BBC Three

Michelle Visage to be a judge in RuPaul’s Drag Race UK

Michelle Visage (Credit: BBC)

The eight-part series will search the UK for the brightest and best drag queens to discover the UK's next drag superstar.

To get the crown, the queens must first be put through an array of challenges, testing the contestants’ acting, modelling and comedy skills.

A series regular in the US version, Michelle Visage has judged eight series of RuPaul’s Drag Race in the US and has collaborated with RuPaul for over two decades.

“We've been working tirelessly to bring the magic of RuPaul's Drag Race to my favourite city in the world: London!” Said Visage.

Stacey Dooley to host new make-up competition Glow Up

Dom Skinner, Stacey Dooley, Val Garland (Credit: BBC/Wall to Wall)

Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star will be an eight-part series that will see 10 contestants live together and collaborate under the watchful eyes of judges Val Garland, Global Make-Up Director at L’Oreal Paris, and Dominic Skinner, Global Senior Artist for MAC Cosmetics.

“I’m delighted to be involved with Glow Up,” said Dooley. “The make-up artists are so impressive and talented... and Val and Dominic were a scream to work with. Can’t wait to show you all it!”

BBC Three announces a UK version of RuPaul's Drag Race

Ru Paul (Credit: BBC)

The sparkling talent contest, popular in the US, will see ten Brits take part in challenges against each other and battle it out to avoid the weekly elimination of one participant.

Contestants will have their drag queen skills put to the test in the Maxi Challenge, the headline moment of each show, where they may have to perform, model or walk the runway.

“It is a dream come true to extend our royal family to the United Kingdom with our partners at BBC Three,” Ru Paul commented on the new adaptation.

Sherlock star Andrew Scott joins Fleabag

Andrew Scott joins a returning cast which includes Olivia Colman (Godmother), Sian Clifford (Claire), Bill Paterson (Dad), Brett Gelman (Martin), Jenny Rainsford (Boo) and Hugh Skinner (Harry).

According to Executive Producer Lydia Hampson, Waller-Bridge began writing the new series in January this year, and the results, promises BBC Comedy boss Shane Allen, are “knockout”. 

BBC Three tackles the rise of the far-right among new commissions

Why will young people care about this? he asked at today’s Edinburgh International Television Festival, as he unveiled a slate of new programmes for the digital channel.

Billy Wizz

Among the commissions is a documentary telling the remarkable story of driver Billy Monger, one of Britain’s most exciting new racing drivers, who last year was involved in an accident which resulted in the loss of both legs.

Second series of BBC Three thriller Clique begins filming

(Credit: BBC)

The series, which explores the power of friendship between three young, ambitious women, will once again feature Synnove Karlsen as Holly, Sophia Brown as Louise and Rachel Hurd-Wood as Rachel.

Joining the original cast is an ensemble of upcoming British talent including Leo Suter (Victoria, Bad Education), Barney Harris (The Hollow Crown), Imogen King (Darkest Hour), Stuart Campbell (Outlander), Izuka Hoyle (Mary, Queen of Scots).

BBC mockumentary This Country renewed for third series

The series which was written by siblings Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper, who also serve as the leads is about the day-to-day of two cousins living in a rural village in the Cotswolds. 

The show has recently won three RTS Programme Awards; for Comedy Writer, Comedy Performance and Best Scripted Comedy. The show has also been nominated four times at the upcoming BAFTA and BAFTA Craft Awards.

This Country: Charlie Cooper discusses this year's comedy hit

It’s been a hectic series for the show’s stars, cousins Kerry and Kurtan, played by Daisy May and Charlie Cooper. There’s been fishing, tadpoles spawned in the pond, there was an incident with some aggressive sheep… A busy six weeks in the Cotswold town the pair call home – or rather it hasn’t. And that’s sort of the point.

Cracking Telly: Screenwriter Ryan Brown shares his story

"I probably have more of a writer's soul than an actor's soul" - Ryan Brown

Although still early in his career himself, Brown has been making waves, having won the Bafta New Writing Prize of Drama in 2016, and been runner up in an Idris Elba-fronted writing competition, 'Write to Greenlight'.

Competitions are now key to breaking into the industry as a young writer, he believes. While in the past it was possible to get your break with a killer script and the right opportunity, now young writers need an ‘in’. Competitions, he believes, are the key.