Drag Race UK's Michelle Visage responds to criticism of season 5 cast
RuPaul's Drag Race UK is set to premiere its fifth series in just 10 days' time, with a 'Meet the Queens' video online to help you get acquainted with the cast ahead of time.
The line-up reveal did attract criticism, since all the queens' hometowns are in England, with season 1 contestant and UK Versus the World winner Blu Hydrangea posting: "Love the UK5 cast, but 5 seasons with only two Irish queens."
Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy at BBC Radio 2 in the Park, Michelle Visage spoke about the absence of Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish queens on Drag Race UK this series, and explained that there's a lack of audition tapes at the level the show is looking for.
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"You ask them!" she said when asked about the lack of queens from outside England in the series five cast. "They have to audition. You can't pick from the sky.
"If they don't audition, or if they're not on the level they need to be quite yet but I do believe they'll all get there, that's the way the cookie crumbles.
"But we'd love to represent all of the UK. Regional drag is everywhere. It's all about the audition, but this series [is] gonna knock your socks off."
Related: Drag Race bosses announce brand new series with six international queens
Michelle has become something of a UK household name through Drag Race UK, various TV appearances and her Radio 2 show.
When discussing the British public's response to her show on the station, Michelle said: "I'm very low in the beginning of the journey to national treasure. I've got a long way to go.
"Radio is something I've done for a very long time. I think we take radio for granted [and] radio personalities don't ever get credit that they deserve. With that said, we do it because it's a passion, and we love it. I love being on the radio.
"Even more icing on the cake is to be able to be accepted by a country where I don't sound like everybody else, I don't 'fit in'. I feel so welcomed, I feel so accepted and so loved."
Drag Race UK series 5 begins September 28 on BBC Three and iPlayer. BBC Radio 2 in the Park performances can also be watched via iPlayer, while Michelle Visage's Radio 2 shows can be listened to on Friday nights or on demand via BBC Sounds.
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