Drag Race: 'I thought I applied for Bargain Hunt'

A contestant on the sixth series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK has praised the show for lifting the profile of drag.

Buckinghamshire-based drag queen La Voix, 43, previously made it to the semi-final of Britain's Got Talent and competed in Queen of the Universe, which was produced by RuPaul Charles.

She joked: "I thought it was Bargain Hunt I was applying for.

"I went in there thinking 'why am I doing this, they're going to be absolute kids'... But I had an absolute ball. I would do it again in a flash."

"It was such fun, but absolutely petrifying, it was the most petrifying thing I've ever done," she added.

Originally from Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, La Voix has toured venues around the world and regularly performed in pantomimes in Aylesbury and High Wycombe.

She said she had performed on more than 80 cruise ships.

La Voix praised the show for boosting the profile of drag.

She said: "There's these little windows where [drag] has been really popular, then it goes underground for a little while.

"This is a massive resurgence thanks to that show. It is appealing to people who have never seen a drag show, who never dreamed of going to a drag show, but it has opened their eyes to something that is absolute fun."

The former BBC Three Counties Radio presenter told the station she sees that resurgence reflected in audiences who come to her shows.

"People think it's going to predominantly a gay community audience, it's not. I'm lucky if I can get some gay men in, they can't be bothered to see me anymore," she said.

"It's an absolute mix of people, especially when I go to the north they bring their husbands.

"Whether they're truckers, miners, butchers or farmers - they are the ones that come out having had a better night than their wives who booked the ticket."

The award-winning BBC Three show returns on Thursday.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.