RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is set to leave following the conclusion of its eighth series. The broadcaster confirmed the move as it continues to navigate significant financial pressures, noting that it has been forced to make very difficult choices that were not taken lightly.
The competition, which launched in 2019, successfully brought British drag into the mainstream. It has served as a launchpad for numerous performers, turning stars like Danny Beard, La Voix, and Tia Kofi into household names. At its height, the program drew an average of 1.5 million viewers per episode.
Is currently implementing a strategy to achieve £500 million in savings. Director-general Matt Brittin has previously informed staff that the scale of these required reductions necessitates tough decisions across the corporation’s programming slate.
While the show is departing, a spokesperson expressed pride in the groundbreaking series and extended thanks to RuPaul, the production company World of Wonder, and the entire team involved in the show’s success. The current series, which premiered in September 2026, will continue to air on Three and remain available on iPlayer. Existing series will also stay on the platform following the transition.
Future installments of the main competition and the spin-off series, vs The World, will move to Wow Presents Plus, a streaming service owned by the show’s production company. The platform has already announced a new era for the franchise, with the premiere of Drag Race UK All Stars scheduled for autumn 2027.
This shift follows earlier decision to cancel the LGBTQ+ dating shows I Kissed a Boy and I Kissed a Girl. At the time, the corporation cited similar funding challenges, though it maintained it was exceptionally proud of those programs.
Reflecting on the trend, Jordan Burrow, a contestant from the second series of I Kissed a Boy, suggested the decision reflects the current standing of the queer community within the broader media landscape.
The format of the show, which features judges RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Graham Norton, and Alan Carr, has been widely praised for highlighting the unique style of British drag. has not yet clarified whether other international versions of the franchise, such as Drag Race Canada or Drag Race Down Under, will continue to be broadcast on its channels. The report also notes that a new series, Drag Race UK All Stars, which sees previous fan favourites return to compete again, will premier in Autumn 2027 exclusively on Wow Presents Plus.
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