The BBC's decision to cancel Drag Race UK marks a significant setback for queer representation on British television, according to Metro columnist Adam Miller, who describes the move as a betrayal of LGBTQ+ viewers. The show, which first aired in 2019 after a decade of success in the United States, will now move to the streaming service Wow Presents Plus, a platform with fewer resources than the BBC.
Miller argues that Drag Race UK has done more for queer visibility on screen than any previous program, transforming how the world looks and feels for queer individuals. He notes the proliferation of drag brunches and the increased accessibility and visibility of drag culture, which has become more lucrative than ever before.
The Cultural Impact of Drag Race UK
For Miller, the show has been personally transformative, teaching him more about himself in eight series than a lifetime of therapy. He recalls a Season 2 conversation between Ginny Lemon and Bimini Bon-Boulash about feeling like 'outsiders' while navigating non-binary identities, which helped many viewers come out to their families. The show, he says, taught him that there is no one way to be LGBTQ+.
Miller emphasizes the importance of seeing queer friendships on screen, describing the support among contestants as a powerful display of allyship within the community. He credits the show with normalizing queer language and culture, creating connections between queer and straight people that were previously lacking.
Reaction to the Cancellation
Fenton Bailey, executive producer of Drag Race, responded to the cancellation by citing a 'crisis of representation' on television. In an interview with the BBC, Bailey said, 'Even at the best of times, queer culture is vulnerable and you can't take anything for granted. Just because a door opened yesterday doesn't mean it won't be slammed shut the next.' He praised the BBC team as 'amazing and so passionate about the show,' noting that the decision was not easy for those involved.
The show will now be available on Wow Presents Plus, with Bailey acknowledging the platform lacks the BBC's resources but adding that 'the spirit of Drag and RuPaul's Drag Race is about making something out of nothing.' However, Miller warns that the move will significantly reduce the show's reach and impact.
Concerns for Future Queer Programming
Miller expresses concern that the BBC's commitment to queer television is waning, pointing to the earlier cancellation of I Kissed A Boy and I Kissed A Girl this year. He questions whether the broadcaster is bowing to pressure from right-wing voices to reduce LGBTQ+ content, despite the success of shows like What It Feels Like For A Girl, a televised biopic of trans activist Paris Lees that won awards and critical acclaim.
The BBC has not announced any other queer television in the pipeline beyond the third series of Smoggie Queens, a slapstick sitcom set in Middlesbrough, scheduled for 2027. Miller urges the broadcaster to reflect the LGBTQ+ community accurately and proportionately, rather than treating it as a tick-box exercise.
Miller concludes that the quality of Drag Race UK has never faltered, and if ratings have declined, that is the BBC's responsibility, not the format's. He hopes the cancellation will spur the creation of more queer shows, while he plans to stream all seasons of Drag Race in the meantime.
