Yesterday the first season of Rupaul’s Drag Race: UK vs The World debuted on the BBC, but it left fans scratching their heads about the prize money.
In a similar fashion to the last three seasons of Drag Race UK, the winner will receive no prize money.
It will be the first time an All-Star winner has walked away empty-handed.
What does the Drag Race: UK vs The World winner receive?
The inaugural season of Rupaul’s Drag Race: UK vs The World kicked off with a bang yesterday.
Nine fierce queens from around the world fronted up to the UK stage to strut their stuff.
But on arrival, they were greeted by RuPaul himself with some interesting news.
Descending from a scissor lift, as you do, Ru announced the prize for the winning queen.
Instead of $100,000 or any money at all, the winning queen will record a single with Rupaul.
The proceeds of which will go to charity.
Even with All-Star rules in place, the weekly winner of the legacy lip sync will only receive a gold Rupeter badge, no cash tip.
This will be the first time in Drag Race herstory an All-Star winner has walked away empty-handed.
Imagine Jujubee finally walking away with the crown this time, only to receive zero prize money?
The gaggery.
Why is there no prize money?
The most likely explanation for the lack of prize money is the BBC, the UK’s public broadcaster.
Previous seasons of Drag Race UK have all aired on the BBC.
Rupaul’s Drag Race: UK vs The World is also currently airing on the BBC in the UK.
Unfortunately, as a public broadcaster, they are restricted with prizes, money and sponsorship.
The charter for the BBC even states “No programme on a BBC publicly funded service may be sponsored.”
Much like the ABC here the BBC also runs with no commercial advertising.
This would definitely explain the lack of luxury holidays and fabulously sponsored prizes and challenges.
Grand prizes for the winner may also fall under the sponsorship category or simply, with no sponsorship, there are no dollars to pay.
Although we’ve come to expect the lack of prize money on Drag Race UK, it was not known how the format would work this time.
Given the international format, it may have seemed there were more options available?
Apparently not.
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