A drag queen’s review of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK episode 1: ‘You can tell already these divas have incredible skills’

“I started watching the American version of RuPaul’s Drag Race from the first series, when I was still living in Australia – I had to stream it from a dodgy site. I started going to drag nights in Sydney when I was 18, but I didn’t have a drag mother and there were no YouTube tutorials, so by watching the show it felt like you were part of a secret society.

The thing that was always going to be exciting about a UK version of Drag Race is the idea that we would see our friends and colleagues up there doing us proud on the small screen. I  know a few of them well enough to say hi to down the pub. Sum Ting Wong and I were extras in the Absolutely Fabulous movie together (you can see us for approximately 0.000001 seconds when Saffy goes into the Royal Vauxhall Tavern!)

The first episode is very much in the template of the successful US show, but the camp British culture comes through. It was even there in the promo advert, which I loved – it had a bit of a Coronation Street or 70s British sitcom vibe to it. It would have been great to see this aesthetic carried on a bit more into the actual show, but I’m sure there’ll be lots of twists and turns throughout the series.

I also thought the “Oh BRIT Crew!” instead of the Pit Crew was a cute tweak on a familiar phrase from the US version.

The season’s under-dog, Scaredy Kat, is apparently the youngest contestant to ever appear on any franchise of the show. But they’re no runt of the litter, and held their own amongst the big cats on the main stage, with two witty and well-executed looks.

In the “orf with their heads” photoshoot, The Vivienne seemed to feel most at ease, and Ru even broke out that famous cackle several times – being crowned the UK’s Drag Race ambassador a few years back has definitely given them confidence on screen.

The one thing I would say about the casting is that it’s a real shame it wasn’t more inclusive. The series has a very mixed reaction in the drag scene, as despite there being much campaigning during the casting period for a more diverse line-up, they’ve missed an opportunity. Myself and others think that it should be opened up to Trans+ and AFAB (Assigned Female At Birth) performers, as well as drag kings. This is a show about the UK drag scene – a place where quite literally anything goes – and this should definitely be reflected in our version of the show.

In the Queen Liz challenge, Sum Ting Wong’s Royal Mail trompe l’oeil was literally first class but I was sure a spot in the top-three for Blu Hydrangea’s Lil-Pound-Coin would have been money in the bank.

What lewks would I have spun up for the royal and hometown queen challenges? I would have paid homage to my adopted country’s infamously inclement weather in a swinging-sixties yellow mac and brolly. Or a Full English Breakfast. And being the prissy bitch I am, my Royal look would have been an adorable Corgi, perhaps bringing the handbag Cheryl Hole forgot to take down the runway in my mouth.

As for the judges, Andrew Garfield seemed to be having the time of his life, laughing at his own jokes. He was getting into all his super-cheesy puns, which I am always here for. I thought Alan Carr might have been a bit more vocal, I don’t know if that was the edit – or if he just couldn’t get a word in –  but we didn’t get to see that much of him in this episode.

The Gothy Kendoll tiger-roar was the judging highlight for me. It just proves you can script zingers all day long, but the most meme-able moments on this show will happen accidentally, when the contestant is not trying to be funny or “iconic” but is adorably human (even when dressed as a tiger).

Who do I think is going to win the whole show? I’m praying that Vinegar Strokes has drawn on some of those theatre costume-department connections so their runways don’t let down their wonderfully warm spirit and charm.

You can tell already these divas have incredible skills  – Crystal for one is an amazing aerial and circus performer – and we have only just scratched the surface of what they can do. In the words of Ru, I can’t wait to see how this turns out.”

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK continues on BBC Three on Thursdays at 8pm.