BBC Three

Cast and release date revealed for RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’s second series

(credit: BBC Three)

RuPaul and his crew of twelve new British queens will be bringing some sequins and sass to our screens this dreary January.

With Michelle Visage, Graham Norton, Alan Carr and a host of surprise celebrity guest judges offering their critiques of the chosen drag queens, the series will see the queens battle it out through a series of challenges, cat walks and lip-syncs to ultimately be crowned Britain’s next drag superstar.

Meet the 2021 contestants:

Tayce

From Newport, South Wales, Tayce describes her look as ‘model-esque, villainous, dark, punky and edgy’.

Cillian Murphy to narrate new documentary series on esports scene for BBC Three

Narrated by Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders), the series follows the multimillion pound esports organisation EXCEL ESPORTS and its League of Legends team as they compete in The League of Legends European Championships in Berlin.

The team finished in tenth place in 2019, but given the new blood, huge financial backing and world class coaches, they are looking to make their mark on the global LoL scene.

An accidental career: Jed Mercurio headlines the RTS Midlands Careers Fair

Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio decided he probably should learn to write – after he’d already penned a hit BBC drama series. “I did it backwards,” the former medic told the RTS Midlands Careers Fair 2020.

Mercurio had been a junior doctor working in Birmingham hospitals when he replied to an advert in the British Medical Journal. It had been placed by a production company looking for drama ideas.

BBC Three announces RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series two return and series three casting

RuPaul (credit: BBC)

The show has also opened its casting process for the third series, calling all UK drag queens to compete in the Olympics of Drag.

The second series will see Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton returning as judges, with a host of other top-secret celebrity judges to be announced. Over the ten-week series, 12 British queens will battle it out to be crowned the Next Drag Superstar.

Series one saw Liverpool’s finest The Vivienne take the title in a close final with Divina De Campo and Baga Chipz. The second series promises to be even bigger than the first.

BBC Three commissions new entertainment show from Dane Baptiste

At its centre is the mythical NASBLAQ, a Stock index for diverse talent which controls their movement up and down the ladder of fame.

In this pilot, Dane and his cast will investigate the workings of the NASBLAQ and attempt to crack the code to success with a series of sketches, stunts, interviews and social campaigns.

BBC Three announces God Shave The Queens with RuPaul's Drag Race UK stars

Credit: BBC

The eight-part documentary series will give viewers an insight into the hard graft behind the glitz and glamour of the Drag Race UK tour.

The series begins only a few days after The Vivienne won the UK’s first Drag Race and was crowned Drag Race Superstar, with all the queens working together to put on big, showstopping group performances and captivating audiences with their own individual talents, from circus skills, to power ballads.

US comedy series Twenties is coming to BBC Three

Credit: BBC

Written and created by Lena Waithe, Twenties is inspired by Waithe's own life and follows Hattie (Jonica T. Gibbs), an aspiring young black lesbian writer. Hattie and her friends Marie (Christina Elmore) and Nia (Gabrielle Graham) fight to realise their dreams while living in LA.

While homeless and struggling to make her dreams a reality, Hattie meets a successful writer and producer who gives her a chance and hires her as an assistant on a show.

BBC Three and BBC England announce Northern Voices commissions

Bricking It (credit: BBC)

With the aim of reflecting the life experiences of 16-24 year-olds in the region, the Factual Development Scheme invited local independent production companies to submit ideas which, if successful, would undergo development and gain a commission.

The Northern Voices collaboration furthers BBC Three’s commitment to uncover original and untold stories from exciting new voices outside of London.