Every look from the Drag Race UK series 4 episode 5 West End musicals runway

The eight remaining queens became ‘West End Wonders’ for the latest Drag Race UK runway. Here’s our recap of which looks were Wicked, and who was left Les Misérables by their critiques.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series four, episode five was the show’s latest ru-sical, with the eight remaining contestants bringing a spoonful of sugar to the story of Lairy Poppins.

For the runway, the category was ‘West End Wonders.’ To celebrate musicals, the remaining Guys and Dolls put on their Hairspray, laced up their best Kinky Boots and became Dreamgirls for the night. After all, on the Drag Race UK runway, Anything Goes.

The episode was a treat for West End Wendys everywhere, with a runway full of references to beloved musicals past and present. The episode was less of a treat for Dakota Schiffer, who confessed on the runway that she hated musicals.

Regular Drag Race UK judge Michelle Visage was joined by Alan Carr and Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham to offer critiques to A Chorus Line of queens and crown the week’s Lion Kings and Priscilla, Queens of the Desert.

Hannah definitely knows her way around the West End – the three-time Olivier nominee's theatre credits include the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz, the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot and the lead role in Kiss Me Kate among many other credits.

Here’s your recap of every musical theatre-inspired look on the Drag Race UK series four, episode five runway.

Pixie traveled from her native Brighton to Baltimore for her take on Tracy Turnblad, the dance-loving big girl from the 2002 musical based on the 1988 (non-musical) film. Pixie said of the look: “Hairspray is a musical that has always really spoken to me…The character of Tracy Turnblad I’ve always found really inspirational. Her self-belief, her body positivity, her fight for what is right.”

The queen even offered the judges a reveal, switching on stage from the blouse and skirt Tracy wears in the early parts of the musical to the chequerboard dress she wears in the finale.

Hairspray taught us that You Can’t Stop the Beat, and Pixie couldn’t stop getting good critiques on the runway. Alan called it a “hairslay,” while Michelle said, “Tracy Turnblad is iconic, and you had the whole attitude.”

In the ru-sical, Jonbers was praised for her berserk Bird Lady, who was definitely one tuppence short of a bag. On the runway, she paid tribute to the West End version of Singin’ in the Rain, adapted from the beloved 1952 film.

The queen wore a deconstructed version of the yellow raincoats worn by Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds at the start of the film, and in the finale of the West End musical. Jonbers called her ensemble “my Dior couture fantasy”.

It was Jonbers’ make-up, however, that Ru singled out for praise. “Your make-up looks great…you look gorgeous,” she said.

Black Peppa became the Lion Queen for her epic recreation of a costume from the West End adaptation of the iconic Disney film. “I am embodying a lion and wearing the skin of my enemies,” the queen said of her look.

Peppa’s performance in the ru-sical meant she was safe, meaning that we never got to know whether the judges could feel the love tonight for her look.

Dakota may hate musicals, but she did not allow that to rain on her parade on the runway. For her musicals look, Dakota channeled the ‘60s glamour of Fanny Brice, the real-life comedian at the centre of Funny Girl. Most famously played by Barbra Streisand (who won an Oscar for the film version), among the stars to have played it on the West End stage were one-time Drag Race UK guest judge Sheridan Smith.

Hannah summed up the judges’ reaction to the look: “You’re less Funny Girl and more like ridiculously beautiful girl.”

“Hedwig and the Angry Inch is my favourite musical,” Cheddar said of her Drag Race UK series four, episode five runway, “it’s the reason I do drag.”

The cult musical (turned into a film in 2001) about a young German during the Cold War forced into gender confirmation surgery by her partner, who then becomes a punk singer touring American bars and clubs.

The usually bald queen donned Hedwig’s signature curled wig and a version of the winged jumpsuit the character wears in the film version.

Le Fil’s look referenced the oldest of all the musicals the queens chose on the runway, 1951’s The King and I. Based on the true story of the English governess who taught the children of the king of what is now Thailand in the 1860s, the musical has special significance for Le Fil.

“It’s about the meeting of two cultures and how they can learn from each other…it’s got a special place in my heart,” they said. The look had a special place in the judges’ hearts too, with Hannah calling it “utterly charming” and Michelle calling it “just beautiful.”

Next up on Drag Race UK was the newest West End musical on the runway, 2019’s & Juliet – A jukebox musical reimagining Juliet from Romeo and Juliet’s story.

The musical is significant for Baby. As she said in her confessional: “This is the first time a black woman has played Juliet on the West End stage and I want to pay tribute to that in the most beautiful way.”

Though episode five was a difficult one for Baby, the judges complimented her runway look and her make-up, which Michelle called “gorgeous”.

Danny fed us all with her two-and-a-half-metre tall take on Audrey 2, the carnivorous plant from the cult musical Little Shop of Horrors.

Hannah was left speechless by Danny’s look, which included a head whose mouth Danny could open and close by pulling on a string. “You’ve never seen drag this camp,” Danny said. “This is camp even for me!”

Hannah paid Danny the ultimate compliment, telling Danny: “You alone have been worth my visit.”

Even the other queens had to compliment the plant realness that Danny was serving. Dakota called it, “probably one of the most iconic things that had walked this runway.”

RuPaul’s Drag Race series 4 continues Thursdays at 9 pm on BBC Three. All episodes so far are streaming now on BBC iPlayer.