Hit reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race coming to Australia

Start your engines — one of the world’s most successful and entertaining reality TV franchises is finally coming to Australia next year.

One of the world’s most popular reality TV franchises will soon have an Australian outpost, it’s today been reported.

An Australian version of RuPaul’s Drag Race could hit screens as early as next year, following Thai and UK iterations of the franchise.

RuPaul's Drag Race host RuPaul.

Industry website TV Tonight reports that ITV Studios Australia has landed the local format rights to the series, and discussions are about to begin with local producers about bringing the format to screens in 2020.

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“Yes ITV Studios Australia have secured the rights to arguably one of the biggest formats globally at the moment. With Drag Race UK about to launch and already a major hit in the US and other territories, we are set to shantay onto Australian screens in 2020,” ITV’s CEO David Mott told TV Tonight.

RuPaul’s Drag Race debuted on screens 10 years ago as a low-budget cult favourite, as drag icon RuPaul hosted and judged a quest to find “America’s next drag superstar”.

Since then, the budget, audience and acclaim has grown, and the franchise has made worldwide stars of well over 100 talented drag queens. It has also birthed four All-Stars seasons, with a fifth on the way.

Drag Race has birthed a litany of drag superstars. Picture: AFP

One of our own, Aussie drag queen Courtney Act, even competed, placing runner-up in the show’s sixth season.

There’s no word yet on which network would air the series — or who would host. RuPaul herself is hosting the franchise’s upcoming UK series, and as an outspoken lover of all things Aussie (she even has an Australian husband), we wouldn’t be surprised if she makes the jaunt down under to host Drag Race Australia too.