# RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 4

The fourth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK began airing on BBC Three on 22 September 2022. RuPaul returned to his role as main host and head judge, and was again joined on the judging panel by Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton, all of whom returned for their respective fourth series. The series was filmed in Pinewood Studios in February 2022. The cast for the fourth series was revealed on 7 September 2022 on social media. The cast also featured Dakota Schiffer, the first out trans woman to compete in the British version of the show.
The winner of the fourth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK was Danny Beard, with Cheddar Gorgeous as the runner-up.

## Production

On 27 October 2021, it was announced via the shows official Instagram page, that casting for the fourth series was now open. Applications remained open for two weeks until closing on 10 November 2021. Hannah Waddingham revealed herself to be first celebrity guest judge during an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, hosted by RuPaul. The fourth series was the first regular series of the show to be broadcast on BBC Three following RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs the World earlier in the year, with the show's success being credited in the decision to bring back the previously defunct television channel. On 30 August 2022, a ten-second teaser was released by the BBC to promote the series premiere with the caption "Bring it to the RUNW4Y". The BBC released the list of celebrity guest judges the following day.
Judge Graham Norton revealed in an interview with Gay Times that the competitors that appeared on the fourth series were "some of the best queens we've ever seen". Norton said because the series was a post-COVID-19 season, the queens had a lot more freedom and that it was, "very hard for the [season three] queens in COVID because they weren't making any money and lots of the dressmakers had stopped working. I think it was really hard during COVID, so this is definitely a post-COVID season and it's great. You can look forward to it. You don't need to worry!" It was revealed that executives had recruited former The Jeremy Kyle Show bodyguard known as "Big Steve", to work on the show. On 1 September 2022, the BBC announced the series would premiere on 22 September, to coincide with the conclusion of the third season of Canada's Drag Race and the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under.
In September 2022, the BBC reported that Series 2 contestant, Cherry Valentine, had died at the age of 28. Subsequently, the second episode from Series 4 was dedicated to Cherry Valentine in their memory on 29 September 2022. RuPaul missed filming during Episode 7, therefore Visage took over as main judge and host, whilst Raven took Visage's spot on the judging panel. It subsequently made it the first episode RuPaul has missed from across all Drag Race franchises hosted by RuPaul himself. Coincidentally, it made Raven the first former Drag Race contestant to judge on a RuPaul fronted franchise.

## Contestants

Ages, names, and cities stated are at time of filming.
Contestants of RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 4 and their backgrounds :
| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Outcome |
| Danny Beard | 29 | Liverpool, England | Winner |
| Cheddar Gorgeous | 38 | Manchester, England | Runner-up |
| Black Peppa | 29 | Birmingham, England | 3rd place |
| Jonbers Blonde | 33 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 3rd place |
| Pixie Polite | 29 | Brighton, England | 5th place |
| Dakota Schiffer | 22 | Horsham, England | 6th place |
| Le Fil | 36 | Brighouse, England | 7th place |
| Baby | 25 | South London, England | 8th place |
| Sminty Drop | 23 | Clitheroe, England | 9th place |
| Copper Topp | 38 | Cheltenham, England | 10th place |
| Starlet | 23 | Surrey, England | 11th place |
| Just May | 32 | Essex, England | 12th place |
Notes:
* ↑ Baby quit the competition after the lip sync.

## Contestant progress

Legend:
Contestants progress with placements in each episode :
| Contestant | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode | Episode |
| Contestant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Danny Beard | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | WIN | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | Winner |
| Cheddar Gorgeous | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | WIN | WIN | SAFE | Runner-up |
| Black Peppa | WIN | SAFE | BTM | SAFE | SAFE | BTM | SAFE | BTM | BTM | Eliminated |
| Jonbers Blonde | SAFE | BTM | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM | SAFE | Eliminated |
| Pixie Polite | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM | SAFE | ELIM | Guest |
| Dakota Schiffer | BTM | WIN | WIN | SAFE | BTM | SAFE | ELIM | | Guest | Guest |
| Le Fil | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | | | Guest | Guest |
| Baby | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | BTM | QUIT | | | | | |
| Sminty Drop | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | | | | | Guest | Guest |
| Copper Topp | SAFE | WIN | ELIM | | | | | | Guest | Guest |
| Starlet | SAFE | ELIM | | | | | | | Guest | Guest |
| Just May | ELIM | | | | | | | | Guest | Guest |

