Sir Ian McKellen to narrate Muslim drag queen documentary

Sir Ian McKellen is to narrate an upcoming Channel 4 documentary about Muslim drag queens.

Muslim Drag Queens will seek to shed light on the Britain’s oft-hidden gay Asian community, following a series of drag performers including recent Attitude Pride Award winner Asifa Lahore, DigitalSpy reports.

“There is a whole community that is living in Britain which is hidden,” Lahore said in a statement. “Now is the time to come out. You’ve got to be big. You’ve got to be bold. And you’ve got to have balls of steel.”

Channel 4’s commissioning editor David Brindley added: “This is an incredibly important, surprising and moving film.

“Those who have chosen to tell their stories have done so with immense bravery and speak so eloquently about the struggles they have faced.

“With piercing honesty, Muslim Drag Queens gets right to the heart of a community that have up until now remained hidden from the wider British public.”

The documentary will also follow 28-year-old British Pakistani Imran, who goes by the stage name ‘Zareena Khan’, and 22-year-old Mauritian Ibrahim.

Back in January, a Guardian short film followed the story of Ali, a gay Pakistani aslylum-seeker and practising Muslim who left his home country after facing persecution for his sexuality – watch it here now.

Meanwhile, it was recently announced that McKellen will lead this year’s Manchester Pride parade – click here to find out more.

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