Blind Date will feature drag queens for the first time
From left to right: Host Paul O’Grady, Trampagne Lovesit, Shyanne O’Shea,
Channel 5’s Blind Date is set to feature drag queens for the first time on Saturday night’s show.
The the dating game show – hosted by Paul O’Grady – will feature single criminologist Luke picking to date one of three drag queens hidden behind a wall.
According to the show, Luke will be unaware that his potential dates are drag queens.
Saturday’s Blind Date will feature drag artist Shyanne O’Shea and drag queens Trampagne from Portsmouth, and Anna Phylactic from Manchester.
Blind Date sees a single person choosing from three dates, who they can’t see because they are sat behind a screen.
Host O’Grady will also set to get involved in the drag theme, wearing a leopard fur coat that channels his alter ego Lily Savage.
O’Grady said: “I’m so happy that we have included drag queens on this series of Blind Date. It’s about time – it is 2018 after all!! Having been a drag artiste myself I’m very proud to be part of this Blind Date first!”
Anna Phylactic recently took part in a drag protest against US president Donald Trump’s visit to the UK in central London.
From left to right: Trampagne Lovesit and Shyanne O’Shea. (Blind Date, Saturday at 8pm on Channel 5)
In January, the show featured the former Mr Gay UK, who became the first gay man to attempt to find love on the show.
Nightclub host Joni from Newcastle held the Mr Gay England title in 2016, and is appeared on the show after “not being hit on, being dumped and getting divorced.”
Joni, 28, secured the title for helping support young LGBT people suffering from mental health problems, as well as preventing young suicides in the community.
Anna Phylactic on Blind Date. (Blind Date, Saturday at 8pm on Channel 5)
And in July 2017, coinciding with Pride in London, Blind Date featured its first lesbian singleton, 29-year old Alice, who got to choose to go on a date with one of three women.
Stonewall praised the re-booted show when it returned to screens in 2017 – having been cancelled in 2003 – for including LGBT+ contestants.
A Stonewall spokesperson previously said: “We’re thrilled to see Blind Date welcome its first lesbian, gay and bi contestants – and just in time for Pride season.
“These demonstrations of inclusion are really welcomed by the community and show how far society – and lesbian, gay, bi and trans representation in the media – has come.
“Hopefully, we’ll see even more shows follow Blind Date’s lead, improving representation of LGBT people and helping viewers across Britain gain a better understanding of the diversity of the LGBT community.”
Blind Date will air on Saturday July 28 at 7pm on Channel 5.
