Major spoilers ahead.
Viewers are “living” for the season five premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
The search for ‘Britain’s Next Drag Superstar’ continued on Thursday (28 September) with 10 fierce new queens: Alexis Saint-Pete, Banksie, Cara Melle, DeDeLicious, Ginger Johnson, Kate Butch, Michael Marouli, Miss Naomi Carter, Tomara Thomas and Vicki Vivacious. (You can read our digital cover with all 10 queens here.)
For their first maxi-challenge, the queens were judged on three different looks: what they entered the werkroom in, ‘Club Tickety-Boo’ – which saw them perform on a runway in front of legendary alumni – and ‘Fierce Impressions’.
After sashaying down the main stage in the latter look, RuPaul announced that Banksie, DeDeLicious, Kate, Naomi and Tomara were safe, before delivering the following twist: no one is going home.
The remaining queens were all deemed “the tops” of the week, with Cara and Vicki as the top two. After lip-syncing “for the win” to Gina G’s camp pop classic ‘Ooh Ahh… Just a Little Bit’, RuPaul bestowed the season’s first RuPeter Badge to Vicki.
The premiere was lauded by fans, who were unanimous in praising two elements in particular: Kristen McMenamy, whose playful read to RuPaul on the runway has been hailed as the “most iconic thing a guest judge has ever said”, and Cara, who makes herstory as the British spin-off’s first Black trans contestant.
“I AM and WILL BE obsessed with her from now on,” one fan tweeted with a clip of Cara performing at Club Tickety-Boo, while another called for the series to “give her the mf crown now”.
RuPaul’s decision to not eliminate a queen, allowing viewers to get to know the cast better in the process, was lauded. One viewer, who noted how the same decision was made for the Mexican, Brazilian and German versions, said “the more drag the better”.
Check out the best reactions to the Drag Race UK season five premiere below.
This is the CHAOS on Drag Race UK I live for 🤣😭 @TheCaraMelle going ‘Oh girl the wig’, Panginas face, @_dedelicious just going fuck it and whipping the wig off & then jumping into a split, Cara bopping with the wig & Silky at the end I cannot 💀 pic.twitter.com/ZEvzG4cM5x
— DragZilla (@drag_zilla) September 28, 2023
Before watching After watching
Drag Race UK Drag Race UK pic.twitter.com/vG6tuGSDrg— RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Fans 🇬🇧 (@rpdrukfans) September 28, 2023
So Season Five of Drag Race UK is going to just be me sighing over Ginger in the confessionals. pic.twitter.com/haTTjSIB0J
— Scott (@merseytart) September 28, 2023
dede in that mini challenge #dragraceuk pic.twitter.com/Hb6IOYaKG5
— bally singh (@putasinghonit) September 29, 2023
Sorry, but this is the most iconic thing a guest has ever said to Ru #DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/61BqVC2E0e
— Sam Cleal (@sam_cleal) September 28, 2023
when i tell you i GASPED #dragraceuk pic.twitter.com/dvgYF7wlG3
— ray ✨ (@mascarayde) September 28, 2023
‘Oh Pangina, I’ll give you something to cry about’ BITCHHHH YOU CAN’T NOT SAY MOTHER I MEAN LOOK AT THIS BITCH 😍😍😍😍😍😍 #DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/x6gVGeOrn5
— DragZilla (@drag_zilla) September 28, 2023
i'm taking this as a Sminty Drop soft launch for Global All Stars idgaf. #DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/MITRT0uVdW
— 𝔞𝔭𝔦𝔣𝔣𝔞𝔫𝔶 🪩 (@dragraceher) September 28, 2023
It is so bloody lovely to see some older drag artists on this season. It might be very London focused, but British drag has so many talented queens who deserve their moment in the big spotlight!! 👏🏽😍 #DragRaceUK
— bally singh (@putasinghonit) September 28, 2023
Me the moment Cara Melle walked in the werk room #DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/HQRUKWhfa5
— Chick N. Tender (@trunchbuII) September 29, 2023
https://twitter.com/So_Jordaan/status/1707682359070380144
not cara dancing with dede’s wig that fell off 💀💀💀💀💀 #dragraceuk pic.twitter.com/rsrRTNCjD6
— ray ✨ (@mascarayde) September 28, 2023
https://twitter.com/tisciwasrobbed/status/1707621524860289093
"what is it called? cultural appropriation? all right, YOU 🫵🏻 better be english" OH KRISTEN IS HILARIOUS #dragraceuk pic.twitter.com/WzgNNwaxSx
— wonho’s ceo (@wnhosbutt) September 28, 2023
I’m sorry…IM SORRY!! But who tf is doing it like her! Give her the mf crown NOW! #DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/PpcndugEs8
— 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐇 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒 👸🏽 ❤️🔥 (@belair_bankss) September 28, 2023
Episode one no context #DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/rEQlrw7KTO
— Leevs x 🌻 (@HelloItsLevi) September 28, 2023
Cara Melle is Mother I Stan #DragRaceUK
— 💖Yasuhoe💖 (@ReyRey__) September 29, 2023
#DragRaceUK #DragRace Ok, thats a thing: " I remember you when you were nothing". To RuPaul!!!
