Drag Race has already filmed season 13 – and it’s going to look a little different this time around
RuPaul will soon resume filming on Drag Race UK with none other than Dawn French. (VH1)
Drag Race season 13 is already in the can, it has been confirmed, with a series of changes made to create a COVID-secure set.
Not even the small matter of a global pandemic could stop the RuPaul juggernaut, it seems, with Variety confirming that Drag Race season 13 has completed production.
Season 12 was famously impacted by the coronavirus, forcing producers to abandon the usual theatre-based finale and reunion for virtual episodes. Drag Race UK season two was also forced to pause filming as lockdown measures hit.
To get the werk room back up and running, producers at World of Wonder and VH1 reportedly made a series of changes agreed with trade unions.
The queens, Pit Crew and other on-air talent were tested for COVID-19 three times a week, along with any crew members who interacted with them. Other crew members were tested weekly.
While the werk room scenes will look the same – behind the scenes, crew members wore masks, while the queens did not – the main stage will have visible changes.
It isn’t clear whether Drag Race will have guest judges on season 13. (WOW)
Variety reported that the judges table has been extended and glass panels placed in between each seat. At this point it isn’t clear whether guest judges will appear on Drag Race season 13.
One of the biggest issues for the television industry has been hair and make-up, however this has been less of a sticking point on Drag Race, as the contestants are responsible for their own. How RuPaul coped isn’t clear – he famously relies on the talents of Drag Race alum Raven for his make-up.
VH1 is yet to confirm a start date for Drag Race season 13, but the show usually premieres in either February or March, airing back-to-back with All Stars.
Various reports have claimed All Stars 6 is about to embark upon filming, with RuPaul and Michelle then expected to fly to the UK to complete season two of Drag Race UK.
BBC Three controller Fiona Campbell said the British queens were being “regrouped” during a panel event for the virtual Edinburgh TV Festival, according to Radio Times, with a view to “getting it done by the end of the year”.
