KY Kelly on being "ecstatic" after Drag Race UK Series 8 reveal

Cabaret queen KY Kelly talks entrance looks, WhatsApp chaos, musical theatre roots and why the season eight cast is "iconic" ahead of the show's 3 September premiere.

Speaking to Gaydio, Drag Race UK season eight contestant KY Kelly said she's "ecstatic" now the cast has been revealed, adding: "The love that has been shown to me online, I am so grateful for."

The cast was revealed by the BBC on 11 August 2026, introducing twelve queens competing for the crown and a £25,000 cash prize. The new season marks a return to form for the BAFTA-nominated series, which will run for 10 weeks on BBC Three and iPlayer.

The cabaret performer has almost 16 years of drag experience and describes herself as a live-singing comedy diva of the cabaret scene. More recently, she appeared in the 2023-24 UK tour of Everybody's Talking About Jamie, playing the role of Laika Virgin — a stint that took her off the circuit and raised eyebrows. "I worked so much on the cabaret scene, then to go missing I think everyone was like where is she," she said. Her cover story? "I told everyone I've gone on a cruise and I didn't have any phone signal… P&O."

The first person she told after finding out she'd been cast was her husband. "Hubby is such a huge Drag Race fan, he watches all the franchises," she said. "I just couldn't have asked for better support."

Walking into the workroom for the first time left her nervous despite her years of experience. "I've done this job for over 16 years, I don't think anything prepares you for that because it's like walking into the TV," she said. "The workroom is so much bigger than I ever thought it was."

Her entrance look took "loads" of work. "This is the Olympics of drag, so everything needed to be upped," she explained. "I love my entrance look. I can't wait to wear it again, actually."

On her entrance catchphrase, she said: "With the name KY Kelly I thought it needs to be on brand. I always quote myself as being sassy, bold and brash, so I just wanted to hit the ground running with something that reflected the name." Her drag name is a pun on the lubricant brand KY Jelly.

She described the season eight experience in five words: "Explosive. Dramatic. Outrageous. Fun. Memorable."

The queens share a WhatsApp group that "goes off on the daily," she revealed. "Some days I have to catch up and you're like oh wow, 100 and something messages." She singled out fellow contestant Naya Thorn, now based in Manchester after beginning drag in Liverpool as someone she'd love to work with, calling her "amazing."

Asked why viewers should tune in, she said: "I'd say it's iconic. The casting has been out of this world. There is something for everyone. I love that there is so many different styles of drag, ages, it's just amazing."

RuPaul's Drag Race UK series eight premieres on BBC Three on 3 September 2026. Returning judges are RuPaul, Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton.

Listen back to KY Kelly talk to Dave Cooper on Gaydio Breakfast about her time as a top 15 contestant on the original series of Pop Idol on Gaydio Replay