The Vivienne: 'Drag queens went out of work overnight'

RuPaul's Drag Race UK champ The Vivienne reflects on her win, her brand new show and life as a drag queen on lockdown

What does a drag queen do during lockdown?

Well, for the first ever winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, The Vivienne, it's a chance to catch up on some much-needed rest.

"I've been on the road for the past six months," the Liverpool queen, who's been travelling up and down the UK and around the world, says. "And I'm usually only home for about one day a month."

The reigning Drag Race queen is worried, though, about the toll of the lockdown on her fellow drag performers.

It was only six months ago, The Vivienne says, that she was a "local queen" working in places like Dorothy's - a drag show bar in Liverpool - and, for her friends, work has vanished.

"These queens went completely out of work overnight," she says. "They've got rent to pay, they've got to put food in their bellies. It's a horrible time for everyone."

The Vivienne is even worried that some LGBT+ venues might not survive.

"It's just a complete knock-on effect," she says. "Firstly, everyone has lost their jobs and then, if the lockdown carries on for months, these bars and clubs could go under and shut their doors because they can't afford to keep paying the rent.

"It's so scary to think about but I think the best thing we can do right now, even though it's hard, is to try not to dwell on it.

"To try to stay positive and take every day as it comes."

The UK's biggest LGBT+ pride festival, Pride in London, has already been postponed because of coronavirus and the owner of some of the country's biggest LGBT+ nightlife venues has warned about the risk of "going bankrupt, external". 

Like other drag performers The Vivienne has been active on social media by organising Instagram Live sessions and filming make-up tutorial videos during the lockdown.

She's also taken part in a digital festival, external to support a transgender children's charity.

"Right now, many of these kids are stuck in their homes and some might not have even revealed their identity to their families," she says. "So it's just a way to say, 'We're here and we're thinking of you.'" 

She hopes her new BBC Three show The Vivienne Takes On Hollywood can help fans struggling with the stress and boredom of life on lockdown, too.

In each weekly episode of the upcoming comedy mockumentary series, The Vivienne is coached by a range of Hollywood characters - from Hairspray actress Marissa Jaret Winokur to comedy writer Bruce Vilanch - who all offer tips on how to make it big in the show business capital.

She says she "didn't want to make anything that was too serious" which possibly makes the series even more timely. "Hopefully it'll be able to lift people's spirits," she says.

And reflecting on her Drag Race win last year, The Vivienne says it all came as a surprise to her.

"I genuinely didn't think I was gonna win. There was a lot of public support for Divina, and rightly so, she's a great queen. She did really well on the show.

"When we found out the results I just burst into tears."

Even though The Vivienne says she has lots more in store for fans, for now she's just hoping they stay happy and healthy.

"We're all in the same boat right now," she says. "At the minute I just want everyone to look after themselves."

Watch The Vivienne Takes On Hollywood weekly on BBC iPlayer.