Drag Race UK star Tia Kofi to raise money for trans charity on Celebrity Mastermind

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Tia Kofi will try and raise money for transgender advocacy charity Not A Phase with a stint on BBC gameshow Celebrity Mastermind tonight, 31 December.

The drag performer, musician and self-described “glamorous geek”, who won the second season of Drag Race UK vs The World in 2024, will appear on the show alongside gay comedian Josh Jones, Everyone’s Talking About Jamie actress Lauren Patel, and TV presenter Izzie Balmer.

Celebrity Mastermind sees a group of celebrities answer questions on their chosen specialist subject in the hopes of winning money for their chosen charities. Tia Kofi is yet to announce her specialist subject, but she’s a known sci-fi nerd with a particular passion for Doctor Who, so there’s every chance it will be something Catkind and Cassandra related…

Considering she’s wearing the same look for Celebrity Mastermind that she wore during a recent episode of Doctor Who digital series The Whoniverse Show, it seems like a promising guess.

“The Quiz Queen returns on New Year’s Eve for Celebrity Mastermind on @bbctwo and @bbciplayer at 7.30pm. I’ll be raising money for the incredible @notaphaseorg,” Tia wrote on her Instagram page earlier this week.

“What’s my specialist subject?! Will I snatch the Mastermind trophy?! Will I run away in total fear of sitting in the iconic Mastermind chair?! Find out on Wednesday!”

Not A Phase, founded by activist Dani St James, works to “support and uplift the lives of trans+ adults, through community and joy” in the UK.

It’s not the first time over the festive season that Tia Kofi has appeared on a beloved BBC game show, raising money for marginalised LGBTQ+ people.

Earlier this month, she appeared on The Festive Finish Line, hosted by Roman Kemp, in a bid to win money to support Rainbow Migration. The charity provides “practical and emotional support for LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum” in Britain.

The drag performer won the show, and managed to bag £5,000 for the organisation.

Who is Celebrity Mastermind contestant Tia Kofi?

Drag queen Tia Kofi, 35, rose to fame after appearing on the second season of Drag Race UK in 2021, seven years after starting drag. She was an instant fan favourite, but was sent home in seventh place after bombing the show’s famed Snatch Game challenge.

She returned to the competition for Drag Race UK vs The World in 2024, where she won four challenges – including the Snatch Game – and won the season overall.

Despite making history as the first person of colour to win a Drag Race UK season, she was inundated with racist abuse following her win, due to some fans of the show favouring fellow finalist, Drag Race Philippines star Marina Summers.

Away from her Drag Race career, Tia Kofi has become a multihyphenate entertainer, appearing on a range of celebrity reality series and game shows, including Eating With My Ex, Celebrity Gogglebox, The Weakest Link, and Celebrity Lingo. She has also been involved with coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest for the past few years.

In addition to her TV career, Tia is a musician, having released her first single “Outside In” in 2021. Her most read solo single “Read My Lips” dropped in 2024, while she also appeared on “Your Light Will Shine”, a charity single in memory of fellow Drag Race UK winner, The Vivienne. She appeared on Dear Viv, the BBC documentary series released earlier in 2025, which commemorated The Vivienne following her death in January 2025. 

Most recently, Tia Kofi has become a famous face in the world of podcasting and presenting, hosting Heartstopper: The Official Podcast and her own podcast, The Final FronTia. In October, she appeared as a guest on Bold Politics with Zack Polanski, the new podcast from out gay Green Party leader, Zack Polanski.

Celebrity Mastermind will stream on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two from 19:30GMT.

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