— Pablo Hernández D. (@Pablo_88) September 29, 2023
Absolutely GAGGING at the guest international queens!!! especially @PanginaHeals & @jimbodragclown #DragRaceUK
— abi ⁷ (@jiminflossdrag) September 29, 2023
Was surprised how much I enjoyed #DragRaceUK last night – been feeling like it’s running out of steam – but it was great! @thekatebutch is my fave so far. Comedy queens have won the UK version a few times but she’s *properly* hilarious even in her monologues.
— stefan (@stefanrw1) September 29, 2023
nobody is going home!!!!! #DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/uSX56BJ7WV
— t.🧷 (@stan_kandy) September 29, 2023
https://twitter.com/DragGalore/status/1707614788564516957
I think #DragRaceUK episode 1 was brilliant. The cast are super strong, I am loving how many queens there are from the North East. I looooved Ginger’s 60s dress she made herself and Michael Marouli is one of the best narrators we’ve ever had. I’m clocked in! 🥰
— C. (@cstsher) September 28, 2023
From the first SECOND Cara Melle stepped on to the screen #DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/dBBFEaiWS7
— Patrick Lynch (@PatLynch93) September 28, 2023
“you are all the tops of the week” … proceeds to give most of them negative critique 😭 #dragraceuk pic.twitter.com/92LpYoqXbZ
— elliot 🏁 (@smintyschiffer) September 29, 2023
From the promo and entrance.. Cara Melle remains my winner ! #DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/m8RIyR9VVu
— cameron (@camruined) September 28, 2023
not gonna lie… i’m starting to love international franchise implementing non elimination premieres!! mexico brasil germany and now uk, the more drag the better #dragraceuk pic.twitter.com/VAciFVmPSZ
— elliot 🏁 (@smintyschiffer) September 29, 2023
Cara Melle’s entrance>>> #DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/qjh18OyXHV
— Blaze💚 (@BlazesAccount) September 28, 2023
https://twitter.com/_auralaura_/status/1707657920177954941
CARA MELLE IS GOING TO EAT THIS SEASON UP AND I AM SO READY!!!! #DragRaceUK
— bally singh (@putasinghonit) September 28, 2023
So Cara Melle and Tomara are Tayce and A’Whora part two? Bring on the lip sync showdown! #DragRaceUK
— bally singh (@putasinghonit) September 28, 2023
“I got this… I’m a bad bitch” that’s RIGHT miss Cara Melle ! #DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/AwO93XhGIn
— cameron (@camruined) September 28, 2023
cara melle is the moment#DragRaceUK pic.twitter.com/X8KiWe8SWm
— floyd (@ericfloyd_) September 29, 2023
Cara Melle is giving me lifeeeee #DragRaceUK
— Harry (@nutterhtowse) September 28, 2023
Drag Race UK airs every Thursday on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer at 9pm.
The After Shave, Danny Beard’s recap series, follows at 10.15pm.
Additional guest judges this season include Aisling Bea, Alexandra Burke, Cush Jumbo, Daphne Guinness, Joel Dommett, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Suranne Jones and Yasmin Finney, as well as cameos from Edward Enninful OBE, Carol Vorderman, Karen Hauer and Claudimar Neto.
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