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Drag Race UK series three announces more guest judges and premiere date

The new series will start on Thursday 23 September, with new episodes every week.

By Alastair James

Words: Alastair James; pictures: BBC

Not wanting to leave us without some Drag Race content for too long, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is returning to our screens in just a couple of weeks!

The third series of the show will see twelve queens compete for the grand title of the UK’s Next Drag Race superstar will debut on the BBC iPlayer on Thursday 23 September at 7pm.

The first two series of the show saw The Vivienne and current superstar Lawrence Chaney crowned the winners, with more than 35 million streams of both series to date.

“Drag Race is full of glamour, talent, and creativity”

As well as finally telling us when we’ll get our next dose of Drag Race, RuPaul and the Beeb have also ru-vealed the next batch of guest judges, which feature a good dose of British pop girl power.

Emma Bunton, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and Alesha Dixon will join the likes of Strictly’s Oti Mabuse, and comedians Matt Lucas and Kathy Burke. Of course, the iconic UK judging panel consisting of RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Graham Norton, and Alan Carr will be back again to preside over events.

Steps, Charity Shop Sue, and Jay Revell are also to appear on Drag Race UK season three as special guests, it has been previously announced.

As one-fifth of the Spice Girls, the best-selling female group of all time, Emma is set to bring her pop expertise to the judging panel. She describes the experience of being on the panel as “inspiring,” adding, “being on the set of Drag Race is full of glamour, talent, and creativity. I love how everyone is so individual.”

Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock follows her bandmember, Jade Thirwall, who appeared as a guest judge in the first series of Drag Race UK. Series two alumni Tayce, Bimini Bon Boulash, and A’Whora also had cameos in Little Mix’s ‘Confetti’ music video.  

She says: “I love the creativity and the drama! And the outfits always amaze me! I can’t wait for the world to see the queens.”

Drag Race UK won’t be Alesha Dixon’s first time on a judging panel after her work on Strictly Come Dancing and Britain’s Got Talent, following her career as a part of the R&B trio Mis-teeq.

Asked why she wanted to take part in the show Alesha said: “What is there not to love about Drag Race UK?! The craziness… the costumes… the sassiness.. the Lip Syncing! I love it all and I’m here for it.”

New episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK will be available weekly on the BBC iPlayer from 7 pm on Thursday 23 September.

Meet the series three queens below:

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