Winner of 2014’s RuPaul’s Drag Race, Bianca Del Rio, was in the Good Morning Britain studios this morning and it was epic. She is, of course, in the UK to promote and perform in her new stand up show, It’s Jester Joke. In fact, she’s making drag history to be the first drag queen to perform at Wembley Arena.
Appearing on GMB, viewers couldn’t help but notice that usual presenter, Piers Morgan, did not conduct the interview and replaced by Ben Shepard. It left people speculating on why Piers had missed out on the interview with Bianca.
One social media user said, “I just find it amusing Piers Morgan wasn’t there. Either he or the producers knew damn well Bianca would tear him a new one”
I just find it amusing @piersmorgan wasn’t there. Either he or the producers knew damn well Bianca would tear him a new one
Now that Drag Race UK has been announced we can start imagining who would be sensational! Well, there’s such a wealth of drag talent in the UK we’d be spoilt for choice, well here’s our top 10…
10) Lady Lloyd
She’s loud, proud, brash and powerful it’s earned her a status as a loveable loose cannon within the drag world.
9) La Voix
La Voix already wowed audiences on BGT and she’s a regular around the UK… so could she be a contender?
8) Mary Mac
A powerhouse Scottish queen, whose vocals are second to none. Was a part of the Supreme Fabulettes before going on to front her own show at The Admiral Duncan.
7) Yshee Black
Pronounced Why Is She Black this Birmingham-based drag queen is insanely talented and very very funny – get yourself to Church honey…
6) Crystal D’Cantor
This fabulous queen is what British Drag is all about, getting down with the crowd, wearing the biggest wig you can find/afford and animal print. Always animal print. You could write what this queen doesn’t know about backcombing on the back leg of a My Little Pony.
5) Sandra
There probably isn’t a club, bar, backroom or toilet that Sandra hasn’t performed in. Having been on the scene for over 15 years – Sandra has sworn, blown and bitch slapped her way to our top 10 ten. All hail the Whore Of Hampsted.
4) Dave Lynn
Ah Dave Lynn… In a career that’s spanned nearly 40 years Dave Lynn knows how to control an audience like a wireless vibrator. She rose to fame after entering a competition at the now defunct Black Cap and the only queen to have appeared on The Weakest Link with Anne Robinson (praise be) 4 times.
3) Dusty O
Described as queen bee of Soho, you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of Dusty O once she’s up on stage, with mic in hand.
2) Titti La Camp
Basically RuPaul would have no idea what hit her if Titti was in the house – it’d most likely be a chicken leg. Titti La Camp’s routine, is, well the stuff of legend. The audience knows what’s coming up and loves every moment of it. From Michelle McManus to Karen Carpenter.
1) Paul O’Grady as Lily Savage
Possibly the most famous drag queen the UK has ever enjoyed. Although Paul O’Grady is unlikely to don another pair of heels, we think Paul O’Grady could teach even Ru a thing or two about Drag.
A number of years before TV series Glee rekindled people’s love of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’”, Rock of Ages had been using the song as its centrepiece for some time; as the show tells the story of a bunch of misfit characters who battle to save their favourite bar, fall in love and work their way through a catalogue of eighties soft rock classics.
Beautifully held together by narrator, Lonny (a deliciously camp performance from Lucas Rush), and with a strong ensemble cast, the show’s humour is a little close to the bone on occasions but proves to be immense fun, with plenty of laugh out loud moments, some great ensemble set pieces and some excellent vocal performances. Luke Walsh stands head and shoulders above the crowd as Drew, belting out the musical numbers with, seemingly, no effort whatsoever and never once having to strain or force a note.
The production has certainly benefitted from a makeover, especially in the excellent lighting design; the musical numbers come at you thick and fast and the cast gets the audience involved from the outset. Whilst underneath it all, the show has a message about following your dreams, it’s the party atmosphere, energy and enthusiasm of the cast that sweep you along as the show heads towards its rousing finale and brings the crowd to their feet.
Rock of Ages cranks up the comedy, camp and chaos to eleven, and proves that “sex, drums and rock ‘n’ roll” are still very much alive.
Expect to be titillated, turned on, terrified (a bit) and perhaps tortured when you go see the newest, and hottest, strip show in town.
Channing Tatum presents Magic Mike Live, on stage in London at The Hippodrome Casino. And while Channing Tatum won’t be on stage taking his clothes off for the audience’s pleasure (though he did attend last week’s opening night), you can guarantee that what you’ll get is exactly what you saw in Tatum’s Magic Mike films where Tatum, and several other hot actors, played male strippers (Magic Mike (2012) and Magic Mike XXL (2015)). Both films made lots of money – and so will this show (tickets range from £29 to £95).
