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Drag Queens of London
GenreReality
Theme music composerStef Caers
Opening theme"Come for Me"
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
  • Becky Maynard
  • Jason Mitchell
Running time44 minutes
Production companyThe Connected Set
Original release
NetworkLondon Live
Release22 April (2014-04-22) –
24 June 2014 (2014-06-24)

Drag Queens of London is a British LGBT-related reality television series, commissioned by London Live network.

The series follows a selection of drag queens over a three-month period in London to get an inside look at their daily lives, both on and off stage. In April 2014, London Live announced a documentary to feature colourful characters from Soho's drag scene as one of the major highlights for this new channel's initial offerings. The series premiered in the United Kingdom on 22 April 2014.[1]

Cast

Recurring cast

Episodes

No. in
season
No. in
series
Title Original air date
11"Episode One"22 April 2014 (2014-04-22)
Silver Summers and Lady Lloyd set out to re-launch girl pop band Buffalo Girls.[4] Their professional commitment is thwarted only by the band's third member, Baga Chipz, who feels there is no point rehearsing for their big comeback show at Madam JoJo's, when she'd rather be out on the town. Meanwhile, Silver is also moonlighting in a second, more polished sixties-influenced drag act, The Supreme Fabulettes.[5]
22"Episode Two"29 April 2014 (2014-04-29)
Silver Summers returns home to Glasgow to perform in front of her family for the first time. Other stage acts question their future on the scene. Meth plays host to DWV, an American group that rose to fame on Ru Paul's Drag Race, and faces difficulties in their sell-out show at Camden's Black Cap along with The Familyyy Fierce.[6]
33"Episode Three"6 May 2014 (2014-05-06)
The UK’s top drag competition Tranny Shack Academy kicks off and new drag queens from around the country flock to Soho to audition for a coveted spot.[7] Rosie Beaver's protegee Violet Sparks and other would-be stage acts face the judging of Dusty O and Walt to be chosen for Tranny Shack Academy. Elsewhere, Vanity Von Glow questions her career as she forges a second alias as a boy.[8]
44"Episode Four"13 May 2014 (2014-05-13)
Darling of the drag scene and transitioning transsexual Munroe Bergdorf embarks on her journey to raise the money for life-changing facial surgery in her quest to become more feminine. She is devastated to discover her best friend from childhood and drag-girl-about-town Lady Lloyd has slept with her ex-boyfriend. As Munroe confronts Lady Lloyd their entire friendship is brought into question. Contemplating their friendship Lady Lloyd returns to her childhood home in Cambridgeshire to get perspective on things, while Munroe returns to her old University haunts in Brighton. Meanwhile political drag queens Jonny Woo and Glyn Famous embark on a protest against Russia’s anti-gay propaganda laws, and invite Meth to perform at their East London fundraiser,[9] while Rosie Beaver continues her quest for love.[10]
55"Episode Five"20 May 2014 (2014-05-20)
After the breakdown of her friendship with Munroe, Lady Lloyd puts the row behind her and sets out to boost the profile of her drag girl group the Buffalo Girls by looking for a new manager and writing what she hopes will be a hit single for the band. Meanwhile Rosie Beaver takes radical action to get her love life back on track, heading on the pull in drag with best friend Nick, aka Violet Sparks. American drag queen Bourgeoisie’s confidence is shaken as she comes in the bottom two in the Tranny Shack Academy drag competition, but she doesn’t take it lying down as she confronts club promoters Dusty O and Walt.[11]
66"Episode Six"27 May 2014 (2014-05-27)
The Buffalo Girls – Lady Lloyd, Baga Chipz and Silver Summers - continue their quest for pop stardom but a disagreement with their new manager scuppers their plans. Silver also has to deal with competing commitments as a member of family-friendly drag troupe The Supreme Fabulettes prepare for a nationwide theatre tour after a hiatus. Silver and her ‘frenemie’ and co-performer Vicki Vivacious decide to confront their long-running issues with each other. Meanwhile Rosie Beaver decides to date within the drag community as she steps out with fellow drag queen and Tranny Shack Academy contestant, Snow White Trash.[12]
77"Episode Seven"3 June 2014 (2014-06-03)
Drag Queens of London goes global as drag troupe The Supreme Fabulettes head to European Gay Ski Week in France to perform to an expectant crowd of fans. The real drama unfolds away from the slopes as Silver loses her voice before an important performance. With her bandmates and tour manager blaming Silver for partying too hard, friendships becoming strained within the group. Meanwhile drag queen Rosie Beaver and Nick's (akabut Violet Sparks) friendship is put under strain as they fight over the same man.[13]
88"Episode Eight"10 June 2014 (2014-06-10)
The country’s most fierce drag competition, Tranny Shack Academy, comes to a climax as one aspiring drag queen wins the coveted title in a tense finale at Madame JoJo’s in Soho. As one career is born, the stage doors close on The Drag Queens of London, as we see The Buffalo Girls and Vicki Vivacious pull off high-profile gigs and a debut professional performance by Rosie Beaver’s best friend Nick as Violet Sparks.[14]
99"Best of One"17 June 2014 (2014-06-17)
This special episode profiles the characters from the program, digs deeper into the backgrounds of each queen, hears their aspirations, and revisits memorable moments from throughout the series. Part One includes Baga Chipz, Dusty O, Rosie Beaver, Meth, and Silver Summers.[15][16]
1010"Best of Two"17 June 2014 (2014-06-17)
This special episode profiles the characters from the program, digs deeper into the backgrounds of each queen, hears their aspirations, and revisits memorable moments from throughout the series. Part Two includes Lady Lloyd, Munroe Bergdorf, Vicki Vivacious, Violet Sparks, and Bourgeoisie.[16][17]

DVD release

Season Release date Episodes Run time Discs Distributor
1 27 October 2014[18] 10 363 minutes 2 Revelation Films

International airings

The show is currently being broadcast in Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland and Sweden.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Drag Queens of London: New promo for London Live's new series". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Drag Queens of London: Meet the Drag Queens". London Live. ESTV. Archived from the original on 3 October 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  3. ^ "Meet The Cast: The Drag Queens of London". dragofficial.com. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  4. ^ "Drag Queens of London: Catch up - Episode 1". London Live. ESTV. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Drag Queens of London, London Live - TV review: 'Soho the perfect setting for this drag-queen parade'". The Independent. London: Independent Print Limited. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Drag Queens of London: Season 1 - Episode 2". locatetv.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Drag Queens of London: Catch up - Episode 3". London Live. ESTV. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  8. ^ "Drag Queens of London: Season 1 - Episode 3". locatetv.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  9. ^ "Drag Queens of London: Catch up - Episode 4". London Live. ESTV. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  10. ^ "Drag Queens of London: Season 1 - Episode 4". locatetv.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  11. ^ "Drag Queens of London: Catch up - Episode 5". London Live. ESTV. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  12. ^ "Drag Queens of London: Catch up - Episode 6". London Live. ESTV. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  13. ^ "Drag Queens of London: Catch up - Episode 7". London Live. ESTV. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  14. ^ "Drag Queens of London: Distribution". theconnectedset.com. The Connected Set Ltd. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  15. ^ "Drag Queens of London: Catch up - Episode 9". London Live. ESTV. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  16. ^ a b "Drag Queens of London: Season 1 - Episode 9". locatetv.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  17. ^ "Drag Queens of London: Catch up - Episode 10". London Live. ESTV. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  18. ^ "Drag Queens Of London - Series 1 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  19. ^ "Drag Queens of London: Catch up - Episode 8". London Live. ESTV. Retrieved 9 November 2014.