Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan is on Drag Race UK tonight

IT'S HAPPENING 💋

Author: Emma DicksonPublished 7th Oct 2021

We are only two episodes in to the brand new series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, but already we've had some amazing special guests! After both Oti Mabuse and Matt Lucas appeared on the show in previous weeks, tonight sees Derry Girls and Bridgerton actress Nicola Coughlan join the panel!

Sharing a clip of herself on the show to Instagram, Nicola says: "Hi, I'm Nicola Coughlan and this is the best day of my life. I love that Drag Race is fun, campy, it's the best expression of joy you've ever seen on television.

"The Queens are so talents. Ru, Michelle, Graham, Alan, so fabulous. It's the best and most joyous thing you can watch."

Check out all of the guest judges on RuPaul's Drag Race UK series three:

Leigh-Anne Pinnock


Matt Lucas


Oti Mabuse


Steps


Kathy Burke


Nadine Coyle


Jay Revell


Emma Bunton


Charity Shop Sue


Judi Love


Alesha Dixon


Nicola previously confirmed earlier this year she would be joining the star-studded panel.

Nicola, who is a long-time fan of drag and the US version of the programme, couldn't contain her excitement. She wrote: 'Because I am what? A Sickening Extra Special Guest Judge Bish!!!

'When RuPaul asked me to come be on the Drag Race panel I felt gorgeous, I felt perfect, I felt like Linda Evangelista, like a model

'If your question is U K Hun, did you feel ready for this? Look-I didn’t have to get ready I stay ready. What can I say? When it’s right, it’s right💋'. (sic)

Nicola has been a fan of the show for years, earlier this year she shared a Shakespearean ode to RuPaul’s Drag Race UK legend Bimini.

Nadine Coyle will be joining comedian Judi Love for series three's Snatch Game. She follows Girls Aloud bandmate Cheryl, who served as a guest judge on the first season of the show back in 2019.

Despite being forced to postpone production last year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, series 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK has served up some ICONIC moments.

Let's take a look back at all of the past winners of the popular show, including versions across the pond:

Season 1: BeBe Zahara Benet

BeBe Zahara Benet was the very first winner of Ru Paul's Drag Race back in 2009! BeBe returned in 2018 to compete in the third season on Ru Paul's Drag Race: All Stars.

Season 2: Tyra Sanchez

Tyra Sanchez won the second season of Drag Race in 2010. Tyra retired from Drag in March 2020 after sharing a post on Instagram.

Season 3: Raja

Raja won the third season of Drag Race! Sutan Amrull, who performs as Raja, went on to work on America's Next Top Model as the show's make up artist. Sutan has worked with stars including Tyra Banks, Iggy Azalea and Twiggy.

Season 4: Sharon Needles

Sharon Needles was a fan favourite and took the Drag Race crown in 2012. Needles went on to release three studio albums and mentored season 10 winner Aquaria.

Season 5: Jinkx Monsoon

Jinkx Monsoon won the fifth season of Ru Paul's Drag Race in 2013 and went on to be placed in the top 20 'most powerful drag queens in America' list by New York magazine.

Season 6: Bianca Del Rio

Perhaps the most recognisable Drag Race winner, Bianca Del Rio took the crown back in 2014. Bianca has gone on to tour several stand-up shows including a headline gig at Wembley Arena - the first Drag Queen to ever do it!

Season 7: Violet Chachki

Violet Chachki won season seven of Drag Race after excelling in the fashion and design related challenges. Chachki has walked in fashion shows and attended the Met Gala in 2019.

Season 8: Bob the Drag Queen

Violet Chachki passed on the crown to Bob the Drag Queen in season eight of Drag Race. Caldwell Tidicue, who performs as Bob the Drag Queen, started doing drag after watching season one of Drag Race!

Season 9: Sasha Velour

Winner of season nine, Sasha Velour hails from Brooklyn in New York and is the stage name of Alexander Hedges Steinberg. Sasha Velour's lip sync to Whitney Houston's 'So Emotional' in the final helped secure the crown.

Season 10: Aquaria

Aquaria won the tenth season of Drag Race and was the first queen to win both the Drag Race ball and 'Snatch Game' in the same season.

Season 11: Yvie Oddly

A decade of Drag Race! Yvie Oddly was crowned in the eleventh season of the show and said that they pursued drag after watching previous winner Sharon Needles in season four.

Season 12: Jaida Essence Hall

Jaida Essence Hall won Drag Race season 12! She previously said that the name Jaida was inspired by a friend, who called her the name after she put on a wig for the first time.

Ru Paul's Drag Race UK Series 1: The Vivienne

The Vivienne was appointed the first UK Drag Race ambassador in 2015 and went on to win the very first series of Drag Race UK in 2019. Her impression of Donald Trump in 'Snatch Game' was described by judge Michelle Visage as one of the best they had ever seen.

Ru Paul's Drag Race UK Series 2: Lawrence Chaney

Lawrence Chaney won second series of Ru Paul's Drag Race UK and became the first Scottish queen to win the show!

Ru Paul's Drag Race UK Series 3: Krystal Versace

19-year-old Krystal Versace became the show's youngest ever winner in 2021.

New episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race UK arrive on the BBC iPlayer every Thursday.

Read more:

Derry Girls: Everything you need to know about the Northern Irish comedy

Best moments from 'Snatch Game' in Ru Paul's Drag Race 📺

The best comfort TV boxsets to get you through lockdown

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