Michelle Visage to swap Drag Race for Strictly Come Dancing?
Michelle Visage is rumoured to be joining the Strictly 2019 line-up. (YouTube)
RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage is rumoured to be joining the Strictly Come Dancing 2019 line-up.
The singer, actor and ally has reportedly been added to a list of possible contestants for this year’s series of the ballroom dancing competition.
Strictly producers are said to be counting on Visage to reel in younger fans and members of the LGBT community.
A source told The Sun: “This is a very strategic signing from the BBC as Michelle has a huge following, especially in the gay community.”
Strictly to follow Drag Race All Stars 5 filming
Traditionally, the Strictly line-up is announced around the end of August with contestants entering rehearsals immediately afterwards, which would tie in with Visage’s recently announced Drag Race plans.
On Wednesday (June 5), RuPaul and Visage confirmed on their What’s The Tee podcast that they will begin filming for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 5 in the coming days.
They said that the spin-off will film back-to-back with Drag Race season 12. Production on each season usually takes about five to six weeks.
Michelle Visage recently spoke about having her breast implants removed on the RuPaul’s Drag Race season 11 finale. (Netflix)
Neither season is expected to air until late this year or early 2020, with RuPaul’s Drag Race UK slated for BBC Three later this year.
RuPaul and Visage will both star, Graham Norton, Alan Carr and guest judge Maisie Williams set to appear.
Michelle Visage could follow Courtney Act on Strictly
Should she join Strictly, Visage would be following in the footsteps of Drag Race alumni Courtney Act, who came runner-up in Australia’s version of the show (Dancing With The Stars) in April.
Act—real name Shane Jenek—made history when she dropped her drag persona during the show’s penultimate heat to dance with partner Joshua Keefe.
“This is a very strategic signing from the BBC as Michelle has a huge gay following.”
—A Strictly Come Dancing source
It marked the first time that two people presenting as men competed together in an English-speaking edition of the franchise.
In the UK, Strictly bosses have long refused to introduce same-sex pairings to the competition, despite calls to do so from judges Craig Revel Horwood and Shirley Ballas.
