They’re the drag queen pop trio that regularly share their desire to represent the United Kingdom at Eurovision. And, typically, most people take the Frock Destroyers’ song contest proclamations with a pinch of salt — although the subject has been known to make some British fans very agitated. However, if Northern Ireland’s Blu Hydrangea is to be believed, the group were actually in talks to represent the UK at Eurovision 2021.
Blu Hydrangea claims the Frock Destroyers were in talks for Eurovision 2021
The Frock Destroyers — that’s Blu, along with Baga Chipz and Divina de Campo — were apparently in the running to sing for Britain in Rotterdam. That’s according to the tea spilt by Blu at the Swansea leg of Netflix’s I Like To Watch Live tour. Sharing the stage with RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne, she says: “I was supposed to be [a Eurovision contestant] with the Frock Destroyers”.
She continues: “I’ll tell you a little secret. So, James… Martin? Is that his name? James something-whatever-his-f***ing-name-was dropped out for three months. And in those three months, the Frock Destroyers had meetings with Eurovision. We were supposed to be on it in 2021!”.
Channelling Eurovision 2019 host Assi Azar, The Vivienne responds with “and then they didn’t”. This leaves Blu to wrap up her tale by declaring: “that’s the tea. And that’s the end of the story. Hahaha, but we were supposed to and we were in meetings! And it never happened and fingers crossed for 2022”.
The history books show that James Newman ended up representing the UK at Eurovision 2021 with “Embers”, after missing out in 2020 due to the contest’s cancellation. His selection arose from the BBC’s collaboration with music company BMG. Neither he nor the BBC have responded on Blu Hydranea’s story. However, James had publicly confirmed his wish to go to Rotterdam as early as May 2020, less than two months after the 2020 contest was called off.
.@BluHydrangea_ reveals that The Frock Destroyers were actually in talks to represent the UK at Eurovision 2021. @NetflixUK #ILikeToWatchUK pic.twitter.com/l3o28NkM6F
— Attitude Magazine (@AttitudeMag) October 14, 2021
The Frock Destroyers’ campaign for Eurovision
The Frock Destroyers were formed as part of a music challenge on season one of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. During the series, a fan launched a petition urging the Frock Destroyers to be selected as the UK act for Eurovision 2020. The petition reached over 14,000 signatures.
With Eurovision 2020 cancelled, the trio then set their sights on the 2021 edition. In December 2020, group member Davina told Attitude magazine that “We’re made for Eurovision. We would break the Eurovision curse!”
Then on the BBC’s 2020/2021 New Year’s Eve special, Davina talked about their 2021 plans. She said, “All being well, we’ll be on a world tour with FROCK4LIFE. And who knows — maybe Eurovision?”
Fan reaction to the Frock Destroyers Eurovision bid is mixed. While some support the entertaining trio and would love to see them at Eurovision, others feel that the BBC should stick with sending a serious pop entry.
However, with the BBC continuing to play it safe and sending middle-of-the-road pop acts to Eurovision — including this year’s disappointing nil points result — perhaps it’s time for the UK to take a risk and send the dragtastic trio to Eurovision.
What do you think? Should the BBC send the Frock Destroyers to Italy? Or should the UK stick with serious pop entries for Eurovision? Tell us your thoughts below!
i have no problem with drag queens competing, we’ve had them before (DQ, Sestre, Conchita) but the problem here is with the act coming from the drag race franchise, it’s immediately going to be a novelty entry and BBC need serious atm to get them feeling good about their eurovision participation again.
By no popular demand whatsoever. The BBC needs to start treating the competition with due respect. For.most of this century we have sent unrelenting garbage acts and songs- Electrovelvet, Suri, Jemini to name but 3. Our last 2 entries have been obese amateur male karaoke singers badly dressed and badly staged. Sending screechy fat z clicking drag queens would be offensive- not because they are drag, but because they are crap. It would be another double zero.
I agree. Plus, drag queens is so cliche at this stage. BBC should be innovative with new ideas. However, we all know that hardly anyone talented and well-known would want to do Eurovision now..
“the Frock Destroyers had meetings with Eurovision”
Oh, so prospective entrants don’t report to their national broadcasters these days, they go directly to “The Eurovision.”
Anyone got a small bit of sodium chloride? Just enough to hold between my thumb and index finger.
“ Anyone got a small bit of sodium chloride? Just enough to hold between my thumb and index finger.”
Oh, that’s good. That’s a really good burn. I’d love to steal that and use it in a story somewhere
Never happened, just someone trying to get themselves some publicity oxygen.
And if it had, and they went to Eurovision, they wouldn’t have done much better than James. Juries would have hated it, and while it may have picked up some televote points, the final tally would have been single figures.
The BBC needs to send a credible act with a strong song, not a song to keep Drag Race fans happy, who probably account for about 2% of the total televote.
