BBC to drop RuPaul’s Drag Race UK amid financial pressures

The BBC has announced that RuPaul’s Drag Race UK will leave the broadcaster following the conclusion of its eighth season. The decision is attributed to “significant financial pressures” as the corporation seeks to achieve £500 million in savings.

Future seasons of the main series, along with the international spin-off RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs the World, will move to the streaming platform WOW Presents Plus, owned by production company World of Wonder. To mark this transition, World of Wonder has announced a new “All Stars” edition of the UK franchise, which is scheduled to premiere on WOW Presents Plus in autumn 2027.

Alumni of the show, including Bimini and La Voix, have expressed their reactions to the news. The franchise has been a significant platform for British drag performers since its launch in 2019, helping to bring the art form into the mainstream.