Magic Mike Live is 90 minutes of pure adult entertainment (for the ladies) where more than a dozen good-looking, sexy, hot, and did I mention sexy? men perform for the screaming crowd in a dance and acrobatic spectacular in front of, behind, and literally above their audience. But things get better when the men strip off (to their black undies) and give lap dances to the lucky audience members for performances that are unforgettable and breathtaking.
What is forgettable is the emcee for the evening – Sophie Linder-Lee. Her task is to talk the audience through the action – but it is really necessary? The action, and the male flesh, speaks for themselves!
The theatre at the Hippodrome Casino has been transformed into an intimate, state of the art, magical new home just for Magic Mike Live. And the show is booking all the way to October 2019 – this is how popular the show is!
Just remember, it is strictly an over 18 only event, and sure the audience members are allowed to touch the men, but just be careful that your hands don’t wander to parts unknown!
And after 90 minutes, your heart and blood, will be racing for what is being billed as ‘the sexiest, steamiest show in town.” And while it’s mostly for the ladies, on the night I saw it there were about 6 guys in the audience – a couple were accompanying their missus but the others were gay. So don’t be intimidated – go see the show. And hopefully one of the boys will give you a lap dance!
Magic Mike Live plays at the Hippodrome Casino, London until Sunday 27 October 2019. Book now
“I refuse to change my views on Trans Inclusivity”
(C) BBC Julie Bindel (left) Linda Riley (Right)
Publisher of Diva Magazine, Linda Riley is taking a break from social media after receiving online abuse following on from her determination to include and represent trans women.
Taking to Twitter today (5th December) Riley, who is the publisher of Diva Magazine said she was “taking a break” from the platform because of the abuse levelled at her. She reaffirmed her position saying that her magazine was the largest in Europe for “lesbian visibility, lesbian inclusivity” before adding that Diva stood with the trans community.
The announcement comes after a heated exchange following an appearance on BBC’s Women’s Hour where Riley when head to head with gender critical feministJulie Bindel to stand up for transgender people and their rights, which left the Diva boss subjected to a vile backlash online.
Accused of only representing one view
On Twitter one user, Kate Harris, questioned the publisher on why her publication haven’t engaged some women on issues that matter to them, such as the number of children being referred to gender clinics, chest binders, the self-identification of trans women, changes to the Gender Recognition Act and equality in the sports arena.
Harris then challenged Riley, saying, “…you as (a) publisher can do so much to advance understanding but only if you are prepared to print different views”.
Riley replied, “I refuse to change my views on Trans Inclusivity within DIVA magazine and I was very clear on this when I met you. To spell it out clearly DIVA will not print or publish any views which we deem to incite hate against the Trans Community.”
Queens… get ready, RuPaul’s Drag Race is coming to the UK…
This is the news that we’ve all been waiting for. No more rumours. It has been confirmed.
BBC 3 is set to be the broadcaster for a UK version of the epic drag queen reality TV show, RuPaul’s Drag Race. BBC three tweeted and confirmed the news this morning (5th December).
RuPaultold The Sun: “I am beyond excited to celebrate the massive charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent of the Queen’s queens. And before anyone asks, yes, we would be thrilled to have Meghan Markle join us, as we are already preparing a ‘Royal-Mother-To-Be’ runway challenge.”
Michelle Visage took to Twitter to say, “HERE WE GO! SEE YOU ON THE MAIN STAGE, UK QUEENS…. Audition deets coming soon! Hey super queens, who’s got what it takes to be part of our royal family?”
HERE WE GO! SEE YOU ON THE MAIN STAGE, UK QUEENS…. Audition deets coming soon
・・・
Hey super queens, who’s got what it takes to be part of our royal family? ? RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is… https://t.co/VrlarvFOtB
The reality TV star, Ollie Locke is planning to adopt with his soon-to-be husband, Gareth Locke.
CREDIT: Channel 5
The former Made In Chelsea and Celebrity Big Brother star, Ollie Locke, has declared that he is planning to adopt a child with his fiancé, Gareth Locke, but not until the “madness of their careers” has died down.
The star revealed his plans to the Sunday Times saying, “We might adopt at some point, maybe in 10 or 15 years, once we’re done with the madness of our careers.”
Before their engagement, it was revealed that the couple has actually known each other for over a decade but only made it their relation romantic earlier in the year.
During his time in the Celebrity Big Brother house, Locke, then 29, identified as bisexual and said that he had never slept with a man. However, the star became out as gay in 2016.
