Dear Viv: Emotional first trailer released for BBC documentary honouring The Vivienne
The Vivienne will be honoured with the documentary Dear Viv, from the BBC and WOW. (Getty)
The Vivienne will be honoured with the documentary Dear Viv, from the BBC and WOW. (Getty)
The first trailer for BBC documentary Dear Viv, honouring the late Vivienne, has been released, along with its first clip.
The Vivienne, known out of drag as James Lee Williams, died in January this year aged 32, and left behind a glittering legacy.
The Welsh drag artist, who lived in Liverpool, became the first ever winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019, before appearing on All Stars 7 several years later, as well as appearances on Dancing on Ice and more.
Her life is set to be celebrated in Dear Viv, a documentary by Drag Race production company WOW Presents, and the BBC.
The first trailer for Dear Viv shows never before seen clips of the star’s work, and interviews with The Vivienne’s loved ones and Drag Race contemporaries like Raja, Danny Beard, Michael Marouli, Cheryl Hole, Tia Kofi, Baga Chipz and more.
“The Vivienne was British drag with this modern polish,” Tia says in the trailer.
The Vivienne herself is also heard saying in a clip from a Drag Race UK professional: “So many performers go down the same route. Standing onstage, entertaining people, making them laugh, singing them songs. You need something that’s going the match that high.”
The star was admirably open with her struggles with substance abuse on Drag Race; in a statement after her passing, her family confirmed that she died from a cardiac arrest caused by the effects of taking the drug ketamine.
As well as the full-length trailer, the first exclusive trip of Dear Viv has also been released to the WOWPresents YouTube channel.
The clip sees Drag Race UK season five finalist Michael Marouli speak about the process of helping The Vivienne audition for the first season of the spinoff.
“We want to celebrate The Vivienne’s extraordinary life and work so everyone can experience her incredible talent, sass and enormous heart,” World of Wonder co-founders Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey said previously in a joint statement.
“Although her stay here on Earth was far too brief, it was with tremendous admiration and affection that we share her legacy in Dear Viv.”
Dear Viv will be be available to watch on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and on WOW Presents Plus from 28 August.
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