## Lip syncs

Legend:
| Episode | Bottom contestants | Bottom contestants | Bottom contestants | Song | Eliminated |
| 1 | Dakota Schiffer | vs. | Just May | "Let Them Know" (Mabel) | Just May |
| 2 | Jonbers Blonde | vs. | Starlet | "About You Now" (Sugababes) | Starlet |
| 3 | Black Peppa | vs. | Copper Topp | "This Is Real" (Jax Jones ft. Ella Henderson) | Copper Topp |
| 4 | Baby | vs. | Sminty Drop | "Respectable" (Mel and Kim) | Sminty Drop |
| 5 | Baby | vs. | Dakota Schiffer | "No Way" (The Cast of Six ft. Renée Lamb) | Baby |
| 6 | Black Peppa | vs. | Le Fil | "Stop" (Spice Girls) | Le Fil |
| 7 | Dakota Schiffer | vs. | Pixie Polite | "Miss Me Blind" (Culture Club) | Dakota Schiffer |
| 8 | Black Peppa | vs. | Jonbers Blonde | "Some Kinda Rush" (Booty Luv) | None |
| 9 | Black Peppa | vs. | Pixie Polite | "Another One Bites the Dust" (Queen) | Pixie Polite |
| Episode | Final contestants | Final contestants | Final contestants | Song | Winner |
| 10 | Cheddar Gorgeous | vs. | Danny Beard | "This Is My Life" (Shirley Bassey) | Danny Beard |

## Guest judges

Listed in chronological order:
* Dame Joanna Lumley, actress
* FKA Twigs, singer and actress
* Leomie Anderson, model
* Alison Hammond, television presenter
* Hannah Waddingham, actress and singer
* Mel B, singer
* Boy George, singer
* Raven, drag queen and make-up artist
* Lorraine Pascale, chef
* Olly Alexander, singer and actor

### Special guests

Guests who will appear in episodes, but not judge on the main stage.
Episode 1
* Guy Levy, photographer
Episode 2
* Cathy Dennis, singer and songwriter
* Leland, producer
* Freddy Scott, producer and songwriter
Episode 5
* Dane Chalfin, vocal coach
* Giovanni Pernice, dancer and choreographer
Episode 6
* Baga Chipz, contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race UK Series 1 and UK vs. the World Series 1
* Tess Daly, television presenter
* AJ Odudu, television presenter
Episode 9
* Aisling Bea, comedian
Episode 10
* Claudimar Neto, dancer and choreographer
* The Vivienne, winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK Series 1
* Lawrence Chaney, winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK Series 2
* Krystal Versace, winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK Series 3