In an exclusive interview with Hello! Magazine, Ollie explained how Gareth popped the marriage question, “We decided to go for a lovely walk with Bear [his dog] in Kensington Park Gardens which is my favourite park and we came across the Peter Pan statue, which is my favourite statue. I walked towards Gareth who was just standing there and he gave me a hug…”
Gareth continued, “I was 200 yards away and I was thinking ‘I have got to do this now’.”
1) Of course, Thai cuisine is one of the most famous in the world, a bright blend that places emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components and a spicy edge and when you emerge from the train into the heart of the city it is all around you. And like all intricate and creative foods, the joy is more than just in the eating it, it is also in the preparation, and to that end, you should take a cooking class at Blue Elephant Cooking School.
Not only great practical experience and great fun you, will be fully immersed in the art of Thai cuisine. You get to visit the local market to shop for the ingredients, learn the subtle skills of blending them together to make a variety of delicious dishes and then have the experience of eating them in a Michelin star restaurant.
Bangkok Flea Market
2) There is a vibrant food area at Bangkok Flea Market close by the MBK centre, and I have to admit that I have experienced some of my favourite Thai dinners here. Particularly look out for the fish, at only £4.00 per person you can’t go wrong.
The Banyan Tree
3) Visit The Banyan Tree rooftop for a drink but only eat here if you want boring and expensive non-Thai dishes. 5-star hotel prices for the inexperienced tourist, why pay that when there is so much better to be found all around you?
Paragon Shopping Centre
4) The food court at Paragon Shopping Centre which will leave you feeling rich in flavours and rich in the wallet, £1.17 bought me my main course… so I had 3! Well, why not?
Chinatown
5) If you visit Chinatown wander away from the main street and eat wherever you see a crowd of locals, which is always a good rule of thumb anyway and again value for money is the name of the game and £1 – £3.00 will get you a main dish that 2-3 can share.
Rosabieng Restaurant
6) Rosabieng Restaurant on Sukhumvit 11 is renowned for Tom Yum soup and deep-fried fish, and I can guarantee that you will visit more than once at only £10.00 per person.
Mango Tree
7) Mango Tree near Patpong Night Market has the best Thai Green Curry served at little more than a fiver a go.
LeBua Hote
8) The International Breakfast Buffet at LeBua Hotel offers all 3 meals at breakfast time at only £14.00 per person.
Banana Roti stalls
9) Hunt down Banana Roti stalls throughout the city and I suggest that you order without the egg as it is sweeter. One is enough to share but again at these low prices, less than a quid, buy two and give one to a passing stranger – it will make someone’s day.
Thip Samai
10) If you check out the tourist websites and travel guides they will try to convince you that Jay Fai’s Street Food with its Michelin star is the place to go but with a four-hour wait to be served and £23 for a crab omelette it is everything that you don’t visit this city for. Better still head a few doors down to down to Thip Samai for their legendary Pad Thai.
A reader asks our legal expert, Matt Parr whether as a gay man, he can donate bone marrow.
(C) DEPOSITPHOTOS
I know that gay men can’t currently give blood – but I was wondering about bone marrow. If someone in my family was to need my bone marrow for surgery can I legally give it? Also if I just wanted to give bone marrow to anyone, regardless of any family connection is this possible or legal?
Dear reader:
Thanks for your question, it’s great that you have thought about the need to donate bone marrow.
However, the main difference between the donation of blood and bone marrow is that to donate bone marrow you would first need to have a thorough medical examination before being permitted to donate.
You’re mistaken in your perception that gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men cannot donate blood full stop. Blood donation in the UK works on the values of kindness and mutual trust. The NHS Blood and Transplant service relies on all potential and existing donors to adhere to the blood donor selection rules by giving completely accurate answers to all the questions asked of them when they visit the donation centres. The questions and answers are given in complete confidence and exist for their own protection and for the health of patients who receive their blood.
The rules around gay and bisexual men giving blood changed in November 2017 following extensive campaigning by organisations such as the Terence Higgins Trust. Subsequently, providing that the donor meets the other donation rules, gay, bisexual or people who have sex with partners in groups at high risk of having an infection that could be passed on during sex will be able to donate after three months have passed since the last sexual activity.
The previous exclusion period extended to 12 months and many argued that this did, therefore, place an unrealistic expectation of celibacy on those who wished to donate and many saw it as, in reality, a blanket ban on donations from gay and bisexual men.
