The Vivienne on winning Drag Race UK, not having a relationship with RuPaul and Cher *sort of* marrying her
The Vivienne. (BBC)
The Vivienne was crowned Britain’s first drag superstar in last night’s tense finale.
We caught up with her to chat about addiction, what Drag Race UK left out and Cher *sort of* marrying her next month.
Congratulations The Vivienne! How are you feeling the morning after being crowned Britain’s first drag superstar?
Bloody marvellous, I don’t think it’s quite settled in yet but I’m sure it will. Tired, a bit hungover, but good.
What did you do to celebrate?
We had a little after party with all the crew and the girls who could make it. A few drinks, McDonald’s in bed and ignoring my phone.
Ru’s a very private guy off-camera. When he’s on set he’s there doing a job and that’s that. There’s no way I could have a relationship with him. I haven’t got his number, anything like that.
Favourite queen from the series?
Baga [Chipz], she’s a bloody lunatic.
You’re working on a new show with Baga with WowPresents. What can we expect from that?
Yeah it’s brilliant, it’s called Morning T&T and it’s basically a feature long Snatch Game. It’s a spoof of a morning TV show like Good Morning Britain or Good Morning America.
Morning T&T airs this December (WoW).
Why do Trump for Snatch Game?
Not going to lie, I knew it would probably get more press in America than Kim Woodburn. But also to make a bloody idiot of him!
Can we expect a Boris impression next?
Oh God love, no. I can act like a twat but not that much of a twat.
Who you will vote for on 12 December?
I really don’t know. I’m not educated enough on that side of things to even give you an answer.
I didn’t know until we sat down and watched it.
Your prize was to create a web series. Do you know what direction that’s going in?
Not sure yet, but probably some sort of Vivienne takes Hollywood thing.
How much did you spend preparing for Drag Race UK?
A lot. Probably about five or six thousand.
Is there part of you that’s annoyed not to be £100,000 richer by now?
I mean of course, yeah. But we’ll make that in a couple of months. It’s all about the opportunities afterwards. It would have been nice to hit Vivienne Westwood this morning, but never mind!
Britains first drag superstar (BBC).
Several queens named you the real villain of Drag Race. What would you say about that?
Who named me that?!
Cheryl Hole in my last interview, and Blu implied you were playing a game the week before.
[As Kim Woodburn] Horrible little girls.
Listen, I wouldn’t say I was the villain. I speak my mind, I say how it is and I’m really passionate about drag. A lot of British people can mistake passion for arrogance.
Do you have a relationship with RuPaul off-camera?
No. Ru’s a very private guy off-camera. When he’s on set he’s there doing a job and that’s that. There’s no way I could have a relationship with him. I haven’t got his number, anything like that. But he was lovely on set. If I bumped into him we’d probably have a chat.
You’ve talked about how your fiancé has been a real support for you. Have you set a date for the wedding?
Oh no I was lying, he’s a twat. Yeah, we are getting married on the 15 December – next month!
Will you be inviting RuPaul?
He can get an invite. Michelle [Visage]’s coming, Alan [Carr]’s coming.
The Vivienne spoke about her battle with addiction. (BBC)
Who is performing?
Chad Michaels. He’s my absolute icon with Bianca Del Rio. He’s going to marry us as Cher!
Will you be marrying in drag?
Oh God no, I couldn’t think of anything worse!
I sent them a text message that said: ‘You’re going to find something out this evening that I’m not really proud of, but I’m proud of the position that I’m in now and the fact I can help people.’
Did you know you’d won before the episode aired?
No, I didn’t know until we sat down and watched it. We filmed reaction clips. Once you see that it’s pretty evident we didn’t have a clue!
We saw you and Divina De Campo clash. What was her reaction like?
There was never any bad air with me and Divina, even after the fight on the show. I thought she had it, but she was so gracious.
Did you have an advantage as British drag ambassador?
Not at all! I didn’t get approached for the show. You could say the same about Divina because she’d worked with the BBC. The thing about [the drag ambassador] is that it was literally just a lip sync competition. There was no real talent involved.
What’s your opinion on the show’s inclusivity? Especially with a second series announced.
The show is open to everyone and I think we are in a position now when we can maybe look at that.
The cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. (BBC)
What else would you want from a second series?
More episodes! We were so lucky to get a season but blink and you’ll miss it. 14 queens next.
On the show you opened up about your addiction battle. What will you do to improve people’s knowledge about that now the show is over?
I wanted to be honest about it on the show. I didn’t go on to become an advocate, but to help people along the way would be nice. So maybe going into schools and talking because you’re always told in school: ‘Don’t do drugs,’ but you never actually hear from those people.
You mentioned some of your family members didn’t know. Did you talk to them before the series aired?
I told them on the day of the show, I sent them a text message that said: ‘You’re going to find something out this evening that I’m not really proud of but I’m proud of the position that I’m in now and the fact I can help people.’ They were really supportive. My dad said: ‘Well, sh*t happens and you’re going to get a kick up the arse when I see ya.’
What would your advice for young people on the gay scene tempted to try drugs?
I always said: ‘I’m never going to do drugs.’ But it only takes that one person to offer it to you in a nightclub. And you go: ‘Oh, yeah I’ll try it.’ But trying it that once sets something off in your brain. Some people don’t get addicted, but a lot of people do. So just think hard about whether you want to be that person or not.
God save The Vivienne (BBC).
What was your worst moment on the show?
The girl group challenge was just a sh*t show, wasn’t it? Michelle was staring me straight in the eyes during that performance, so as soon as I did one wrong step I was like: “Oh well, that’s f****d.”
Are you all still in the WhatsApp group together?
Oh yeah, it doesn’t stop. The things in there would probably get us arrested.
Whats the name of it?
Team green and team pink. I don’t really know what it means. Maybe I’m just talking to random girls or something?
Are you planning to release a single?
Seeing the success of the Frock Destroyers – and I would put money on it that the To the Moon single will chart – I think it would be silly not to make single to make a few bob.
Divina De Campo, The Vivienne and Baga Chipz made it to the top three of Drag Race UK. BBC)
Was there anything we didn’t see?
We didn’t get to see the softer side of me. I did so much for the other queens that we didn’t see and the other queens didn’t mention. But f**k it, I’m going to say it. On episode one when Cheryl got the praise for putting loo roll on her shoe – I told her to do that. I styled Blu [Hydrangea]’s hair, Cheryl’s hair. I did so much which never got shown. But at least I came round on the last few episodes and showed I wasn’t just a cold hearted b**ch!
The Vivienne will appear at London’s Troxy on November 29 as part of the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season One Tour. Click here for tickets and info.