A drag queen was supposedly in talks to represent the UK in Eurovision this year… … and we’re supposed to think this was in any way shape or form a credible and reliable way to shake up the UK’s negative image at the contest? When will we ever learn that this 15 time runner up former “we’re better than all if you in this joke contest” fed by deceased Terry Wogan – pre 2000 contestant has put itself in this shameful situation all by itself? The relationship between the UK and the rest of Europe has always been shaky shady… Read more »
It isn’t the country who feels this way, it is the BBC. UK fans (and not just eurovision fanatics) are just as if not more frustrated by our dreadful attitude and equally dreadful entries
actually many ESC fans would want them to represent the UK, which is cringy but at the same time not a surprise at all knowing how most of the fans are gay and love drag race. However, UK fans are partly to blame for not putting pressure on BBC.
It is only Wiwibloggs who are consistently pushing for a drag act to represent the UK. No one else. Maybe this could have been a good idea in the noughties, but this is the 2020’s. Twenty years on, a drag act would only amount to another bottom top three place for the UK on the night. The BBC should send a quality act: a good song (like ‘Embers’), but performed by a well-dressed and good-looking artist, sung in a staging that stands out. Give Jai McDowall a memorable song and a top 5 position is in the pocket. There is… Read more »
But ‘Embers’ wasn’t ‘good’. It was alright, but that’s not good enough for a mainstream pop song.
Embers was a decent song, but the dreadful staging killed it stone-dead.
Embers was dreadful.
Still better that 2 previous entries
Stop being ridiculous at Eurovision. You had The Beatles, come on…!!!!
If there is any truth to this, everyone involved with the UK eurovision selection process needs to find new work.
I don’t think frock destroyers actually are in contention to represent the UK for Eurovision. I think it’s just Attention seeking bluster. But there needs to be a shake up at the BBC to prepare a better entrant
This makes me sad actually. They think the biggest non sport event in the world is a joke. They need to let ITV take over, BBC is just not capable.
EBU should change the rules and allow private broadcaster take part as well.
How about we wait until the official list of all the countries participating is out. Then if the UK is on it, we can start speculating then
Are you expecting them to drop out? I really don’t think the BBC would even consider not entering the contest.
UK always confirms late so nothing to worry, they are BIG5.
I think the UK will be on the list ultimately. I just think it would be such a shock not to see it.
BBC shoukd change people’s mindset about the competition and have a dedicated and serious approach to make it all work.They also have the money so finance is not a problem to plan detailed steps on who,how,what etc…
They are doing the same thing over and over and failing without feeling guilty and then they wonder why famous artists decline.
I mean France turned the tables,Germany and Spain are really trying,Italy is brilliant since their comeback so it’s not that hard to put more effort in and make sometthing amazing.
Won’t happen in the lifetime of anyone who is over 55 now.
It is my 55th birthday tomorrow so I should just live to see it
Fingers crossed for 2054 then
I see Eurovision primarily as a shop window for up and coming serious talent, not for novelty acts or big stars or old acts to relaunch their careers. So if UK wants to take things seriously they should select one of the multitude of indie acts out there and make sure it is one that can sing well live. Then give them a classy staging. Simple.
There’s nothing wrong with a drag act when it’s part of the overall performance of a talented musician. Conchita? Great voice and great song. This is not that. This is “Eurovision is camp and what’s more camp than drag queens” because the UK is utterly lost and has no idea what direction to go in.
Is this sarcastic?
If you’re going to say something sarcastic on the Internet, you need to add a/S or a emoji to indicate that you’re being sarcastic. Otherwise people will take your statement At face value
If the Beeb wanted to start taking ESC seriously again, that double 0 in Rotterdam should have been a huge wake-up call for them. They need a good artist and a strong song, that’s all – look at how Switzerland’s been doing since they changed their selection format!
All in all, Frock Destroyers would be a horrible choice for the UK
Saying they’re ‘made for Eurovision’ sums up the UK’s problem. It’s seen as a camp spectacular, nothing more. Sure, the camp spectacle is entertaining, even important, but when it works, it’s usually backed by serious musical talent. The UK is in an almost impossible position. They can’t send another bland unknown and crash out in the bottom 5 again, they can’t send a camp/joke entry and be accused of not taking ESC seriously, and any competitive artist starting to build momentum is terrified of a bad result bringing it all crashing down. There’s also this sneering attitude from many outside… Read more »
It’s such a lose-lose-lose-lose-lose situation. Somebody needs to have the brass ones to turn the tide in the UK.
still, there are so many artists that would do Eurovision nonetheless. Paloma Faith, Hurts and probably a couple of 100 more – this is the UK we’re talking about not some small country with little or no music industry. There are good artists who would do it, the BBC just needs to stop being lazy and find them.
At this point, if the BBC isn’t going to seek out Competitive artist, the artist should come to them. They should offer to BBC plans for their Eurovision entry and they just have to sign off the check.
Re Paloma Faith, “Make Your Own Kind of Music” would have been a perfect fit for the contest.
that is actually a cover haha but still… she has plenty of amazing songs.