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date |
| 29 | 1 | "ST4RT Your Engines" | 22 September 2022 (2022-09-22) |
| Twelve new queens enter the werkroom. For the first mini-challenge, the queens do a photoshoot inspired by the Spice Girls' Olympics performance. Black Peppa wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens present two looks on the runway: BBC Keeping It 100 and Ru Are You? Baby as Rastamouse Black Peppa as Mr Blobby Cheddar Gorgeous as BBC Test Card F Copper Topp as Julie Walters in the Two Soups sketch Dakota Schiffer as Anne Boleyn in Horrible Histories Danny Beard as Mr Blobby Jonbers Blonde as Blue Peter Just May as The Queen Victoria bust from EastEnders Le Fil as Pudsey Bear Pixie Polite as Del Boy Sminty Drop as Antiques Roadshow Starlet as Patsy Stone On the runway, Black Peppa, Sminty Drop and Starlet receive positive critiques, with Black Peppa winning the challenge. Copper Topp, Dakota Schiffer and Just May receive negative critiques, with Copper Topp being safe. Dakota Schiffer and Just May lip-sync to "Let Them Know" by Mabel. Dakota Schiffer wins the lip-sync and Just May is the first queen to sashay away. Guest Judge: Dame Joanna Lumley Alternating Judge: Graham Norton Mini-Challenge: Photoshoot inspired by the Spice Girls' Olympics performance Mini-Challenge Winner: Black Peppa Main Challenge: Present two looks on the runway Runway Themes: BBC Keeping It 100 and Ru Are You? Challenge Winner: Black Peppa Bottom Two: Dakota Schiffer and Just May Lip-Sync Song: "Let Them Know" by Mabel Eliminated: Just May Farewell Message: It was gonna be MAY! Love you all x ||||
| 30 | 2 | "Yass-tonbury Festival" | 29 September 2022 (2022-09-29) |
| For this week's main challenge, the queens write, record, and perform verses to "Come Alive". Team Queens of the Bone Age: Cheddar Gorgeous, Copper Topp, Dakota Schiffer, Danny Beard, Le Fil and Pixie Polite Team The Triple Threats: Baby, Black Peppa, Jonbers Blonde, Sminty Drop and Starlet On the runway, category is Neon Nights. Team "Queens of the Bone Age" is the winning team, with Cheddar Gorgeous, Copper Topp, Dakota Schiffer, Danny Beard, Le Fil and Pixie Polite all winning the challenge. Team "The Triple Threats" is the losing team. Jonbers Blonde, Sminty Drop and Starlet receive negative critiques, with Sminty Drop being safe. Jonbers Blonde and Starlet lip-sync to "About You Now" by Sugababes. Jonbers Blonde wins the lip-sync and Starlet sashays away. Guest Judge: FKA Twigs Alternating Judge: Graham Norton Main Challenge: Write, record, and perform verses to "Come Alive" Runway Theme: Neon Nights Challenge Winners: Cheddar Gorgeous, Copper Topp, Dakota Schiffer, Danny Beard, Le Fil and Pixie Polite Bottom Two: Jonbers Blonde and Starlet Lip-Sync Song: "About You Now" by Sugababes Eliminated: Starlet Farewell Message: Every fairytale has an ending, but this is only the beginning. xxx ⭐️ ||||
| 31 | 3 | "Naff-ta Awards" | 6 October 2022 (2022-10-06) |
| For this week's mini-challenge, the queens vote for a random queen at the Naff-ta Awards, with categories being: Beast in Show, Best Background Actress in a Non-Speaking Role, Best Scene Stealing Attention Grabbing Camera Hog, Best Actress Resting on Pretty and Best Hot Mess. Black Peppa, Copper Topp, Danny Beard, Baby and Sminty Drop win the mini-challenge, respectively. For this week's main challenge, the queens pair up and create a look with the same colors and fabrics. Black - Baby and Dakota Schiffer Blue - Le Fil and Sminty Drop Gold - Cheddar Gorgeous and Copper Topp Green - Black Peppa and Jonbers Blonde Purple - Danny Beard and Pixie Polite On the runway, category is Bing-Oh She Better Don't! Baby, Dakota Schiffer, Le Fil and Sminty Drop receive positive critiques, with Baby and Dakota Schiffer both winning the challenge. Black Peppa, Cheddar Gorgeous, Copper Topp and Jonbers Blonde receive negative critiques, with Cheddar Gorgeous and Jonbers Blonde being safe. Black Peppa and Copper Topp lip-sync to "This Is Real" by Jax Jones ft. Ella Henderson. Black Peppa wins the lip-sync and Copper Topp sashays away. Guest Judge: Leomie Anderson Alternating Judge: Alan Carr Mini-Challenge: Naff-ta Awards Mini-Challenge Winners: Baby, Black Peppa, Copper Topp, Danny Beard and Sminty Drop Main Challenge: In pairs, create a look with the same colors and fabrics Runway Theme: Bing-Oh She Better Don't! Challenge Winners: Baby and Dakota Schiffer Bottom Two: Black Peppa and Copper Topp Lip-Sync Song: "This Is Real" by Jax Jones ft. Ella Henderson Eliminated: Copper Topp Farewell Message: Love you all so much! Count your lucky stars you won't be playing me at SNATCH GAME ♥️ Love Old Maiden xxx ||||
