Drag Queen on Strictly

[HelenaWaiting]

I didn't see a thread on this, and it seems to have been slipped out quietly. I'm assuming this man in woman-face will be taking the place of a female?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2025/strictly-come-dancing-la-voix#:~:text=A%20powerhouse%20of%20charisma%2C%20comedy,no%20stranger%20to%20national%20television.

Hmm so did you object to Nicola Adams who is a lesbian dancing the man’s steps when she was on a few years ago?
it’s a dance competition

Lesbians are not men impersonating women.

What a ridiculous comparison.

I’m outta here made the mistake of thinking is was a Strictly thread - enjoy !

Actually I'm not sure it is so ridiculous. The OP stated (in addition to the womanface) they were concerned this man was taking a woman's place. The PP pointed out a woman in a previous season took a man's place. Seems a fair comparison.
What I object to is the screentime for the disgusting womanface, not which role the man dances as. We're not short of representation of women in dance competitions.

I am just surprised it’s taken the BBC this long to put a drag queen in Strictly. They seem to shoehorn them into lots of other BBC shows. It’s just more tedious virtue signalling and ‘diversity’ box ticking from the BBC.

Nicola didn't take a man's place.

Exactly.

A man in woman face is the problem here.

Tbh it’s put me off watching Strictly this year as I can’t abide drag queens and imagine there will be lots of boring innuendo jokes. It’s a shame because I always watch it. Not this year though. I was looking forward to seeing the actress with Downs Syndrome though. Maybe I will watch but make a cup of tea when draggie is on.

They seemed to struggle to find enough women last year given the bullying stuff, so maybe thought they'd put a fake one in.

I agree.

Given it's been the running joke that it's the BBC there's a Drag Queen story, it really is a surprise they haven't done this before.

As long as they aren't offensive to women,does it really matter? Its not a mens vs women competition. Sometimes they have 2 men or 2 women pairings.

So far 9 contestants have been announced, 4 make plus La Voix and 4 women.

I thought they had - or was that Dancing on Ice?

It’s not the steps they are doing, it’s the number of female celebrities compared to male. There have been two male only couples and two female only couples over the last few series.

Normally, the number of male and female contestants is equal, at most only a difference of 1 where there is an odd number. Last year, though, there were 6 female celebrities and 9 male. If this year a drag queen is counted as female, the number of female contestants could be even lower.

Strictly tends to help celebrities with their career. Women already struggle to maintain a career in the media as they get older - removing an opportunity to be on strictly, which could help them maintain their career, because a male celebrity has taken a female space is another disadvantage to them

They are a person, Drag is their profession.

It's not about men vs women, it's about equal -ish numbers and opportunities for male and female celebrities. In Nicola's year there were equal numbers of men and women, she might have danced some of the men's steps, but she didn't exclude a man from taking a place. If a drag act is counted as one of the women, that's one extra man and one less woman.

The PP pointed out a woman in a previous season took a man's place.

Last season they struggled to get enough women due to the scandal stuff and I believe there were more men than women as a result.

So he's taking a woman's place, I wonder if they'll pair him with a lesbian. You know, because. Or another man, but a straight one. I wonder if they will count him as a woman, the SC judgment could have interesting implications, if so.

It depends on whether he does it in drag every week or not. There's actually nothing to say he will.

The issue with who he is paired with will be about height. Especially if he does in drag in heels.

Ffs.
That’s Strictly ruined for me then.

I don’t find this adult “entertainment” in any way suitable for a programme which many children watch.

And no, this is not at all the same as the numerous excellent gay and lesbian competitors.

Today’s drag is highly sexualised and based on demeaning stereotypes of women. It’s all about smelly fannies, sucking cocks and worse.

It’s a far cry from the wit of Lily Savage.

I just looked it up and apparently they don't have equal numbers of women and men so I don't think he could be considered to be taking a woman's place. I read that 'Chris Dennis is excited for viewers to go beyond the stage persona and meet the real him.' So I assume he's not going to be in drag the whole time either.

I guess he's gay so may dance with another man anyway as the gay celebrities often do. I can't stand the drag race nonsense but him being in it doesn't bother me too much, I'm quite interested to see how he plays it.

Actually I didn't "state" that; I asked a question. A question is not a statement.

I'll be very surprised if they don't appear in their full drag "profession" costume

id he does appear as just him then fair play to him

Then let him appear without womanface.

Not gonna happen. You've seen the publicity shot.

I wouldn’t call drag a profession personally.