A beginner’s guide to RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, from A to Z

So far, more than 60 million people have watched the show on BBC iPlayer, and series five is sure to have the internet awash with memes, reactions and love for the show that’s like if Strictly had even more sequins and sass.

If you’ve missed out on the party so far, don’t worry: here’s your invite to one of the UK’s most-talked about shows. Sashay through this article for an A - or should that be “slay” - to Z of everything you need to know about the hit BBC Three show everyone’s talking about.

A is for… Acting challenges

Drag Race UK loves to celebrate British pop culture. From Big Brother to Mr. Blobby, the show has given many TV icons a camp spin. Particularly memorable have been acting spoofs, like when the show put the ‘queen’ into Queen Vic with its hilarious EastEnders parody called BeastEnders.

B is for… Badges

The award for winning a main challenge on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is a coveted RuPeter badge, a cheeky nod to the famous show Blue Peter!

C is for… Critiques

After each runway, the queens who have done the best and worst face the judges’ critiques. Standards are high, with the judges praising the top queens and giving their opinions on where the bottoms went wrong. Meanwhile, the safe queens are back in the Werk Room, dishing the dirt on their fellow queens backstage.

D is for… Danny Beard

Danny Beard is the winner of series four of Drag Race UK, and host of new spin-off show The After Shave with Danny Beard where the performer will recap the week’s drama and gossip with the queen who went home that week. 

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E is for… Elimination

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is a competition show, which means every week, someone has to go home (aka “sashay away”). Every week, the bottom two have to “lip-sync for their lives” to some of the most iconic British pop ever. The battle is fierce, and things get emotional.

F is for… Fashion

Every week, the queens are asked to provide a look based on a category that has been set by head judge RuPaul. The queens will then sashay down the runway on the main stage. The categories have included everything from hometown looks to BBC icons to Bond Girl glamour, and there have been more jaw-dropping outfits than you can shake a sequin at.

G is for… Graham Norton and Alan Carr

Only RuPaul has the power to unite Britain’s two biggest chat show hosts on one series. Graham Norton and Alan Carr were both huge fans of drag before they joined the show. They alternate as regular judges - and they bring their incredible charm and wit to every episode!

H is for… H&M

“I DON’T WANT TO SEE ANY H&M ON THE RUNWAY.” In one of the most famous moments of the show, RuPaul gave series two contestant Joe Black a dressing down about her high street fashion that left viewers quaking in their leggings. With the title of UK’s Next Drag Superstar on the line, Ru has very high standards.

I is for… “I’m ready for another week of me doing mediocre”

Drag Race UK is constantly providing meme-worthy moments, but one of the best came when series one’s Cheryl Hole let her frustrations about not having won a badge be known, providing an iconic quote for those of us who are just trying to get through the week. 

J is for… Judges

Alongside RuPaul, Michelle Visage and either Graham or Alan, some of Britain’s biggest names (and biggest Drag Race stans) have joined the Drag Race UK guest judges' panel. Andrew Garfield, Maya Jama, Cheryl, Dame Joanna Lumley, Sheridan Smith, Lorraine Kelly, Liz Hurley, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Alison Hammond are just a fabulous handful of the judges so far.

K is for… Krystal Versace

Series three’s winning queen Krystal Versace is the youngest-ever winner in the entire history of the franchise. She may have only been 19, but she had talent (and a fabulous wardrobe) way beyond her years.

L is for… Lawrence Chaney

“AWWWREET RUPAUL, HOW’S IT HANGING?” Scottish sensation Lawrence fought off fierce competition to be named the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series two.

M is for… Michelle Visage

Joining RuPaul on every episode is former Celebrity Big Brother and Strictly Come Dancing contestant Michelle Visage. She has worked with Ru ever since they hosted a talk show together in 1996, and is the queen of tough love on the runway. She hates green and “basic” bodysuits, and will give you a true dressing-down if you disappoint her.

N is for… Non-binary

The show is famed for shining a light on LGBTQ+ issues of all kinds. Series two’s Bimini Bon Boulash and Ginny Lemon had viewers wiping their dribbling mascara off their cheeks when they opened up about being non-binary. “Non-binary isn’t a new thing,” said Bimini, “it’s just a new term. It’s just basically someone that doesn’t feel like they are either masculine or feminine.”

O is for… Open to Everybody

Contestants of many genders and sexualities have let their fierce flag fly on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. Gay, straight or trans, male, female or non-binary, all are welcome on the show.

P is for… Photoshoot Challenge

Drag Race loves to throw the queens in at the deep end. On multiple series, the first challenge has been to serve glamour in an extreme photoshoot. It’s the ultimate modelling challenge, demanding queens to serve glamour and personality… all while facing wind machines or tennis balls.

Q is for… Queens

Handpicked the Ru, the show’s contestants come from all corners of the UK and represent the best of British drag. Liverpool legends, Belfast babes, Welsh wonders… the show has showcased them all.

R is for… RuPaul

RuPaul is our hostess with the mostess. The main decision maker on the show, she has made the careers of hundreds of queens who know her as “Mama Ru”. In the process, she’s won a record-breaking number of Emmys as Drag Race host alongside her work as a singer, actress, model, businesswoman, game show host and much more.

S is for… Snatch Game

The challenge that every fan loves, every comedy queens begs for and non-performing queens dreads. The contestants have to break out their best celebrity impersonations for a spoof game show inspired by Blankety Blank. The best queens get us cackling on our couches with their ability to channel a celebrity and give hilarious off-the-cuff responses to Ru's questions. Make Ru laugh and a RuPeter badge could be yours.

T is for… Throwing Shade

Three things make a drag queen: a wig, some heels and the ability to throw shade. Shade is the drag queen equivalent of banter, and the best queens can throw shade sharper than a stiletto (though always out of love).

U is for… UK Hun?

BING. BANG. BONG. With just three words, the series two girl group challenge (episode five) changed Britain forever. The Eurovision-inspired song has been in viewers’ heads ever since and even charted in the UK top 40.

V is for… The Vivienne

Liverpool’s The Vivienne was Drag Race UK’s first-ever winner. She has since proved herself to be a multi-talented queen when she became a finalist on Dancing on Ice.

W is for… The Werk Room

This pink palace is where the queens do all their preparing for challenges before bringing it to the mainstage. It is also where the most emotional heart-to-hearts are had… and where the most shade is thrown.

X is for… Xmas

No UK TV show can become truly legendary without a Christmas special, and series three gave us all the feels with its festive finale that saw the final three write and record verses for RuPaul’s song Hey Sis, It’s Christmas.

Y is for… Yassss Queen

Being a drag queen is about being as extra as possible at all times. Why say “nice dress” when you can say “it’s giving eleganza extravaganza?” And why just say “yes” when you can say “yasssss queen,” ideally with four finger clicks and a ‘thworp’ of a fan?

Z is for… Zero

…Because now you know all the key Drag Race lingo, you have zero excuses not to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race UK on Thursdays at 9pm on BBC Three!