Michelle Visage: ‘The oldest thing I own? Probably my vagina’
The Drag Race host and club legend tells us about the enduring appeal of tackiness – and the time she blew it with Sean Penn
April 2024
Joy in Taiwan – and praise from the president – as Nymphia Wind wins RuPaul’s Drag Race
Drag star celebrated with massive support at home after taking top prize in the long-running US reality show
Drag Race is essential educational viewing
Letters: Performers on RuPaul’s Drag Race are helping to deepen our understanding of issues such as homophobia or coming out as trans, says Rachel Congdon
Drag: a sexist caricature, or a fabulous art form?
Dr Grace Barnes argues that drag, at its core, humiliates women through demeaning parodies of femininity, while Katharine Rogers finds it fascinating but thinks it may be best kept out of schools and libraries
March 2024
Drag is under attack across the world: RuPaul’s Drag Race shows why we need it more than ever
Max Wallis
These queens know what it is like to be abused for being who they are – their joyful self-acceptance is a tonic for our times, says writer and poet Max Wallis
Monét X Change: Life Be Lifein’ review – Drag Race champ’s fabulous rise to fame
The star’s stage presence is impressive as she charts the journey from her religious upbringing to her first sexual encounters and becoming an adored icon
Book of the day
The House of Hidden Meanings: A Memoir by RuPaul review – poignant, egotistical and often wise
In a witty, highly entertaining memoir, the drag queen turned TV star recounts his journey from homelessness to the dizzying heights of fame via the punk scene – and a snub from Madonna
February 2024
TV tonight
TV tonight: Sue Perkins takes on a bear in Alaska
When faced with the Alaskan wilderness, proper survival skills are needed. Plus: who knew a toy could swear so much? Here’s what to watch this evening
January 2024
Man given suspended sentence for punching Drag Race star The Vivienne
Alan Whitfield, 51, hit James Lee Williams, 31, who won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, and verbally abused him
November 2023
TV tonight
TV tonight: all the crispiest Bake Off bits
A look back on the puddings, cakes and cackles that made this series a blast. Plus: the Drag Race finale. Here’s what to watch this evening
September 2023
TV tonight
TV tonight: gritty martial arts crime drama Warrior returns
The third season set during the Tong wars begins. Plus: Channel 5 brings us the cute Puppy School for Guide Dogs. Here’s what to watch this evening
March 2023
‘An icon’: Camilla, TV stars and animal charities pay tribute to Paul O’Grady
Host of Blind Date and Blankety Blank described as someone who stuck up for the underdog – particularly if they were canine
December 2022
The anti-hibernation culture guide: something to enjoy for every day in January
You can spend the next few weeks under the duvet and in front of the telly, or enjoy world-class art, theatre, music, film and standup – here’s an event for each of the next 31 days
The Observer's obituaries of 2022
Cherry Valentine remembered by Bimini
The drag queen and star of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK recalls the performer’s ‘natural empathy’ and bravery in challenging preconceptions
RuPaul’s Drag Race essay collection wins oddest book title of the year award
RuPedagogies of Realness wins the Bookseller/Diagram prize ahead of What Nudism Exposes and Frankenstein Was a Vegetarian
November 2022
TV tonight
TV tonight: backstage revelations with RuPaul’s UK drag queens on tour
‘It’s a shopping mall of madness and you need a spiritual guide’: drag terrorist Christeene’s guide to life
September 2022
Cherry Valentine, star of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, dies aged 28
Drag performer George Ward appeared on second series of hit show before launching TV career
May 2022
Turn us on: a Bafta TV special
Bimini’s year in TV: ‘During lockdown, Drag Race gave people hope and laughter’
The drag queen on hating sport, being mistaken for Katie Price, and why Buffy the Vampire Slayer was their awakening
February 2022
‘The whole launch show is a pre-record’: we watched BBC Three’s return to TV – so you didn’t have to
Constant trailers, Netflix stars and sensitive documentaries about queer people in the Traveller community: how did the youth channel fare on its return to television?
