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Cheryl Hole rules out returning to Drag Race anytime soon: ‘I’m still a broken diva’

Exclusive: "I don't think I could put myself back into the Thunder Dome quite yet," Cheryl tells Attitude and Tia Kofi on Tea Time in association with Taimi.

By Alastair James

Words: Alastair James; pictures: BBC

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World‘s Cheryl Hole has said she can’t see herself doing Drag Race again any time soon and that doing the first series of Drag Race UK was “traumatic”.

The Essex diva sashayed away after being chosen to leave by Janey Jacké, who had been named the winner of the week following the ball challenge. The queens had to create three looks for the runway, including one they thought RuPaul would wear herself. 

Speaking to Tia Kofi and Attitude for Tea Time, in association with Taimi, following her exit, Cheryl says that’s she’d need to find “true belief” before re-entering the competition.

Asked by Tia if Cheryl would be prepared to come back for another series of the international Drag Race, Cheryl said that right now, she couldn’t.

“I’m still a broken diva-leena, from the first time round, like that was traumatic. I was lucky [in] season one that I made seven out of eight episodes and got as far as I could,” said Cheryl. 

“I left on a high. Even this time I, look, I was always told always leave with your head held high and the smile on your face regardless of the outcome, whether that’s an audition, whether that’s an exam result, you always leave with your head held high, so I put on my brave face.”

“But yeah,” she continued. “I was devastated and I don’t think I could put myself back into the Thunder Dome quite yet until I have [a] true belief that I could give it my all again without doubting every single thing.”

The diva-leena also shares that she thought she might beat her Drag Race UK sister, Baga Chipz, after she took a brief nap during the challenge. 

Cheryl told Attitude: “I was, kind of hoping, in that moment, that I was going to be safe and just skate on by because I didn’t think Baga was going to turn out a look.”

She added that all the queens helped each other, after being asked how much help Baga really had after Pangina Heals was shown to be lending a hand. 

“I’m a diva that if I’m tasked to do something, I will do as much of it as I physically can,” Cheryl said. 

Commenting on Baga later Cheryl jibed, “Did we think she was going to bring the looks? No. Did she bring looks? Debatable…”

Drag Race UK vs The World continues on Tuesdays at 9pm on BBC Three.