Drag Race’s The Vivienne joins Dancing On Ice: ‘I think it’s a big step for queer representation’
The Vivienne is joining Dancing On Ice. (ITV)
The winner of Drag Race UK season one, The Vivienne, will swap heels for skates in Dancing on Ice 2023.
The Vivienne, who recently took part in Drag Race All Stars 7, the all-winners season, is the first drag queen to compete on the ITV skating show.
Posting on Twitter, the Scouse drag legend confirmed that she will be competing alongside Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Olympic gymnast Nile Wilson in the upcoming series.
Alongside a shocked-face emoji, she wrote: “Excited to announce that I will be competing in Dancing on Ice in 2023!
“A dream come true. To be the first drag artist to take part in one of the big UK reality competition shows is truly an honour. I think it’s a big step forward for queer representation on TV.
? excited to announce that I will be competing in Dancing on Ice in 2023! A dream come true.
To be the first drag artist to take part in one of the big UK reality competition shows is truly an honour. I think it's a big step forward for queer representation on TV. @dancingonice pic.twitter.com/S7LTfdSWRW
— TheVivienne (@THEVIVIENNEUK) October 7, 2022
The official Dancing on Ice account also shared the news, writing: “Will our drag queen icon be crowned our queen on the ice?”
Fans have gone wild for the news.
“This is incredible!! Congrats Viv!!” one wrote.
Another said: “So proud of you!! youre gonna smash it like always do at anything you put your mind to”
And a third simply added: “SLAYYYYYYYY”. To be honest, we agree.
Are you competing IN drag?! That’s such fun! Congrats ?— stan ? (@spiropyran) October 7, 2022
BIG MASSIVE SLAY— han? (@hannahxellen) October 7, 2022
Congratulations! I never watch but I'll watch this season to see you. Makes me so happy to see things like this happen on mainstream TV. You deserve it ???— Paul Antony Keep (@ZaiyneChristian) October 7, 2022
Dancing on Ice sees celebrities paired with professional figure skaters, performing gruelling routines week after week.
The Vivienne recently competed on All Stars 7, the gag-worthy all winners season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
She gained new popularity among American audiences and became the first Drag Race competitor person to ever beat Jinkx Monsoon in a lip-sync.
With Shangela currently smashing the dance-floor on the American equivalent of Strictly, Dancing with the Stars, could we be headed for a new era of drag domination of reality TV? If yes, sign us up.
And if The Vivienne’s ice-skating is anything like her Trump impression or improv skills, we’re in for a treat.
The season premieres in 2023 on ITV and is hosted by Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
