In a recent episode of Drag Race UK Season Five, fans witnessed an emotionally charged elimination that will go down in the show’s history. Spoiler alert! (26 October) featured the Rusical challenge, with a British panto twist, titled “Pant-Oh She Better Don’t: The Rusical.” After vocal training from Michelle Visage and a dance lesson with Strictly Come Dancing’s Karen Hauer, the seven remaining queens took the stage for an unforgettable performance.
Visage praised the Rusical as one of the best ever seen on the show, with Ginger Johnson, Kate Butch, Michael Marouli, and Vicky Vivacious standing out as top queens. RuPaul crowned Ginger the winner, earning her a second RuPeter badge. However, it was the bottom two queens, DeDeLicious and Banksie, who faced off in a lip-sync battle to Susan Boyle’s rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream.”
In an unexpected turn of events, Banksie, the Manchester queen and fan favorite, sashayed away. Drag Race UK fans took to social media to express their devastation, with some hoping it was a joke and others calling it “f*cked up.”
Banksie’s elimination surprised many fans, as she had previously won the design challenge in week two and added drama to the competition with her conflicts. The shock and disappointment were palpable among fans, leading some to declare their frustration with the season. Despite her departure, Banksie left her mark by walking the runway one final time, earning praise from fans as an iconic exit.
While Drag Race UK Season Five continues its journey on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer, this unexpected elimination will surely be remembered by fans as a defining moment in the series.