Drag Race UK delivers bombshell twist after queen tests positive for coronavirus
Episode five of series two left viewers - and the remaining queens - well and truly shooketh.
By Will Stroude
Warning: Major spoilers follow for series two, episode five of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
After Ginny Lemon made Drag Race HERstory last week by becoming the first queen to refuse to lip sync for her life, we thought Drag Race UK series two couldn’t possibly bring any more drama.
Oh, how wrong we were.
Picking up from where episode four left off last week, Thursday night’s episode saw the queens immediately hit with the news that production was shutting down to the (then just beginning) coronavirus pandemic, forcing the contestants to pack their bags and head home until filming could resume.
When the eight remaining queens were called back to the workroom seven months later, however, there was some devastating news for one queen.
Veronica Green (Image: BBC)
In news that shook the workroom – and viewers at home – it was revealed that Veronica Green had been forced to quit the series after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the Lancashire queen’s bid to snatch the series two crown to a sad and untimely end.
Thankfully, Veronica has since made a full recovery and Drag Race UK producers have confirmed that she’s been given an “open invitation” to take part in series three, which is set to air later in 2021.
As the only remaining queen other than Lawrence Chaney to sport a coveted RuPeter Badge – which she received after winning week three’s Rats: The Rusical challenge, Veronica’s unexpected exit seemingly blew the competition wide open once again – but Ru had another twist in store.
In response to Veronica’s absence, the seven remaining queens were informed that they would be given the opportunity to vote a previously-eliminated queen (not including Ginny) back into the competition.
Joe Black, Cherry Valentine and Asttina Mandella then re-entered the workroom disguised as members of the Brit Crew, before making a plea for why they deserved a second shot at the crown.
After hearing the eliminated queens’ pitches, the majority of the remaining queens chose week one’s shock eliminee Joe Black to re-enter the competition.
Joe Black (Image: BBC)
However, the Brighton performer’s second sting in the workroom would soon prove to be short-lived.
Failing to impress the judges in a Eurovision-themed pop group challenge, Joe once again found himself in the bottom two, this time with Tia Kofi.
After the pair performed ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’ by The Communards in the lip sync, Joe Black was told to sashay away from the competition for a second time. Ouch.
“I’m back again and in the spirit of Eurovision… nil points!” joked Joe following his return and subsequent second elimination.
“I was less of a wallflower than I thought I was last time and I got to show people a bit of me because I got to show this silly bloody costume.
“There were only eight people left and to that crown I was Glenn Close… but no cigar!”
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK land on BBC Three from 7pm every Thursday, available exclusively on BBC iPlayer.