COVER DESIGN BY ANISA CLEAVER
SPECIAL THANKS TO JASMINE ALOMA AT THE BBC

This is the fifth consecutive year I’ve interviewed the entire cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, and this might be the most unhinged line-up in history. From Ginger Johnson’s past dalliances with ‘electrocution and burly men’ to Tomara Thomas’ hunger to represent “posh sluts” on British telly, the brand new roster of queens are giving chaos – meaning we’re in for a hell of a season.

On 28 September, 10 more queens will flaunt their charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent via maxi-challenges, runway presentations and lip-sync smackdowns to usurp Danny Beard as the ‘UK’s Next Drag Superstar’. It’s another star-studded affair, with guest stars such as Aisling Bea, Alexandra Burke, Cush Jumbo, Daphne Guinness, Joel Dommett, Kristen McMenamy, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Suranne Jones and Yasmin Finney, as well as cameos from Edward Enninful OBE, Carol Vorderman, Karen Hauer and Claudimar Neto.

Like the past four seasons, which have been streamed over 67 million times on BBC iPlayer, season five sees the return of RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton. Read ahead for our snappy interviews with the 10 incredible new contenders for the Drag Race UK crown: Alexis Saint-Pete, Banksie, Cara Melle, DeDeLicious, Ginger Johnson, Kate Butch, Michael Marouli, Miss Naomi Carter, Tomara Thomas and Vicki Vivacious. Start your engines, etc!

Alexis Saint-Pete
28, London

Favourite RPDR alumni: Shangela
Favourite RPDR lip-sync: Tayce vs Cherry Valentine – ‘Memory’

The Polish choreo queen of the season is here! Alexis Saint-Pete is about to dance the house down on Drag Race UK and provide some much-needed representation for her country’s LGBTQIA+ community in the process. “I want to show that Polish people are artistic, and not just cleaners!” she tells GAY TIMES.

“Britney Spears meets Marilyn Manson” and “a mixture of sex and camp” is what you can expect from Alexis’ drag, which was birthed around six years ago, professionally, but officially started as a child when she would snatch her mother’s heels and mince down her corridor while she was out shopping. The 28-year-old laughs: “I would also pretend a towel was a 15-inch wig.” (Who didn’t?) The London-based performer has studied ballet since she was four-years-old, which taught her discipline and how to “overthink”. “I’m always as professional as possible, which can sometimes be off-putting in drag!”

In addition to trying to break free from the strict shackles that come with being a ballet dancer, Alexis is determined to bring awareness to the issues that are plaguing her country, such as their abhorrent ‘LGBT-free zones’. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I need to make sure I shout to the audience about the problems in Poland and be a good example, because I’ve never seen Polish drag queens on Drag Race before.”

I ask Alexis to pull out one adjective to describe this season of Drag Race UK. She goes with “chaotic”. “And surprising, I think,” Alexis says, before delivering the following bold statement: “It’s easily the best season of the franchise.”

Banksie
23, Manchester

Favourite RPDR alumni: Max
Favourite RPDR lip-sync: Tayce vs Cherry Valentine – ‘Memory’

RuPaul’s Drag Race is widely regarded as one of the most diverse and inclusive shows on television, behind Succession. It’s peculiar then, that it’s taken 15 years for the franchise to represent one of society’s most marginalised and vilified communities: seven-foot, non-binary drag queens from the North. “I’m like one of the walkers from Game of Thrones,” says a straight-faced Banskie. “I just want to be a pillar for that community.” (Please feel inspired by these words.)