RuPaul's Drag Race UK stars lament 'end of an era' as BBC cancels LGBTQ+ series after seven years

The BBC’s cancellation of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK has been met with outcry from former contestants and fans alike, with the broadcaster accused of turning its back on “marginalised” and “niche” audiences.The British spin-off of RuPaul’s hugely successful US competition series, Drag Race UK arrived on BBC Three in 2019 and became vital viewing during lockdown, going on to spawn 11 series including three international spin-offs.Series eight kicked off last week, with RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Graham Norton and Alan Carr on the judging panel once again.But on Wednesday, it was announced that the programme has been cancelled by the BBC amid the broadcaster’s widely publicised £500m savings plan, with the long-awaited upcoming All Stars UK series moving to WOW Presents Plus. The Drag Race UK back catalogue will remain on BBC iPlayer.The cast of series sevenBBC/Brandon HepworthA BBC spokesperson told The Standard: “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.“The BBC is incredibly proud of all eleven series of this groundbreaking show and we would like to thank RuPaul, [production company] 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.”The news shocked fans and former contestants alike, with series six winner Kyran Thrax saying that they had “whiplash” after learning of the long-awaited UK All Stars series and the exit from the BBC at once.“I’m so glad we’re finally getting an All Stars and that Drag Race [UK] will still have a home on WOW Presents Plus, but this does feel bittersweet that it will no longer be on BBC! What an incredible 8 years,” they wrote.UK Vs The World winner Tia Kofi spoke out while appearing on Radio 4’s Today programmeBBC/Hat Trick Productions Ltd/William Cherry/PresseyeAppearing on Radio 4’s Today programme on Thursday, UK vs the World winner Tia Kofi also cited the cancellation of LGBTQ+ dating shows I Kissed A Boy and I Kissed A Girl as signs that the BBC’s cost-cutting measures were leaving “marginalised” audiences with nowhere to go.“I think the mistake is that they seem to be dropping programmes that they consider to be for more niche audiences, which I just don’t think makes a lot of logical sense because the niche audiences are the ones who are very much staying on and watching these things,” they said.“Particularly when it comes to programs like Drag Race UK or the cancellation of I Kissed a Boy and I Kissed a Girl, or the Rap Game UK on the BBC as well, the more marginalised audiences have limited representation in mainstream media.Read More“[They] offer people a platform when they wouldn’t have that. There aren’t really those alternatives for drag performers in the UK.”Online, many fans echoed this point, saying that while the show surviving was a positive thing, losing the BBC platform would make a huge difference.Bimini shared their thoughts on the cancellationAFP/Getty”Devastated for future casted queens, WOW will be amazing but it takes it away from the mainstream where it belongs,” one commenter wrote.Another fan added: ”I was thinking a few days ago how we were starting to get to the point where [Drag Race] UK was starting to really become an institution like US with a whole circle of winners and not just a one time thing. Hopefully it keeps going regardless.”Series two finalist Tayce wrote that it was the “end of an era”, while her fellow finalist and activist Bimini wrote that they were ”actually so sad” to see the show go.”That show was on in living rooms where drag was not welcome, and it changed something in those living rooms,” they wrote.”At a time when queer and trans people in this country are being legislated about and shouted about more than ever, that matters. It still does… Drag was here before the telly. It’ll be here after.”