E4 PICKS UP 'RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE' FROM WORLD OF WONDER AND PASSION DISTRIBUTION
July 16, 2009 - E4 has acquired the UK broadcast rights for series 1 and 2 (currently in production) of RuPaul’s Drag Race – a reality entertainment series to find America's next drag superstar - the next RuPaul.. The deal was brokered for E4 by Gill Hay, Channel 4 Head of Acquisitions, and Passion Distribution’s Director of Sales, Emma Simpkins. The 9 X 1 hour first series will launch on E4 in August 09. Season 1 was produced for Logo Network in the US and was the most successful launch for the three-year-old network and VH1. Gill Hay said: “I’m pleased to bring more of Logo Network’s programming to E4. I hope RuPaul’s quest to find the most glamorous drag queens in the US will entertain UK viewers on E4 as much as it captured the imaginations of fans in the States.” Emma Simpkins said “People love drag: it's sparkly, it's shiny and it's gorgeous – just like this fun series where the audience can escape into a glamorous, highly visual and entertaining world. The format of the show puts the drag queens to the test on their talent, style, looks. It pushes their abilities and emotions to great effect. As RuPaul would say, “You Better Work It”, and Passion has, licensing this show into Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Israel, Korea, Sweden, The Netherlands and now the UK.” E4 has also picked up rights to seven special webisodes to play on E4.com. In the US RuPaul’s Drag Race season 1 was the most streamed show in the history of Logos content.
