RuPaul's Drag Race UK: Meet the queens of season 5 as release date is confirmed

RuPaul's Drag Race UK is about to see a new group of queens sashay onto the catwalk, and the BBC has shared who will be judging them as they do so.

The hit reality competition series sees drag queens from across the country vie for the coveted title of the UK's next drag superstar, following in the glamorous footsteps of The Vivienne, Lawrence Chaney, Krystal Versace and Danny Beard.

Read more: 'Drag Race UK' star Bimini Bon Boulash urges JK Rowling to be 'accepting and loving'

the BBC has revealed who is competing on the show, as well as which celebrities will be bringing it to the runway or making guest appearances over the course of the competition.

Here is everything that you need to know about the new season.

RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 5 cast

The BBC has now revealed the 10 queens that will be appearing on RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 5, all of whom will compete for a RuPeter badge each week and hoping to make it to the final where they can win the title of the UK’s Next Drag Race Superstar.

Without further ado, let's meet the queens of season 5.

Kate Butch

Kate Butch is a 26-year-old drag queen from Derbyshire, who joked that she is "the face, the body, the fashion and the liar" of the season.

She works as a stand-up comedian, live singer, hostess, compere, and podcast host, and describes her drag as a Hollywood starlet with a migraine.

DeDeLicious

DeDeLicious is a 20-year-old drag queen from Kent who has a close connection with season 2 winner Krystal Versace, as the pair have known each other since they were 11 and at school together.

While she jokes about being a young queen, DeDeLicious said that she's been a "fully-fledged professional drag queen for about a year and a half, but I’ve been practising since I was sixteen" and is ready to slay the competition.

Vicki Vivacious

Vicki Vivacious hails from Cornwall and is 36-years-old, she says that her drag is "fifty per cent new age, fifty per cent old school and a bit Generation Ru."

The drag queen has worked professionally for 15 years and has previously worked with Little Mix and Danii Minogue in the past.

Cara Melle

Cara Melle, 26, originally hails from Atlanta, Georgia, but has lived in the UK for seven years since studying at the London School of Fashion.

She is known as "The Beyonce of the drag scene" in London and said she's excited to "represent black trans women" on the programme.

Michael Marouli

Michael Marouli, 39, is from Newcastle upon Tyne and has been performing in Gran Canaria for the past 17 years where she says there is a huge drag scene.

She said that being on the show "will be like a Tuesday afternoon for me as being in a dressing room surrounded by hungry competitive queens is literally my life".

Tomara Thomas

Tomara Thomas is a 25-year-old drag queen from Hartlepool, and she describes herself as a "dancing diva" but says that she is more than just that.

She started doing drag at 14 when at dance school but chose to focus on working as a professional dancer before eventually returning to drag, and bringing her Tomara Thomas persona to life.

Alexis Saint Pete

Alexis Saint Pete, 28, describes herself as the "Polish Billy Elliot" but she now hails from London, saying: "I love my country, but I feel more comfortable and safer here in the UK because in Poland, we don't have as much LGBTQ+ representation or acceptance."

As the first Polish drag queen in RuPaul's Drag Race hestory, Alexis is excited to "inspire people to dream big" and to "never give up."

Miss Naomi Carter

Naomi Carter is a 23-year-old drag queen from Doncaster, and she is most inspired by Naomi Campbell and Beyoncé who were the inspiration for her drag name.

She is part of the drag house ZEHAUS, and while Naomi said they're only a small group of queens they are "adored by everyone for kickstarting Donnie’s non-existent drag scene."

Ginger Johnson

Ginger Johnson is a 34-year-old drag queen from County Durham, and she has been working as a drag queen for the past 15 years.

Joking that she is a "a helium balloon in the shape of a woman", Ginger teased that her game plan for the show is to "trick the other queens into thinking I’m a bit of an idiot, when in fact I am an ABSOLUTE idiot."

Banksie

Banksie, 23, hails from Manchester and describes herself as the "seven foot supermodel of Manchester", and she first started doing drag after watching RuPaul on TV.

Banksie has a connection to season 4 finalist Cheddar Gorgeous as she is also from the Family Gorgeous.

RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 5 air date

The BBC has revealed the new season of RuPaul's Drag Race UK will be premiering on 28 September, and episodes will air weekly on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.

As well as the new season of Drag Race UK, the BBC will launch another series with season 4 winner Danny Beard titled The After Shave with Danny Beard.

In it, Danny Beard will be discussing the events of that week's episode and speaking with the eliminated queen backstage.

RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 5 celebrity judges

As per usual, the UK edition of RuPaul's Drag Race will be presided over by RuPaul herself, alongside Michelle Visage, Graham Norton and Alan Carr.

The latter two appear in alternate episodes (with the exception of the finale) which leaves one seat on the judge's panel open for other stars.

The celebrities that will appear on the show include comedian and actor Aisling Bea, pop stars Alexandra Burke and Sophie-Ellie Bextor, actor Suranne Jones, and presenter Joel Dommett.

Other big names gracing the Drag Race UK stage include Heartstopper sensation Yasmin Finney, actor Cush Jumbo, designer Daphne Guinness, and supermodel Kristen McMenamy.

But that's not all, because the BBC show will also feature an array of stars who will make cameos like Countdown icon Carol Vorderman, who will appear on this season's edition of Snatch Game with Burke.

Vogue Editor-in-chief Edward Enninful will also step into the Werk Room with RuPaul to help give advice to the queens this season, while Strictly Come Dancing pro Karen Hauer will also help the queens with choreography during the tough Rusical challenge.

Read more: 'Drag Race' stars tell of their 'shock' after Cherry Valentine dies at 28

Claudimar Neto will also step in to choreograph the finale's Eleganza Extravaganza, and all-singing, all-dancing final performance that will allow the top queens prove they have what it takes to snatch the crown.

Watch: Becoming Baga with Baga Chipz