Drag

Drag Race UK: Michelle Visage breaks silence on season 5 casting backlash

By Jordan Robledo

23rd September 2023

Michelle Visage has responded to backlash regarding the casting for RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season five. 

On 11 September, BBC Three announced the sickening new line-up of queens for the show’s fifth outing. 

Unlike past seasons, the new batch of episodes are set to feature 10 talented performers fighting for the title of ‘Britain’s Next Drag Superstar’ — as opposed to 12.

The cast is set to feature: Alexis Saint-Pete, Banksie, Cara Melle, DeDeLicious, Ginger Johnson, Kate Butch, Michael Marouli, Miss Naomi Carter, Tomara Thomas and Vicki Vivacious.

While the season five news has left the fandom buzzing, some viewers have expressed disappointment over the lack of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish queens. 

One person on X wrote: “Not a single Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish Queen in RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 5? That’s not very slay tbh.”

Another fan commented: “Of the 5 seasons of Drag Race UK there has only been 1 season with any Scottish representation (in which they placed 1st & 4th) there’s been very little representation for anywhere bar England across the seasons tbh. I mean, I’m still going to watch it but, am no happy about it!” 

The casting also caught the attention of Drag Race UK alum Blu Hydrangea, who wrote: “Love the UK5 cast, but 5 seasons with only two Irish queens.” 

In a recent interview with Digital Spy, Drag Race judge Visage opened up about the casting controversy and explained that there were fewer audition tapes from Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh queens.  

“You ask them! They have to audition. You can’t pick from the sky,” she told the publication. 

“If they don’t audition, or if they’re not on the level they need to be quite yet, but I do believe they’ll all get there, that’s the way the cookie crumbles.”

Towards the end of her statement, Visage affirmed that the show would love to represent all of the UK, but it’s “all about the audition”.

Drag Race UK season five will see the return of RuPaul as host with Visage, Graham Norton and Alan Carr coming back as regular panellists.

Aisling Bea, Alexandra Burke, Cush Jumbo, Daphne Guinness, Joel Dommett, Kristen McMenamy, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Suranne Jones and Yasmin Finney will guest judge, with additional cameos from Edward Enninful OBE, Carol Vorderman, Karen Hauer and Claudimar Neto.

Fortunately, fans won’t have to wait too long for the series premiere, with it set to air on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer on Thursday 28 September.

Read our exclusive interview feature with all ten of the season five queens here.

Check out the latest taster of the new season below.