Queer Eye could replace Fab Five with ‘younger, hipper’ hosts, Tan France fears

Queer Eye cast think they'll be replaced for 'younger and hipper' hosts in the future

Queer Eye star Tan France has suggested that the Fab Five could be replaced by “younger and hipper” hosts in future seasons.

In an interview with Insider, France explained his fear that the five beloved hosts may appear out-of-touch once they begin to approach their “middle-aged period”.

“We’re all knocking on a bit,” he told the outlet.

“I don’t know how much people will care about our opinion on fashion and hair and whatever when we go into the middle-aged period of our life. I’m sure that they’ll want somebody younger and hipper to advise them.”

France, 39, who hosts Queer Eye along with Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, Jonathan Van Ness, and Antoni Porowski, also spoke about his newborn baby, and the lack of South Asian representation in the UK, his home country.

“I think that the people in power don’t believe our value,” France said of the UK.

“They don’t understand our value. I don’t know what more we can do to show that we can be entertainers. I’m on a big show for Netflix. We have won countless Emmys – if we win one more, we’ve broken the record for the most Emmys of any unscripted show in history. Yet I’m still not seen as bookable in the UK for a prime-time show. That’s an issue.”

https://twitter.com/QueerEye/status/1521588868553838594

France explained that he did not expect Queer Eye would be successful at first, but that he relished the opportunity to be “unabashedly” queer on TV.

“I thought that Queer Eye wasn’t going to be successful and that it would be a flop – we’d do one season, then it’d be over,” he told Insider.

“We get to be our queer selves, unabashedly… I’ve never felt like I’ve had a space like that before where I can be 100 per cent comfortable to say: This is who I am. Like it or lump it.”

The Fab Five are currently filming the show’s latest series in New Orleans, Louisiana, having previously made-over contestants in Texas, Georgia, Missouri and Pennsylvania.

Announcing that the group had arrived in the city, the official Queer Eye Twitter account wrote: “The Fab Five just arrived in The Big Easy and are already dripping in Mardi Gras beads.

“We’re so excited to join the party in this amazing city. Get ready for new adventures and more tears real soon.”