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Drag Race UK axed by BBC as Flesh crowned winner

Published 14:17 6 Nov 2026 GMT

Updated 14:18 6 Nov 2026 GMT

Lum Haliti
Drag Race UK axed by BBC as Flesh crowned winner

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It was announced same night as the winner

Due to budget cuts, the BBC is axing Drag Race UK.

As Flesh was crowned series eight winner and handed £25,000, the broadcaster confirmed the news.

The eighth series finale aired on Thursday night.

Alongside the crowning, it carried a second piece of news, as ten weeks had whittled twelve contestants down to a final four.

The BBC used that same episode to confirm the show will not return.

As the new champion, RuPaul crowned Flesh, a 26-year-old London queen. To the £25,000 prize, she beat Mocha, Naya Thorn and Alik.

Drag Race UK axe confirmed as the series ends

As it pointed to wider cuts to its commissioning budget, the BBC confirmed the show's axing.

Other than that, no further detail on the decision has been given.

Flesh crowned by friend and former winner Bones

As she only faced a lip-sync battle in the final, when the last three contestants fought for the crown, Flesh was never in the bottom two across the series.

Last year's champion, Bones, and her real-life best friend, crowned her.

Previously, the pair have performed together as the drag duo Heavenly Bodies.

Flesh said: "To be here with Bones is just the perfect moment, this is everything I have ever dreamed of and more."

In the final episode, Flesh spoke to RuPaul and judge Michelle Visage.

The series "tells people it's not only OK to be them but it's a gift and a dream, and to be crowned the UK's next drag race superstar would be mine coming true", she said.

Runner-up Mocha lost out after the final three lip-synced to David Bowie's Modern Love.

On Instagram, she posted that she was "so proud" of herself: "Not everything can go your way and whilst I wanted to believe it was mine I respect the decision made."

Why is Drag Race UK being axed?

Budget cuts is the main reason.

The BBC confirmed the show would not return after this eighth series, as it pointed to cost-cutting across its commissioning budget.

The news was announced on the same night as the finale.

Who won Drag Race UK series 8?

Flesh was the winner.

To take the title and a £25,000 prize, the 26-year-old London queen beat Mocha, Naya Thorn and Alik in the final.

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