RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 4 - meet the queens

First up is London queen Baby. Describing herself as 'London's auto punk princess', she said her drag "is pretty, punk and Black".

"I love to represent my culture and I love playing with in the area where Black culture and alternative culture meet," she added.

Next up is Birmingham-based queen Black Peppa. The 29-year-old said: "My superpower is my creativity. I have the weirdest ideas in my head!

"I like making the impossible a reality. I love to think of myself as a creative genius! Also, I'm pretty good with a makeup brush now. Two years ago, I absolutely was not but then during lockdown, I was like 'You know what? Girl, it's time to learn to do your makeup'. Now, look at me!

"Drag is an outlet that allows me to be an oddball, show off my goofiness and soak up all the attention!"

Manchester legend Cheddar Gorgeous is also joining the line-up. Sharing her excitement at becoming a Ru Girl, Cheddar said: "I didn't imagine they'd be interested in outer world art pieces like me!

"Most of all, I am excited for the challenge. I don't know what’s going to be thrown at me, but I quite like having things thrown in my face and just seeing what happens. That's the pleasure of life, isn't it?"

Copper Top is up next. The 38-year-old from Cheltenham explained why she thinks she'll snatch the crown, saying: "I've got it all. I can act, I can sing. I can dance. I can host unlike anybody else.

"Drag is for everybody no matter how old you are and I’m repping it for the old fogies!"

Joining the line-up is Dakota Schiffer, a 22-year-old from Sussex. She makes history as the UK's first trans contestant.

"I’m generation Z's answer to Sharon Tate," she said of her drag. "My drag is a love letter to the '60s and the '90s.

"I've always been intrigued by the '60s and '90s supermodel era and my number one Hollywood icon is Sharon Tate in Valley of the Dolls, and I worship everything she's ever been in – she's such a style icon to me. My drag aesthetic is always beautiful and fashion first."

Also making history is Danny Beard, the first bearded queen to appear on the UK show.

Discussing their career highlights, Danny said: "I’ve been doing drag for about 10 years. You name it, I’ve done it!

"I've got residencies in London, Glasgow, Manchester and Cardiff. I've performed around the world, and headlined Pride festivals across the country. I've also done a bit of television including Britain's Got Talent!"

Next up is Jonbers Blonde, who said she'll be treating each runway like the Met Ball.

"I've got the back catalogue," she said. "I can dance. I can move. I've got fashion skills. I'm not afraid to be silly. I've got a unique voice. You put all that together and you got this big muppet here! What more do you want?

"I really do have the fashion skills, as I'm also a stylist. I have worked at Vogue International and I have been fashion editor of several magazines. I've also walked the runways in London and Paris."

Geri Halliwell impersonator Just May is next. The 32-year-old said she is on the show to represent both Essex and gingers.

"It's a hard job being a genuine ginger but I'm here to prove to you that all you need to do is whack on that factor 50 and head out there with your head held high," she said.

"When people think of Essex, they think of fake tans and big boobs and I'm here to prove that we're really just all about the big boobs."

Next up is "all-singing, all-dancing, Chinese pop star" Le Fil.

"A typical Le Fil show is a full-on epic pop performance meets fashion and art installation with my own songs, live vocals, my own band and backing dancers," she said.

"I call my gigs 'pop sculptures with extras', because they're music gigs entwined with stories and performance art. I like to give my fans a pop extravaganza, where the sets are like sculptures, the costumes are like couture, and the show is like a piece of live art."

Brighton queen Pixie Polite is next. The singer already has a connection to Drag Race as she's in girlband The Vixens with season 2's Tia Kofi.

"I think the world is ready for Pixie Polite to be the Queen of the UK, don't you?" she said.

"It's honestly a dream come true. I never thought a big ol' camp cow like me would make it here but here I am! I'm very excited to get to all those challenges and shake my booty all over that Werk Room, honey!"

Next contestant Sminty Drop also has a Drag Race connection, being in the same fashion house as series one's Gothy Kendoll.

"These queens should be very worried about me. I’m not just a pretty face and body-ody-ody baby," she said.

"I’m going to take that crown because I've got exactly what it takes to get it! I will slice, dice and chop up the runway in my 9-inch heels, and when I unpack my bags the other queens will wonder, 'Oh god, should I just send myself home now?', and I say ‘Yes, yes you should!'."

Completing the line-up is 23-year-old Starlet.

All about exuding Hollywood glamour, she said: "I’m quite an established-looks queen, but I'm gently tippy-toeing into the performance side of drag.

"If you came to one of my shows, you'd see the perfect woman on stage with loads of rhinestones and a feather fan or two."