| 32 | 4 | "Catty Man" | 13 October 2022 (2022-10-13) |
| For this week's mini-challenge, the queens play a game of musical chairs. Pixie Polite wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens team up and improvise on Alan Carr's show "Catty Man". Curiosity Killed the Katrina - Cheddar Gorgeous, Danny Beard and Pixie Polite Kats Got My Tongue - Baby, Dakota Schiffer and Le Fil The Catfish is Out of the Bag - Black Peppa, Jonbers Blonde and Sminty Drop On the runway, category is The Mane Event - "Love Your Hair, Hope You Win". Cheddar Gorgeous, Danny Beard and Pixie Polite receive positive critiques, with Danny Beard winning the challenge. Baby, Le Fil and Sminty Drop receive negative critiques, with Le Fil being safe. Baby and Sminty Drop lip-sync to "Respectable" by Mel and Kim. Baby wins the lip-sync and Sminty Drop sashays away. Guest Judge: Alison Hammond Alternating Judge: Alan Carr Mini-Challenge: Play a game of musical chairs Mini-Challenge Winner: Pixie Polite Main Challenge: In teams, improvise on Alan Carr's show "Catty Man" Runway Theme: The Mane Event - "Love Your Hair, Hope You Win" Challenge Winner: Danny Beard Bottom Two: Baby and Sminty Drop Lip-Sync Song: "Respectable" by Mel and Kim Eliminated: Sminty Drop Farewell Message: The Manchester Mannequin started panicking, but this is NOT the last runway you'll see me on ♡ Sminty ♡ ||||
| 33 | 5 | "Lairy Poppins: The Rusical" | 20 October 2022 (2022-10-20) |
| For this week's mini-challenge, the queens read each other to filth. Pixie Polite wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens perform in Lairy Poppins: The Rusical. Baby plays Mother Black Peppa and Dakota Schiffer play Daughter Cheddar Gorgeous plays Cockroach Danny Beard plays Lairy Poppins Jonbers Blonde plays Bird Woman Le Fil plays Mary Poppins Pixie Polite plays Chimney Sweep On the runway, category is West End Wonders. Danny Beard, Jonbers Blonde and Pixie Polite receive positive critiques, with Danny Beard winning the challenge. Baby, Dakota Schiffer and Le Fil receive negative critiques, with Le Fil being safe. Baby and Dakota Schiffer lip-sync to "No Way" by The Cast of Six ft. Renée Lamb. After the lip-sync, Baby announces that she will be leaving the competition, due to mental health issues. Because of this decision, Dakota Schiffer is safe. Guest Judge: Hannah Waddingham Alternating Judge: Alan Carr Mini-Challenge: Reading is Fundamental Mini-Challenge Winner: Pixie Polite Main Challenge: Lairy Poppins: The Rusical Runway Theme: West End Wonders Challenge Winner: Danny Beard Bottom Two: Baby and Dakota Schiffer Lip-Sync Song: "No Way" by The Cast of Six ft. Renée Lamb Quit: Baby Farewell Message: Hands up say "Bye Baby" but not for long love you all!!! xoxo ||||
| 34 | 6 | "Strictly Come Snatch Game" | 27 October 2022 (2022-10-27) |
| For this week's main challenge, the queens play the Snatch Game. AJ Odudu and Tess Daly star as the celebrity contestants. The cast consisted of: Black Peppa as Lil Nas X Cheddar Gorgeous as Queen Elizabeth I Dakota Schiffer as Pete Burns Danny Beard as Cilla Black Jonbers Blonde as Saint Patty Le Fil as Marie Kondo Pixie Polite as Dame Shirley Bassey On the runway, category is Tickled Pink. Cheddar Gorgous and Jonbers Blonde receive positive critiques, with Cheddar Gorgeous winning the challenge. Black Peppa, Le Fil and Pixie Polite receive negative critiques, with Pixie Polite being safe. Black Peppa and Le Fil lip-sync to "Stop" by Spice Girls. Black Peppa wins the lip-sync and Le Fil sashays away. Guest Judge: Mel B Alternating Judge: Alan Carr Main Challenge: Snatch Game Runway Theme: Tickled Pink Challenge Winner: Cheddar Gorgeous Bottom Two: Black Peppa and Le Fil Lip-Sync Song: "Stop" by Spice Girls Eliminated: Le Fil Farewell Message: Keep whippin' that hair, smash those gender roles! Love, Le Fil-osofical ||||
