Charlie Jones

The news that NHS England will finally take action to fund life-saving HIV medication is great, but it’s time for a full-scale roll out. One in seven gay and bi men in London lives with HIV. The number of new diagnoses in the UK is nearly double the average of Western Europe. Nearly half of those are diagnosed in London. Make no mistake; we are still in the midst of an HIV epidemic in this country, and the epicentre is London. Next month NHS England will begin a trial of Pre-exposure phophylaxis (PrEP), a course of drugs taken before sex that can reduce the risk of getting HIV by up to 99 per cent. Four London clinics trialled i

Talk about the countries where celebrating Pride can get you killed. The recent rise in homophobic hate crimes. The importance of learning queer history and showing gratitude to those who quite literally fought for our rights. Talk about Orlando. Mention the fact nearly half of all trans children in this country have attempted suicide. Or that 80 per cent have self-harmed. You could talk about the fact that the word for our identity is currently synonymous with “anything generally bad” in most s

Dreams really do come true, right? (Instagram) Drag fans rejoice! RuPaul’s Drag Race UK has just been confirmed for a second season, and the first season isn’t even over yet. In recognition of their new majesty, RuPaul, BBC Three has just committed to broadcasting another season of the award-winning global hit in 2020 – and applications for the next set of sickening queens are now open. To apply for the next series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, just sashay over here. But hurry, applications need

Crystal became the fifth queen to sashay away from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK last night. We caught up with her to chat about expensive preparations, her surprise at the lack of diversity and why she doesn’t trust the Lib Dems. Happy birthday! What’s the reaction been like? Thank you! It’s been wonderful. To be honest, I finished my party at midnight last night and haven’t had a chance to look yet. Hopefully the internet’s been kind. And over the last few weeks? Amazing. People have been so posi

Divina De Campo lost out on the crown and title of Britain’s first drag superstar by a red hair’s breadth last night. We caught up with them to chat about mental health, The Vivienne’s strategy and why she nearly quit Drag Race UK. Congratulations on making it to top two! How did you find out about it? Thank you very much, I’m really pleased. We all watched together. It was a really nice way to finish the series. You had the best track record on the show. Were you robbed? No, I don’t think

The Vivienne was crowned Britain’s first drag superstar in last night’s tense finale. We caught up with her to chat about addiction, what Drag Race UK left out and Cher *sort of* marrying her next month. Congratulations The Vivienne! How are you feeling the morning after being crowned Britain’s first drag superstar? Bloody marvellous, I don’t think it’s quite settled in yet but I’m sure it will. Tired, a bit hungover, but good. What did you do to celebrate? We had a little after party with

Cheryl Hole narrowly missed out on a spot in the final of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK after her bodysuits fell foul of Michelle Visage. We caught up with Hole to spill the tee over Baga Chipz’s mum, a toxic fandom and who the real villain of the season was… Hello gorg, how are ya? I’m great thanks, how are you? I did Porn Idol last night with Baga so I’m very tired, but I’ve got a coffee in front of me and I’m perking right up. How was it? Any good volunteers? Ha, can this be my one no comment a

Vinegar Strokes was the third queen to sashay away from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK last night. She used her background as a West End performer – with Michelle Visage and Bianca Del Rio in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – to delight in last week’s Downton Draggy. She sent wigs – and Gothy Kendoll – flying in week one during a lip sync to Dua Lipa’s ‘New Rules’, but was sent packing by friend Sum Ting Wong last night to Eurythmic’s ‘Would I Lie To You’. We caught up with her to chat about the cast’

Gothy Kendoll gets her claws out (BBC). Drag Race UK exploded onto our screens last night and the world went nuts. But for 22-year-old Gothy Kendoll the ride was all too brief as she become the first UK queen to sashay away. She lost a lip-sync to Vinegar Strokes and Alan Carr likened her runway look to an estate agent. We caught up with Gothy to find out how she’s dealing with the experience. What’s the reaction been like? Mental. Obviously you get the odd Debbie Downer but 99% has been p

The experiment is over. The results are in. The winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season one is… How much Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent was Drag Race UK’s first season packing? All of us. Sum Ting Wong’s stamp. Vinegar Strokes’ underground dress. Divina De Campo’s IKEA collab. Baga Chipz’s Thatcher and The Vivienne’s Trump. The Frock Destroyers. Blu Hydrangea shading RuPaul. Cheryl Hole delighting us. Viv shining a light on the darker parts of queer nightlife. Alan Carr likening Gothy K

I guess they were right about Yvie Oddly being two-faced. (Netflix) 10 queens and 14 weeks after RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 11 began and only four remain. Is your regal ride-or-die A’keria Chanel Davenport, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, Brooke Lynn Hytes or Yvie Oddly? How much Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent was episode fourteen, the grand finale packing? Whatever I—or any other stay-at-home Simon Cowell—think of these queens, this season, or this show, we shouldn’t lose sight of just how spe

RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 4 finished with a flourish that floored the fans. Was your super-queero crowned? Ru's dress was a tacky last minute stitching together of stars—just like the crowning. But the others were a real wonder, woman.