline that we might, one day, be able to lean back into,“ he explained.

“Honestly, at the beginning of this season… I see what everybody else sees. Like, I watch the same show. I don’t think that the Buddie fans are wrong.

“So, I decided this year that I wanted to possibly lean into some kind of sexual awakening for Buck, anyway. When the storyline was brought to me by Tim Minear, who writes the show, it was like, ‘Great! I was gonna do that anyway. Good to know we’re all on the same page.’“

Stark also gushed about the fan reception to Buck’s bisexuality, describing it as “overwhelming.”

“I’m so happy that the response has been as positive as it has, and obviously, there are a few people who want to speak against it, as you get with any storyline anyway, but it’s almost been overwhelming. It’s been a lot to take in, but for the majority, it’s been really lovely and positive, and I’ve been really proud of it,“ he said.

To read Stark’s full interview, click here.

9-1-1 season nine is set to premiere on 9 October on ABC.

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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. 

The post Drag Race UK season 7 cast on why queer joy and visibility are more vital than ever appeared first on GAY TIMES.

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