HEADER BY YOSEF PHELAN
SPECIAL THANKS TO JASMINE ALOMA AND ELOISE LONGDEN AT THE BBC

From the slayage of the inaugural ‘Yas-tonbury Festival’ to Baby’s shock elimination and Dakota entering the werkroom as the British spin-off’s first trans woman, as well as RuPaul missing her first-ever panelling sesh due to unforeseen circumstances, the fourth season of Drag Race UK has been one for the herstory books. On this week’s grand finale, either Black Peppa, Cheddar Gorgeous, Danny Beard or Jonbers Blonde will usurp Krystal Versace and be inducted into the UK’s Hall of Fame. 

Danny, who memorably became the first bearded queen to sashay into the werkroom on a RuPaul-hosted season, has cemented her status as one of the most formidable players the franchise has ever seen with four maxi-challenge wins and zero bottom placements, while Jonbers has slayed the runway and “sex worker pigeon” game. Ahead of the finale on Thursday (24 November), we spoke with Danny and Jonbers about their “crazy” experience on Drag Race UK, their hilarious encounters with fans and their kink for ‘riling up’ online trolls.

GAY TIMES: Massive condragulations on making the top four of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. How are you feeling heading into the finale?

Danny: Nothing! I can’t speak for Jonbers, but it’s been such a crazy, amazing ride. I also feel like, although a few of the girls have had trolls online this year, there’s been a lot of love. People are saying, ‘If you don’t win, I’d be happy with this person to win’ or ‘I can’t decide out of the top four’ and I think it’s a real testament to, not just our drag, but our personalities as well. That’s really shone through and I’m just really happy that we’ve made it.

Jonbers: There’s definitely been a shift in the mentality of the fandom because it has been quite toxic and crazy. I mean, for myself! It’s nice to see that people have come round and been like, ‘Do you know what? It’s been a great season and it’s a great top four.’ We’re all so different. It couldn’t be a top four that’s more different. We’ve all been through a lot… We’re here! We’ve made it girl.

Danny: We’ve made it baby!

GAY TIMES: You cannot compare this top four to one another. It really is, as they say, apples and oranges…

Danny: 100% and I’m the orange because I’ve got fucking vitamin D.

Jonbers: I’ve definitely got an Adam’s Apple!

Danny: Honestly though, that’s the best thing about British drag. We’re not all death-dropping, flip-flopping, back-flipping bitches with nothing to say. Not that I’m saying other places are that…

Jonbers: Oop!

Danny: But, we’ve all got something to say. I’m a performer, my strengths are on stage and comedy. Everyone’s got this thing that drives them, so whatever happens on Thursday, I’m just glad I got to share it with these absolutely crazy bitches. And the top four is crazy, me and Jonbers are about to go and tour the world. We’re gonna have the best time together. How amazing is it, that that’s my job? That’s my job: to tour the world with my friends. I’ll be so fucking proud of myself when I look back on this as my job, know what I mean?