| 35 | 7 | "Queen Team Makeovers" | 3 November 2022 (2022-11-03) |
| For this week's main challenge, the queens makeover the Queen Team. On the runway, category is Drag Family Realness. Black Peppa, Cheddar Gorgeous and Danny Beard receive positive critiques, with Cheddar Gorgeous winning the challenge. Dakota Schiffer, Jonbers Blonde and Pixie Polite receive negative critiques, with Jonbers Blonde being safe. Dakota Schiffer and Pixie Polite lip-sync to "Miss Me Blind" by Culture Club. Pixie Polite wins the lip-sync and Dakota Schiffer sashays away. Guest Judge: Raven and Boy George Alternating Judge: Graham Norton Main Challenge: Makeover the Queen Team Runway Theme: Drag Family Realness Challenge Winner: Cheddar Gorgeous Bottom Two: Dakota Schiffer and Pixie Polite Lip-Sync Song: "Miss Me Blind" by Culture Club Eliminated: Dakota Schiffer Farewell Message: The Doll may have left this valley but she certainly left her mark! TRANS RIGHTS! ||||
| 36 | 8 | "The Squirrel Games" | 10 November 2022 (2022-11-10) |
| For this week's main challenge, the queens overact in the murder mystery movie "The Squirrel Games". Black Peppa plays Bev Growls Cheddar Gorgeous plays Minxie Danny Bears plays Divine-Ah Dickall Jonbers Blonde plays Sassy and Fugly the Dog Pixie Polite plays Kimmy Booburn On the runway, category is Ruff and Ready. Cheddar Gorgeous and Danny Beard receive positive critiques, with Cheddar Gorgeous winning the challenge. Black Peppa and Jonbers Blonde receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "Some Kinda Rush" by Booty Luv. Both queens win the lip-sync and no one goes home. Guest Judge: Lorraine Pascale Alternating Judge: Alan Carr Main Challenge: Overact in the murder mystery movie "The Squirrel Games" Runway Theme: Ruff and Ready Challenge Winner: Cheddar Gorgeous Bottom Two: Black Peppa and Jonbers Blonde Lip-Sync Song: "Some Kinda Rush" by Booty Luv Eliminated: None ||||
| 37 | 9 | "Comedy Queens" | 17 November 2022 (2022-11-17) |
| For this week's main challenge, the queens perform a roast of the judges and the eliminated queens of season 4. On the runway, category is Pretty in Punk. Danny Beard and Jonbers Blonde receive positive critiques, with Danny Beard winning the challenge. Black Peppa, Cheddar Gorgeous and Pixie Polite receive negative critiques, with Cheddar Gorgeous being safe. Black Peppa and Pixie Polite lip-sync to "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen. Black Peppa wins the lip-sync and Pixie Polite sashays away. Guest Judge: Olly Alexander Alternating Judge: Alan Carr Main Challenge: Perform a roast of the judges and the eliminated queens of Series 4 Runway Theme: Pretty in Punk Challenge Winner: Danny Beard Bottom Two: Black Peppa and Pixie Polite Lip-Sync Song: "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen Eliminated: Pixie Polite Farewell Message: You're a fabulous top 4 ♡ BUT #pixiewozrobbed! Very Rude! ||||
| 38 | 10 | "Grand Finale" | 24 November 2022 (2022-11-24) |
| For the final challenge of the season, the queens write, record and perform their own verse in a megamix of RuPaul songs. On the runway, category is Grand Finale Eleganza. The eliminated queens all return to the runway. Black Peppa and Jonbers Blonde are eliminated, leaving Cheddar Gorgeous and Danny Beard as the top two queens of the season. They lip-sync to "This Is My Life" by Shirley Bassey. It is announced that Danny Beard is the winner, leaving Cheddar Gorgeous as the runner-up. Alternating Judges: Alan Carr and Graham Norton Main Challenge: Write, record and perform your own verse in a megamix of RuPaul songs Runway Theme: Grand Finale Eleganza Eliminated: Black Peppa and Jonbers Blonde Final Two: Cheddar Gorgeous and Danny Beard Lip-Sync Song: "This Is My Life" by Shirley Bassey Runner-up: Cheddar Gorgeous Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK Series Four: Danny Beard ||||