Off topic, but since I’m surprised they don’t talk about Junior Eurovision 2021, who do you think would make the perfect choice for the MC trio?
I don’t know why Junior Eurovision is underreported on this site. I have to look elsewhere for Junior Eurovision news, even though I admit I wasn’t really interested until 2018.
I suppose because it is for children. Maybe there should be a Junior Wiwi.
Oh, I like that idea. Wiwibloggs Jr.
So boring now … enough with the drag acts
B*tch you are talking like Eurovision was flooded by drags, we’ve only had Conchita in the last decade if I’m not mistaken. Drag is not synonym of ridicule, silly acts girl
We’ve had many drag queens acts, Conchita won because she was talented, with a great song and message. Remember Denmark 2007, Slovenia 2002?
Another post about “Frock Destroyers” ……every month the same sh*t on this web-page. No words about the Junior ESC – huh? Wiwibloggs …..are you sleeping?Okay, I’m overreacting just a little bit – and there are better blogger doing JESC. For the UK I hope that they find a great act / band / singer to bring this country back on track because they deserve better. Love and greetings from Germany.
Maybe these are sponsored articles? I have no idea what’s the point of bringing them up that mamy times otherwise
Esc 2021 is long over and they are still talking about it… Move on..
ew drag queens
ew homophobe
People, you are downvoting the wrong comment… sometimes you make me worry, seriously…
for a website helmed by members of the LGBTQ+ community and about a contest that has always had connections with the LGBTQ+ community, the people in the comments are surprisingly bigoted. there’s also a surprising lack of acknowledgment of this fact by the people who run this website
On the one hand it’s logical that up and coming british artists are sceptical about doing eurovision for bbc looking at the stigma. But at the other hand don’t they see themselves what it has done for artists like måneskin, duncan laurence etc? Atleast people behind the record companies with knowledge of the market should recognize the commercial possibilities behind it.
After all, it would have been the same outcome. But I highly doubt they would have taken it as graciously as James Newman. Also, contrary to James, no one would have pittied them.
No. Just no. All the UK needs is an apt singer and a memorable song. It doesn’t take a genius to crack that nut.
Even if I believed a word of what Blu is claiming here (which I don’t), I’m still not thrilled by the idea of them going to Eurovision. They’re subpar singers and major attention hounds, an awful combination for the ESC. You’re better than this, BBC. Or you should be.
Every time I hear any Eurovision rumours of Frock Destroyers, United Kingdolls, or in fact ANY drag queen from Drag Race rumoured to represent the UK, I just shake my head in horror. We have had 2 bum results and by bum I’m talking last place bum results. Do we really want to ridicule & embarrass ourselves any further. My gosh.
And monkeys will fly out of my butt. Give me a break.
I’d sooner believe Steps were doing Eurovision (speaking of, how long has it been since you’ve posted another thing about Steps not wanting to do Eurovision? You’ll miss your monthly quota!)
Let’s pray that BBC won’t send something embarrassing like this to Eurovision, I think Turkey will come back after these acts are eliminated for good.
please, no more drag rumours please. I’m neither a fan nor hating them, but BBC needs to be more serious and give more effort. BBC also needs someone revolutionary, somehow similar to Sweden’s Christer Bjorkman, to turn their Eurovision fate around.
As much as I loved them on DRUK, I really don’t think the Frock Destroyers would be an appropriate choice for Eurovision. I can see Divina take part of it and being a serious competitor but not really Blu and Baga.
Yeah. Unlike in the US, UK drag queens are known for singing and there are a few on the British show who are good singers. Baga and Blu are not among them.
Moreover any attempt to have a drag queen perform might look like a blatant Conchita rip off and they’ll pale in comparison unless they have a winning song.
I don’t think you should post any more stories about The Frock Destroyers.
No.
Imagine lying like this though when we all know the real story. How desperate for attention do you have to be?
James something-whatever-his-f***ing-name-was –> darling, it’s so cringy when you’re trying to be funny by insulting someone else, an LGBTQ member should have known better? That’s why I cringe with these acts, because they are desperate for attention and try so hard to be funny and special. Anywho, on the one hand i wish James had dropped out because he would have saved himself from the embarassment but on the other hand it would have been cringy having the drag queens represent the UK in a song contest. Say what you want about Eurovision but the contest has become more and… Read more »
ughhh hate them already..
I’d rather take another bland entry over them… at least it’s not embarrassing.
Ikr? I hate this arrogant attitude. BBC can do better than drag queens and bland entries. They can send a special entry that stands out, an entry by an unknown act. IF only BBC wants… EWhere is OGAE UK to put pressure on them?
As if they could put any pressure on the BBC… They only takes what is sent to them. Nothing will change if solid songs aren’t presented to the BBC.
Usually OGAE clubs have connections with local broadcasters..
James Newman. That’s his name, it’s not that hard.