Canada’s Drag Race: Guaranteed entertainment
Helen Archer | On 03, Jul 2020
If you’re missing the original Drag Race – or, indeed, its UK spin-off – this Canadian version has arrived just in time to fill the void. It possesses all the sparkles, sequins, and acerbic wit of its counterparts, just in a slightly different accent.
In the first episode, the contestants embrace their Canuck nationality with a Rocky Mountain mini-challenge, before the main competition which is inspired by different Canadian cultural gems, including Anne of Green Gables and ice hockey. The format is changed ever so slightly. Guest judge Elisha Cuthbert acts as a RuPaul stand-in, presenting the final show, before taking her seat with the regular judges Brooke Lynn Hytes, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and Stacey McKenzie.
But other than that, it’s like sinking in to a warm bath of familiarity. The lip sync battle in the first episode is one for the ages and bodes well for things to come. Add some endearingly ‘quirky’ contestants, and some girls who clearly live for drama, and the entertainment value is pretty much guaranteed.
Canada’s Drag Race is available on BBC iPlayer until June 2022
This short review was originally published as part of a fortnightly BBC Three reviews column.