Earlier this year you’ d be forgiven for feeling a bit overwhelmed by RuPaul’s Drag Race. It seemed like the reality TV hit had reached saturation point. Even in this column, I discussed my mixed feelings about the show’ s eleventh season. But Drag Race UK has been a pleasant surprise and a breath of fresh air.

with Conor Behan

Initial fears that UK queens would have to adapt themselves into an American format have proved unfounded as Drag Race UK has managed to mine a particular kind of campy British sensibility that stands apart from the catchphrases and viewpoint of the US format. However, the fact that the original production company are involved and have brought RuPaul and Michelle Visage over for proceedings has given a legitimacy sometimes missing when shows get remade. With the involvement of key people from the US version, this feels like an important part of the canon (though many fans praise Drag Race Thailand for its own take on the format).