The Scoop

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK to feature ‘RuRuvision Song Contest’ challenge

The two pop culture juggernauts are coming together next month!

*Disclaimer* This article contains mild format spoilers about unaired episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season 2.

As fans await news of the BBC’s plans for the United Kingdom’s participation at the 2021 contest, the broadcaster has revealed a treat for Eurovision fans. An upcoming challenge will see the contestants compete in ‘The RuRuvision Song Contest’, a drag parody of our beloved contest.

The upcoming challenge, due to air 11 February, was officially revealed via the BBC iPlayer episode description:

The competition picks up quickly as the queens form two groups for a Europop battle – The RuRuvision Song Contest. In a glorious homage to Eurovision, the queens record and perform the same catchy song, but can they swerve the dreaded nul points?!

Episode description from BBC Three

The episode will feature MNEK, one of the UK’s biggest producers, with multiple chart hits under his belt. He appeared in series one as the producer behind The Frock Destroyer’s “Break Up Bye Bye”, which charted at #35 in the UK Singles Chart. The success of the song provoked calls for the trio to represent the UK at Eurovision.

Although this marks the first time the franchises has crossed paths directly, there are existing links between the two pop culture juggernauts. Former Rupaul’s Drag Race contestant Courtney Act participated in the 2019 edition of Australia Decides with the song “Fight for Love”, finishing in 4th. Further, Graham Norton, the BBC’s commentator for Eurovision since 2009, is a regular judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.

UK-based fans can stream the show from BBC iPlayer, and international fans can stream it via WoW Presents Plus.

Drag and the Eurovision Song Contest

Drag and the Eurovision Song Contest both have a long and interconnected history, in part due to their respective cultural significance to Europe’s LGBTQ+ communities.

The first drag act to perform at the contest was Slovenia’s Sestre, who competed at the 2002 contest in Tallinn with the song “Samo ljubezen”, placing 13th.

Five years later, the 2007 contest featured two solo drag acts: DQ representing Denmark with the song “Drama Queen” and Verka Serduchka representing Ukraine with “Dancing Lasha Tumbai”. The latter placed 2nd and went on to be one of the most iconic Eurovision entries to date.

Most notably perhaps, Conchita Wurst (the drag persona of Thomas Neuwirth) won the 2014 contest for Austria with the song “Rise Like A Phoenix”, one of the most provocative entries in recent contest history.

Have you been watching season 2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK? Will you be streaming this episode? Let us knowBe sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter@escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to see our reactions to the over the coming months.

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