BBC Three revs up more ‘Drag Race UK’

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK

BBC Three has renewed its hit local adaptation of RuPaul’s Drag Race for a second season. 

The format, produced by World of Wonder, will return to the digital offering next year, and applications are now open for second season contestants.

The first season of the programme, which launched 3 October, has drawn 6.5m total requests on iPlayer just over halfway through the run.

The 8 x 60-minute series was commissioned by Fiona Campbell, controller for BBC Three, and Kate Phillips, controller for BBC Entertainment.

Executive producers are RuPaul Charles, Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, Sally Miles and Bruce McCoy, while the BBC commissioning editor is Ruby Kuraishe.

The current season finale airs at 8pm on 21 November, exclusively on BBC iPlayer.

RuPaul said: “I want to thank the BBC and all our fans for their overwhelming support of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. This season’s queens proved that Britain’s Got Charisma Uniqueness Nerve and Talent and I want to see more. Here’s to another season of love, laughter and light.”

Kate Phillips, controller for entertainment commissioning, added: “The response to the current UK series has been nothing short of dragulous; our viewers have really taken the show and the amazing queens to their hearts. So I’m delighted that Ru and the gang are going to shantay stay. Let the search for the next group of queens begin.”

Fiona Campbell, controller for BBC Three, added: “I’m delighted that BBC Three will be the home for series two of Drag Race UK. Every single queen for series one has brought something different to the table and I’ve loved watching and getting to know them. The show is a huge hit for us and we’re very much looking forward to unleashing another series for our audience to tuck into.”