BBC Cancels RuPaul’s Drag Race UK After 8 Seasons Due to ‘Financial Presssures’

Gayes! It looks like RuPaul’s Drag Race UK will sadly have to sashay away from the BBC.

Earlier this week, the network announced that the show, which wrapped its eighth season last September, would be pulled from its schedule due to financial pressures.

“As the BBC continues to navigate significant financial pressures and deliver the savings required of us, we have had to make some very difficult choices, none of which have been taken lightly.” A BBC spokesperson told the Hollywood Reporter.

In a separate statement to The Sun, the network said it was proud of the show’s eleven-series run. “We would like to thank RuPaul, World of Wonder and everyone involved, both on and off screen.” They continued, saying, “We are certain that viewers will enjoy the eighth series, which is currently airing on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three.”

The show’s cancellation comes on the heels of its eighth-season premiere, which delivered the franchise’s second-highest-rated premiere to date, trailing only Season 6’s 9.0 rating. In addition to pulling in numbers on the network, its streaming numbers increased by 20% on the streaming platform WOW Presents Plus.

While the BBC may not be moving forward with the series, World of Wonder’s streaming platform WOW Presents Plus announced the series would return in Fall 2027 to their platform.

In response to the BBC’s decision, World of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, who also co-created “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” said, “Historically, during times of anxiety and regression, the queer, trans, and drag communities are often targeted. Today is no exception. We at World of Wonder are so grateful to our members for their support, and we remain steadfast in the values that make ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ more than just a fiercely entertaining show. For millions, it’s a lifeline, a safe space and a celebration, and WOW Presents Plus is incredibly proud to keep providing that platform.”

The show, which first launched in October 2019, was the first spin-off of the original series, which has since spawned more than a dozen spin-offs of its own.

Presented by RuPaul and judged by fellow judges Michelle Visage, Alan Carr, and Graham Norton, the series has become iconic in its own right, giving us all the feels of the original but with a distinctly UK twist.

The show’s distinct humor and fanfare led to RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World, which brings together different drag race competitors from around the world, where they duke it out for a global crown.

Of course, the show’s fervent fanbase wasn’t happy about the network’s decision to cancel the show, taking to the popular subreddit DragRaceTea to air out their grievances.

One user called the BBC’s decision “absolutely bizarre,” given the show’s success on BBC Three. I hope WoW continues to make new regular seasons alongside the newly-announced All Stars. It would be a terrible shame if DRUK fell into limbo like so many of the other international franchises., They ended the post suggesting the show be sold to BBC’s competitor Channel 4.

Another user questioned if the show’s move to WOW Presents Plus would affect its production quality. “Without a broadcast partner or wealthy sponsor significantly funding the show, I’m not sure how it will remain the same show if Wow are funding it themselves,” they said

Another user chimed in, attributing the show’s cancellation to the network caving to far-right political pressure. “We will see less “alternative” programming. I fear we make look back in x years and realize this was the golden age of drag before it was forced back underground. 😞😞😞” they wrote.

While the UK’s iteration of Drag Race may be coming to an end as we know it, many of its international counterparts continue to thrive. The flagship series is set to return for its nineteenth season in January 2027, with casting scheduled to begin on October 1, 2025, and submissions closing on November 14, 2025.