RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is leaving the BBC after Series 8 and moving to WOW Presents Plus. The BBC says significant financial pressure and changing priorities led to the decision. World of Wonder has already announced the first UK All Stars series for autumn 2027.

The current series is not being cut short. Series 8 continues on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer as planned. The platform change applies to future installments, including the main UK show and UK vs The World.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK platform move: quick facts

  • What changed: the show will leave the BBC after Series 8.
  • New home: WOW Presents Plus.
  • Series 8: continues on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer as planned.
  • UK All Stars: the first series arrives in autumn 2027.
  • UK vs The World: future series also move to WOW Presents Plus.
  • UK back catalogue: WOW says all eight main series and three UK vs The World series will be available to UK members.

Is RuPaul’s Drag Race UK leaving the BBC?

Yes. The BBC and World of Wonder have confirmed that future RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series will move to WOW Presents Plus. The change ends the show’s run as a BBC commission after eight main series.

The move also covers RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World. Its first three series were shown by the BBC in the UK, but future series will be carried by World of Wonder’s subscription service.

This is a broadcaster change rather than an announcement that the UK franchise is ending. The BBC report refers to future series, and World of Wonder’s announcement says the show is heading to a new home.

Alik poses in red before a wall display of her portrait for RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 8.
Alik is one of the twelve contestants competing in the current eighth series. Image: Nick Strasburg/BBC/World of Wonder.

When will Drag Race UK move to WOW Presents Plus?

The transition begins after the current eighth series finishes its BBC run. Series 8 premiered September 3, 2026, and the official promotional material describes a ten-week competition.

Autumn 2027 is the only confirmed date window for the next UK installment. That window belongs to RuPaul’s Drag Race UK All Stars. World of Wonder has not published an exact premiere day.

No date has been announced for a ninth regular series. The BBC statement says future main series will move to WOW Presents Plus, but it does not place Series 9 on the 2027 calendar or confirm whether it will arrive before or after All Stars.

What happens to RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 8?

Series 8 remains on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer. The BBC says the run will continue as planned, so viewers do not need to switch services in the middle of the current competition.

The season began with twelve contestants competing across ten weeks. The lineup is Alik, Anita Piss, Coral-Hole Mandi, The Delta Quadrant, Flesh, KY Kelly, Lucky Roy Singh, ma_danni_x, Mocha, Naya Thorn, Paris Baby and Tequila Thirst.

RuPaul hosts and judges the competition with Michelle Visage, Graham Norton and Alan Carr. The platform announcement does not change the current judging panel or the Series 8 schedule.

Anita Piss poses in yellow before a wall display of her portrait for RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 8.
Anita Piss joined the Series 8 cast after applying five times, according to the official BBC introduction carried by the Royal Television Society. Image: Nick Strasburg/BBC/World of Wonder.

What is RuPaul’s Drag Race UK All Stars?

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK All Stars will bring back contestants from earlier UK series for a new competition. World of Wonder calls it the first UK All Stars series and says it will premiere exclusively on WOW Presents Plus in autumn 2027.

The cast has not been announced. The official post also leaves the episode count, judges, prize, challenge list and weekly release plan open.

The announcement describes the release as virtually global and specifically includes the UK. Exact country availability can still vary, so World of Wonder’s local service pages will be the final check closer to launch.

Coral-Hole Mandi poses in dark red before a wall display of her portrait for RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 8.
Coral-Hole Mandi is part of the twelve-queen Series 8 lineup now airing on the BBC. Image: Nick Strasburg/BBC/World of Wonder.

How does the move change streaming in the UK?

UK viewers will need WOW Presents Plus for the new post-BBC series announced so far. World of Wonder says UK members will also gain access to all eight past RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series and all three series of UK vs The World.

The subscription price and any trial offer are not part of the announcement. Prices can change by country and platform, so there is no fixed cost in the confirmed release details.

The official post says All Stars will be exclusive to WOW Presents Plus. It does not announce a free UK broadcast window, a later BBC repeat or a separate television partner.

What stays the same about the UK series?

World of Wonder remains the production company behind the franchise. Contestants still compete in performance, comedy, acting and design challenges before RuPaul decides who stays after the lip sync.

The confirmed change is the UK broadcaster and streaming home. World of Wonder has not announced a different competition format for the next regular series.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK first premiered in 2019. Eight main series and three UK vs The World series now form the catalogue named in the new streaming announcement.

The Delta Quadrant poses in orange before a wall display of her portrait for RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 8.
The Delta Quadrant is among the twelve contestants introduced for the show’s current BBC series. Image: Nick Strasburg/BBC/World of Wonder.

Why did the BBC let Drag Race UK go?

The BBC cited significant financial pressure and evolving priorities. Its statement says the decision was difficult and praises the show’s role in bringing younger audiences to BBC Three and iPlayer.

The broadcaster has been reducing costs while dealing with inflation and a licence-fee settlement that did not keep pace with prices. The BBC report presents Drag Race UK as one decision within those wider budget limits.

The BBC did not say the show had failed with viewers, and the announcement does not describe a dispute with World of Wonder. Both companies confirmed the handover together.

What details are still unconfirmed?

Series 9 has no announced release date, cast, episode count or production schedule. The statement confirms the future platform but does not identify the next regular-series launch.

UK All Stars has only an autumn 2027 window. Its exact premiere date, returning queens, judges, prize, episode count and release cadence remain unannounced.

More confirmed release and platform updates are available in the Pixel Twelve TV section.

The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series page keeps the confirmed platform history, current Series 8 details and announced 2027 plan together.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK move FAQ

Has RuPaul’s Drag Race UK been cancelled?

No. It is leaving the BBC and moving to WOW Presents Plus. Future main series are part of the move, although Series 9 does not yet have a date.

Where can I watch RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 8?

Series 8 continues on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer in the UK as planned. The broadcaster change applies after the current run.

When does RuPaul’s Drag Race UK All Stars start?

The first UK All Stars series is scheduled for autumn 2027 on WOW Presents Plus. An exact date and cast have not been announced.