December 28th 2024.
On Boxing Day, Blankety Blank graced our screens, but it wasn't all fun and games. The appearance of a drag queen sparked some ignorant and hateful comments from viewers, exposing the deep-rooted homophobia that still exists in our society.
It's quite ironic, considering that Blankety Blank was previously hosted by one of Britain's most beloved drag queens, Lily Savage. But this Christmas edition, hosted by Bradley Walsh, had a star-studded lineup including Oti Mabuse, Jane McDonald, Joel Dommett, Jonathan Ross, Sara Pascoe, and the winner of Drag Race UK, The Vivienne. It was a perfect mix of light-hearted entertainment and festive cheer, just as one would expect from Blankety Blank.
However, some viewers couldn't help but voice their narrow-minded opinions, complaining about the "overexposure" of drag queens on television. Thankfully, these comments were quickly shut down by others on social media who pointed out the obvious - that Blankety Blank was famously hosted by Lily Savage, a character created by Paul O'Grady, who sadly passed away in 2023.
One user, Charlie, sarcastically wrote, "Because Blankety Blank has never had a drag queen on before..." while Alex G-L reminded the trolls that the show had been hosted by a drag queen for years. Even the BBC Radio 2 account jokingly tweeted, "Blankety Blank with a drag queen? Never thought I'd see the day!" But the perfect response came from Police For You, who summed up the situation by saying, "Getting upset about a drag queen on Blankety Blank is like watching Wallace and Gromit and being offended by the cheese references."
Perhaps the reason for this backlash is the recent win of Tayce, a drag artist from Drag Race UK, on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special. Even though she made history by being the first drag queen to compete on the show, she received similar hate from some viewers. It's clear that the BBC needs to be more open-minded and inclusive when it comes to booking drag queens for their shows.
But let's not forget that Lily Savage, the original drag queen to host Blankety Blank, was a trailblazer for drag and brought it to the mainstream. Paul O'Grady, who portrayed Savage, sadly passed away in 2023, and the character was retired by him in 2004. He went on to host his own chat show and For the Love of Dogs on ITV, but he always supported Drag Race and recognized its impact on the drag community, even if he preferred the "old school" style of drag.
In an interview with The Independent in 2021, O'Grady said, "Our sort of drag, where we worked the pubs and clubs, the roots were steeped in variety and music. You told gags. There were some wonderful drag comedians who were polished comedians, who just happened to be in drag. This lot [current drag artists] look incredible, with the makeup, frocks, and wigs, but for me, drag has moved on and transitioned."
Blankety Blank first aired in 1979, inspired by the American game show Match Game. It was hosted by Sir Terry Wogan from 1979 to 1983, followed by Les Dawson from 1984 to 1990. Lily Savage then took over from 1997 to 1999 and again from 2001 to 2002. O'Grady retired the character in 2004 and sadly never had the chance to bring her back before his sudden passing. But his legacy and impact on the drag community will always be remembered.
So, in conclusion, it's important to recognize and celebrate the role of drag in our society and the diverse talents of drag artists. Blankety Blank is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now, and if you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, don't hesitate to reach out to the entertainment team. They'd love to hear from you.
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