If donating Bone Marrow through the Anthony Nolan charity, however, then you will not be permitted to donate if you (or your partner) are, or think you are HIV positive or you are involved in high-risk sexual practices that may increase your exposure to sexually-transmitted diseases (amongst others). In essence, the decision as to whether you can donate will depend on a number of factors, both sexual and health-related – not sexuality.
There is no strict 12-month time frame of celibacy prior to donating.
The best advice I can give you is to consider contacting the NHS Blood and Transplant service or Anthony Nolan to discuss the process in further detail.
Being vomited on, broken luggage and people dying on your flight have all been voted as extreme travel nightmares.
Free-Photos / Pixabay
From cancelled flights and natural disasters to frantic, last-minute searches for accommodations, it can cost the average traveller at least $570 (£444.70)– and upwards of $4,198 (£3276)– when things go wrong on an airline trip, according to new research.
In fact, from being the victim of pickpocketing to cancelled flights, being vomited on by a child or even seeing a fellow passenger die in flight, as many as a third (35 per cent) have experienced what they deem a “travel nightmare,” in which seemingly every part of the trip went wrong.
And when those “nightmare trips” do occur, not only is there a wide range in potential costs, there’s also a high risk of the whole vacation being ruined – half of the respondents who experienced a nightmare said it completely ruined the rest of the trip.
Although many have thankfully never experienced a nightmarish scenario, the study of the travel experiences of 2,000 Americans found that the majority of travellers (59 per cent) report having been on a trip where things really didn’t go as planned.
And it doesn’t have to be a big thing going wrong for traveller comfort and enjoyment while travelling to decline severely. One in six respondents rate themselves “extremely disappointed” even when they don’t get their preferred seat on the plane, with the majority preferring the window seat.
Commissioned by AIG Travel, a global leader in travel insurance and assistance solutions, and conducted by OnePoll, the survey also examined modern travel etiquette on flights and revealed America’s top 10 most commonly experienced traveller faux pas.
The behaviour that passengers find most aggravating is when the person in front of them reclines his or her seat (65 per cent), followed by having their seat kicked by the person behind them (57 per cent).
Also making the top five were travelling with a disruptive baby or child (54 per cent), hogging both armrests (53 per cent) and people who talk loudly on the flight (49 per cent).
While travellers can’t always do something about other passengers’ behaviour, there are ways they can help their own trip go smoothly – or at least be prepared if something doesn’t go according to plan.
To combat potential “travel nightmares,” 60 per cent of travellers make sure to arrive at the airport with plenty of time before their flight, 55 per cent print out all confirmation emails and 39 per cent call hotels and airlines to double-check their reservations.
Surprisingly, though, 74 per cent of travellers have taken the risk and flown without travel insurance.
“We don’t like to think about the things that can go wrong when travelling, and while travel insurance can’t stop someone from kicking the back of your seat, it’s designed to help protect from unforeseen, potentially ruinous events,” said Jeff Rutledge, AIG Travel CEO. “When coupled with 24/7 assistance services, it can also improve the overall travel experience.”
A quarter of travellers find the most difficult part of travelling to be navigating the airport and the security screening process, while 23 per cent say the flights – including any transfers and layovers – are the worst part.
Seven in 10 travellers have experienced a delayed flight, while 44 per cent have had their checked bags delayed and 40 per cent have had a cancelled flight.
“Travel insurance is specifically designed to provide financial protection in these situations – lost or stolen luggage, flight delays or even emergency medical issues,” Rutledge said. “However, even if a claim isn’t made, our Travel Guard plans offer comprehensive assistance for anything from event ticketing to restaurant recommendations, finding a local translator abroad or sending souvenirs home.”
Unfortunately, travel insurance doesn’t protect your seat – and 23 per cent of respondents admit to trying to take a seat that isn’t theirs, with those who want middle seats the most likely to do so.
The survey was conducted online from Aug. 10 to Aug. 28, 2018, by OnePoll with a sample of 2,000 American adults (aged 18 and older) who have travelled by plane. The research was commissioned by AIG Travel.
10 OF THE MOST EXTREME “TRAVEL NIGHTMARES”
Having a man die one row over on the plane
Passengers joked about a bomb threat on the plane, delaying the flight
Being choked by another passenger
Three emergency landings before arrival at the destination
Rerouted when almost there after being struck by lightning
Being vomited on by a child
Breaking a foot after getting tangled in a suitcase strap
Spending five nights in an airport because hotel accommodations fell through
Flying in a thunderstorm and being asked to get in crash position for the landing
Getting robbed/pickpocketed
AVERAGE COST WHEN EVERYTHING GOES WRONG ON A FLIGHT
(Based on dollar figures given by 2,000 respondents.)
