RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series 4 winner: ‘The hard work is only just beginning’

The Drag Race UK series four winner reveals how many times they auditioned, when they thought they might win the BBC Three show, and what they want to do next.

After 10 weeks of tears, triumph and tucking, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series four has crowned its winner.

The following contains spoilers for the Drag Race UK series four finale.

Episode 10 of the BBC Three show saw Black Peppa, Cheddar Gorgeous, Danny Beard and Jonbers Blonde compete for the prize of the UK's Next Drag Superstar.

After a tough final challenge, the queens were whittled down to a final two, with Cheddar and Danny lip-syncing for the crown. Once the glitter had settled, Danny joined The Vivienne, Lawrence Chaney and Krystal Versace in the Drag Race UK winner’s circle.

The first queen to enter the Drag Race UK series four Werk Room, Danny (who uses they/them pronouns) came into the BBC Three show with a concern. As the show’s first bearded queen, they hoped their facial hair wouldn’t put them at a disadvantage.

“In the back of my mind, I was thinking, ‘I hope in episode three, they don't tell me to shave, and in episode four they send me home,” Danny says. “I was really hoping they were not going to try and change me.”

But Danny didn’t need to worry: “Ru said to me, ‘I have never had a bearded queen on here. And I love your style of drag.’ That meant the world to me.”

Danny made it onto Drag Race UK after auditioning three times. “I didn’t audition for series one – I wanted to see if it was going to be crap,” they joke, “but it wasn’t, it was brilliant.”

“So I applied three times – and I’m not embarrassed about that. A lot of drag queens get in their feelings about not being cast, but it’s not about how good or bad we are as drag queens, it’s whether they have the right people. If I had got on when I first auditioned, I wouldn’t be sat here.”

Being on Drag Race UK meant competing against their idols. “The first time I moved to Manchester, I went on a night out and I saw Cheddar and the Family Gorgeous. I just remember thinking, ‘Oh my God, I didn't know that drag could be like this.”

For the other series four queens, Danny was an emotional rock throughout filming. Fellow finalist Black Peppa said: "A lot of moments when we were down, Danny would come and sit next to you and encourage you. That is the kind of team spirit that really kept the season together."

Quickly, Danny began to start winning challenges. They won their first RuPeter badge in week two’s girl group challenge, and eventually took home three more badges: for episode four’s Catty Man improv challenge; for episode five’s Lairy Poppins Ru-sical; and for episode nine’s comedy roast.

It was after the Ru-sical that Danny started thinking they might be able to win the show. “That was one of the best episodes there has been on this show. When everyone was so strong and I just managed to get the edge on everyone, it really lit a fire under me.”

Drag Race UK, however, is a rollercoaster, and only two episodes later was Danny's lowest moment: "Snatch Game threw me for a wobble. Ru wasn't sure about Louis Walsh which I knew I'd do so well. But every dog has its day and sometimes it's more important to let other people shine."

Though the RuPeter badges kept piling up, Danny continued to get emotional on the runway: “I'm proud to show my emotion,” they say. “It's something I've never done in drag. My drag is very bitchy, quick-witted, shady. And you know, my brand is ‘shady singing cartoon clown.’ So it was nice for me to be able to show a bit of the real me.”

The second half of the competition was dominated by Danny and Cheddar, who between them won every badge from episode four onwards. Cheddar, however, didn’t see the pair as competing: “I felt when we got to that stage, we were all working with one another to make really good telly… what made things start to be fun was when we got down to the few people that I knew I could have a good time with.”

Asked how it feels to win, Danny says: “I feel like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I'm Charlie, RuPaul is Willy Wonka, Michelle is an Oompa Loompa and I’ve got the golden ticket!”

What’s next for Danny Beard? They hope a career in TV beckons: “Hopefully, I'll be working in television, which is what I've always wanted to do, I've always wanted to be a television presenter.

“The crown is a gorgeous rhinestone cherry on top, but I know the hard work is only just beginning.”

What is Danny's dream TV role? She says, "I would love to host my own Friday or Saturday night television show. Celebrity guests, maybe sketches with the celebrities. Think Saturday Night Live meets The Ruby Wax Show."

Danny is the second queen from Liverpool to win Drag Race UK, following The Vivienne in series one. Danny says: “I think it's a place in the north that has struggled with its identity. But I think through it all, everyone I know has got a sense of humour.

“We can make light of a dark situation with quick-witted back-and-forth comments. We've just got funny bones. It's also one of those sing-song funny accents as well, so you get away with murder!”

Though born in Liverpool, Danny has made Manchester their drag home. In fact, both of the series four top two are from the city. “Manchester is a place that is full of energy,” Cheddar says. “There's a reason why so many drag queens gravitate to this place. It has a really, really rich history in terms of queer politics – Section 28 marches, ACT UP – and it was the first council to ever have a subsection council for gay issues. Plus, Manchester really does like a little bit of showing off.”

Danny also pays tribute to their current home: “Manchester taught me very early on that you need a brand. So many drag queens start in other cities, and they're clones of each other.

“If it wasn't for Manchester, I don't think Danny Beard would look like this.”

RuPaul's Drag Race UK series four is available to watch in full now on BBC iPlayer.