The BBC’s long‑running ballroom show appears to be taking another step towards mainstreaming drag. La Voix — the singer and theatrical performer who finished runner‑up on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series six — has been signed to compete on the full 2025 series of Strictly Come Dancing, and is expected to be partnered with a male professional dancer. The report described the move as the first time a drag performer will take part across a complete Strictly season, rather than in a one‑off special.
The decision follows a high‑profile precedent set last year when Tayce became the first drag artist to appear on Strictly’s Christmas special. Tayce and professional partner Kai Widdrington won the 2024 festive show with a perfect judges’ score, a moment that was celebrated by many but also provoked hostile reaction online — underscoring the cultural stakes of bringing drag into established daytime‑prime formats.
La Voix arrives with a considerable reality‑TV pedigree. The BBC’s coverage of Drag Race UK confirmed she was a standout on series six, finishing as runner‑up to Kyran Thrax after several challenge wins, and her public profile is bolstered by earlier appearances on Britain’s Got Talent and a background in musical theatre. Encyclopaedic summaries of her career note training in drama and stage work, and a crossover into recording and pantomime that positions her as both a performer and a commercial entertainer.
Industry sources quoted in the initial report framed the signing as a deliberately conservative choice within the broader move to diversify casting. ‘La Voix is a bit more of an old‑school entertainer who’s a little closer to the traditional Strictly audience in terms of style and vibe,’ an unnamed show insider told The Sun, adding that producers see the appointment as ‘another example of the Strictly execs constantly pushing at the boundaries and making changes that the show’s audiences then have to adapt to.’ That characterisation comes from the insider’s comments to the tabloid and should be read as commentary rather than an official BBC position.
The apparent casting decision arrives amid a staggered rollout of celebrity names for the new series. Reporting in The Independent and coverage carried across outlets lists several confirmed contestants — including Balvinder Sopal, Dani Dyer, Alex Kingston, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, George Clarke and Harry Aikines‑Aryeetey — with the BBC scheduling the show for broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer from September and further participants to be unveiled through August.
The story has already prompted reactions within the drag community. Tayce herself posted on X earlier this month, writing ‘Guess I was too much,’ accompanied by a disco ball emoji. Tayce’s Christmas special victory and the subsequent online backlash remain a reference point for how audiences react when traditionally marginalised performers move into mainstream primetime slots.
Source: Noah Wire Services