Missed flights $570 (£444)
Lost luggage $582.14 (£454)
Medical situations $568.74 (£443)
New accommodations $591.77 (£461)
Lost or stolen passport/wallet $571.04 (£445)
Natural disaster $638.30 (£498)
CaCancelledlights $676.05 (£528)
Total: $4,198 (£3276)
Any car lover hates this time of year, especially those with old classics or cars known for being a tad “delicate” in winter. For me, I am talking about my Fiat X1/9.
This year, the summer was cruel. It was hot. Too hot to get the little open-top Italian out. Yes, I know there is a lot of irony there but this Fiat just doesn’t like getting too hot and documented problems of fuel evaporation are not stories of make-believe. With the X1/9 it happens and it has done so on numerous occasions.
And so the hot summer went and having had a number of press cars for TGUK, I went on a press car break so I could use my own and enter stage right, the X1/9. I managed to do 303 miles this year. And I can tell you every single journey it took including one to an Italian car breakfast morning on a Saturday that I attended on Sunday!
So you can see, winters arrival is cruel because of 2 things; This is an 80’s Fiat and not know for longevity in wet salty English conditions, and the thing is ruddy awful in the wet. That said it can be fun but the concentration needed to drive it in the dry needs to be ramped up to 11! And the wipers are set for Italy, so not very good.
Preparing a car for winter hibernation isn’t that straightforward. It could be I suppose but if you like to tinker and fanny around, then it isn’t. I use a system called a “Permabag”.
It’s a massive bag of tarpaulin fitted with a divers zip. In it go 2 desiccators that absorb moisture within the bag and from the car and it keeps it all dry and the humidity within it controlled.
I’m fortunate to be able to park up the X1/9 and leave it there, undisturbed for great lengths of time. The makers of Permabag also recommend that it is best left. Opening and closing the bag are not what this system is about. The idea is to reduce the humidity and leave it in its current state. This system doesn’t require any power either, so it is ideal for any garage, anywhere. If you need to move the vehicle regularly and have power, I can recommend the Carcoon system that I know many use. Check out the differences in the links below.
So it would seem strange when I tell you that what I did next was to wash the car. Ideally, you should clean any car you put away. After washing, a good polish is a great idea. It’s also a time to make a note of any areas of the body that will require attention next year. I spotted 2 areas of rust and then added another by pulling a drain pipe off from the engine bay. That is going to be fun trying to reattach that!
Now is a good time to attend to 1 or 2 of those small annoying jobs. One in particular for me was the moss and grime around the rear light seals. Quick wash and scrub with an old toothbrush and a poke with a cotton bud, and now all clean.
So this is something to do next year. It’s not recommended to do paint work and then store away with the system that I use.
I would normally recommend an oil change too. Reasons being are that old oil contains contaminants that can attack things like bearing surfaces. The oil has done just 1400 miles and still comes out clean on the dipstick so this time I’ve left it. I will do an oil change this time next year. Also, check the concentration of antifreeze and add any if needed.
Now, this part might be a bit OTT but screen wash bottles, remove, empty, clean and leave empty. Several reasons why I do this. Firstly is stagnant water can breed legionnaires disease. You don’t want this. You’ll be horrified by how old the water is in your screen wash bottle if you don’t empty regularly. So bottles are very big, the X1/9’s is about 7 litres in capacity. I don’t use 7 litres of screen wash.
Secondly, the system I use removes moisture. A washer bottle is not sealed. So you can see where that is heading. It’s also a good idea to wash it out every so often because it’s an excuse to fanny around and tinker.
If you are lucky to have a spare set of wheel, now is a good time to fit them. It doesn’t do a tyre any favours sitting in one place for any length of time. Even my Tamiya shelf queens models are on raises to stop the tyres from getting flat spots!
I don’t have a set of storage wheels for the Fiat, so I tend to over-inflate them by about 8-10psi. Doesn’t sound a lot I know but over time the car can lose tyre pressure and as the X1/9 can’t be seen inside the bag, I have no idea what it is doing so this offers me some piece of mind.
Now you may just be about to stop me from putting the X1/9 away in the bag having only washed it and you would be right. I leave it in the garage for another week or so to dry out as best it can.
Then I’ll put it away, under a cover, zipped up in its bag and leave it. Leave it dead of power because whatever you do, don’t forget to disconnect the battery. And then count down those days. One Hundred and Seventy-Five I said and if April looks promising, it’ll be less.
Opening it up will bring its own problems so I’ll let you know how that goes after 175 days time.
