Cheryl The Queen joins Liverpool fundraiser hoping to raise £30,000 for The Vivienne statue
The Bring The Vivienne Home campaign is calling on fans to help create a permanent tribute to the late Drag Race UK winner in the city's Pride Quarter
A fundraising event celebrating the life and legacy of The Vivienne could raise more than £30,000 towards a permanent statue honouring the late drag star in Liverpool this Friday (30 October).
The Bring The Vivienne Home campaign is preparing for a major evening of entertainment at BOXPARK Liverpool, headlined by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Cheryl The Queen, with organisers hoping a sold-out venue and charity raffle could raise more than a quarter of the £120,000 needed to commission the memorial.
Led by The Vivienne’s mother, Cassie Williams, and managed by Liverpool-based LGBTQ+ organisation Proudly Said, the campaign aims to install a life-size bronze statue at the entrance to the city’s officially recognised Pride Quarter.
Overlooking Stanley Street, the statue would provide a permanent gathering place for the LGBTQ+ community, celebrate The Vivienne’s extraordinary contribution to British drag and raise awareness of addiction and the stigma surrounding substance misuse.
Bringing The Vivienne home
Born James Lee Williams, The Vivienne moved to Liverpool from Colwyn Bay in North Wales at just 16, finding a home within the city’s vibrant queer community.
It was here that The Vivienne’s drag persona was born, long before the performer became a household name after winning the inaugural series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019 and later competing on Dancing on Ice.
Following James’s death in January 2025, Liverpool came together in an outpouring of grief and affection, with landmarks illuminated in green and thousands gathering to pay tribute.
For Cassie Williams, the city’s response cemented her determination to create something permanent in her son’s memory.
“I’ll never forget standing in Liverpool in January 2025 right after James left us,” she said. “We were still numb, and we came to a city that had already put itself in green for him.”
Reflecting on the significance of Liverpool in her son’s life, she added: “He came here at sixteen with nothing and this city made him who he was, so this is where he belongs, and where he can carry on giving back to the place that gave him everything.”
A night of drag, music and celebration
Friday’s fundraiser will bring together friends, fellow performers and fans for an evening hosted by Liverpool drag favourite Debbie Darling.
Cheryl The Queen, who competed alongside The Vivienne on the first series of Drag Race UK, leads a line-up featuring longtime friend and cabaret performer Brenda LaBeau and Liverpool singer Rosa Harrison.
Guests can also expect musical bingo, a Vivienne-themed quiz hosted by James O’Connor, roaming performers and DJ sets from DJ Tizzle and Regina McQueen.
Speaking about her decision to support the fundraiser, Cheryl previously paid tribute to her fellow Drag Race contestant.
“Viv was Liverpool personified. She talked about the city constantly – the people, the places, the queens, THE LOT!” she said.
“It wasn’t just where she lived, it was where Viv was allowed to be, and she carried that with her everywhere she went.”
A major charity raffle will also take place, with 26 donated prizes including Givenchy goody bags, dining experiences, exclusive tours of the Hollyoaks and Emmerdale sets, theatre tickets and a royal box experience at Funny Girls in Blackpool.
A lasting legacy for Liverpool’s LGBTQ+ community
Beyond celebrating one of Britain’s most beloved drag performers, organisers hope the statue will become an enduring symbol of queer visibility and help revitalise Liverpool’s historic Pride Quarter.
John Hyland, founder of Proudly Said and campaign manager, highlighted the significance of establishing a permanent tribute in an area that has experienced the loss of LGBTQ+ venues and declining footfall.
The proposed memorial would also provide an opportunity to educate visitors about addiction, while encouraging greater understanding and compassion for those affected.
“Every pound of your ticket goes to the statue,” Hyland said. “Come on Friday, have a brilliant night, and know you helped put her there.”
Bring The Vivienne Home takes place at BOXPARK Liverpool on Friday 30 October, from 6pm to 11pm, with last entry at 7pm. Tickets cost £25 plus booking fee, with the full ticket price supporting the campaign.
Tickets are available via Skiddle. Those unable to attend can also purchase donation tickets from £5, which do not include entry.
