The BBC has confirmed that the current eighth main season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK will be the last to air on its channels. The UK version of the popular US show first launched on BBC Three in 2019.
Future series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, along with its international all-star spin-off, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World, are set to be broadcast on the streaming platform Wow Presents Plus.
The announcement has been met with disappointment from many fans and former contestants. Tia Kofi, a contestant from the second series, stated that dropping the programme "feels very counter" to the BBC's commitment to representing diversity. Kofi noted that the BBC has also ended dating shows I Kissed A Boy and I Kissed A Girl, and gameshow The Rap UK.
Fellow season two contestant Bimini expressed sadness on X, highlighting the show's impact in "living rooms where drag was not welcome." Season six runner-up La Voix also shared gratitude for the platform the show provided, while lamenting its loss from "main terrestrial tv."
The decision comes as the BBC aims to achieve £500 million in savings over two years, with plans to reduce commissioning spend by £80 million in the 2027 to 2028 financial year. Other programmes axed include Live At the Apollo and Celebrity Mastermind, alongside several Radio 4 shows.