BBC drops RuPaul's Drag Race UK after eight

The BBC has confirmed it will drop RuPaul's Drag Race UK after eight series. The broadcaster cited significant financial pressures as the reason for the move.

A BBC spokesperson said the corporation was facing "very difficult choices" and that none were taken lightly. The show, which currently airs on BBC Three and iPlayer, will move its future seasons to the Wow Presents Plus streaming platform.

World of Wonder, the production company behind the show, announced the shift on Instagram, calling it a "new era." The streaming service will also host the spin-off series Drag Race UK vs The World.

Show's Impact and Legacy

Drag Race UK launched in 2019 and brought British drag into the mainstream. It made household names of performers like La Voix, Danny Beard, and Tia Kofi. The show became a staple of LGBTQ+ culture and was praised for showcasing the distinct style of British drag.

At its peak, the UK version averaged around 1.5 million viewers per episode. The BBC spokesperson said the corporation was proud of the "groundbreaking show" and thanked RuPaul, World of Wonder, and everyone involved.

Financial Pressures and Other Cuts

The decision is part of broader BBC savings plans. The corporation is rolling out plans to save £500 million. Director-general Matt Brittin has previously told staff that the scale requires tough choices.

This follows other recent cuts to LGBTQ+ programming. Earlier this year, the BBC dropped the dating shows I Kissed a Boy and I Kissed a Girl. A contestant from I Kissed a Boy, Jordan Burrow, said the decision reflected "where we're at within the queer community."

The BBC declined to comment on whether other international versions like Drag Race Canada or Drag Race Down Under would continue to air on its channels.

Future of the Franchise

The current series, which launched in September 2026, will continue to air normally on the BBC. All existing series will remain available on iPlayer after the move.

A new series, Drag Race UK All Stars, featuring returning fan favourites, will premiere in Autumn 2027. It will be exclusive to Wow Presents Plus.

The production company's announcement signals a major platform shift for one of the UK's most prominent reality competition formats.