RuPaul’s Drag Race UK catapulted the likes of La Voix, Baga Chipz and Danny Beard into the public eye during its 11 series run
The BBC has axed RuPaul’s Drag Race UK after 11 series as it battles “financial pressures”. The British version of the reality TV show, which has made stars of the likes of Baga Chipz, Danny Beard, and Strictly Come Dancing favourite La Voix, launched in 2019.
Since then it has aired eight series of the regular show and three series of the spin-off, RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs the World. But on Wednesday it was confirmed the show had been dropped from the BBC schedule.
Instead it will air on WOW Presents Plus. A BBC spokesperson told The Mirror : “As the BBC continues to navigate significant financial pressures and deliver the savings required of us, we have had to make some very difficult choices, none of which have been taken lightly.
“We can therefore confirm together with World of Wonder, that RuPaul’s Drag Race UK will be leaving the BBC and moving to WOW Presents Plus.
“The BBC is incredibly proud of all eleven series of this groundbreaking show and we would like to thank RuPaul, World of Wonder and everyone involved, both on and off screen. We are certain that viewers will enjoy the eighth series, which is currently airing on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three.”
A source told the Mirror that it was a “huge surprise” to see the show cut. They said: “It’s been doing so well and it’s the only show of its kind. Staff were told that there was nothing that could be done.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK currenty averages around one million viewers per episode for the BBC. It was launched more than a decade after drag superstar RuPaul, known for hits like Supermodel, launched the format in the US.
The most recent series of RuPaul’s Drag Race launched just days ago and is currently airing. Last year saw Bones emerge as the victor.
BBC director-general Matt Brittin, the former Google executive who took over from Tim Davie, unveiled plans to cut around £80million from programming on TV, radio and news as part of corporation wide cuts earlier this year. Amongst the confirmed changes announced, BBC One’s Breakfast slot on a Sunday morning was ppulled, and the production teams making Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and Newsnight will merge.
Radio 4’s The World Tonight is set to end next year, while the number of permanent presents on Today will be reduced to four from five, with just one single anchor operating on Saturdays. World Tonight is being replaced by Newshour, and Breakfast on Sunday is being replaced by the BBC News Channel.
Confirming the move, Brittin said: “We will reduce commissioning spend across Content, News and Nations by around £80 million in 2027–28 and review our broadcast TV channels and radio network portfolio as audiences move online.”
He added: “The scale of savings requires tough choices, careful work and won’t all be ready at once. We are committed to letting you know as soon as we have plans in your area. All divisions will be making significant savings.”
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