Celebrities ask Banijay to Drag Me Out
Comments Off on Celebrities ask Banijay to Drag Me OutBanijay today announces Drag Me Out, a new entertainment format from Mastiff Denmark, which sees drag artists transform celebrities into gender revolutionaries.
In Drag Me Out, a recurring posse of the most legendary drag artists on the scene compete to create fabulous personas for well-known celebrities. For the drag stars, professional pride is on the line, with one artist leaving each episode, culminating in the final show where the winner will be crowned.
To win, the drag mentors must unleash the celebrities alter-egos, bringing out their natural performer, and helping them to push their personal boundaries with curiosity and plenty of self-irony. Most of all, they must entertain in drag throughout the extravaganza in high-energy lip sync battles, comedy performances, dance shows and more.
Drag Me Out will launch on TV 2 Zulu in Demark during the week of Copenhagen Pride at the beginning of August, and is available for adaptation internationally.
James Townley, Global Head of Content Development at Banijay comments: “Hold onto your wigs, or if you’re a drag king, your ‘tashe, as Drag Me Out is set to be a wild, fearless, liberating ride to break down gender barriers. With refreshing, ironic and hilarious performances from celebrities, mentored by the best drag acts in the business, this new format will be packed with real talent, watercooler moments and must-see performances.”
Mads Ulrick Holmstrup, CEO at Mastiff Denmark comments: “There’s never been a better moment to celebrate subversive drag culture, with up-for-it celebrities finding their inner King or Queen to have a whole lot of fun playing with gender. Expect plenty of sequins, belly laughs, sensational death drops and amazing lip syncing. For the professional drag mentors, the competition is fierce as they all want to triumph at the epic showdown and be crowned Drag Me Out winner.”
Banijay holds rights to multiple non-scripted formats celebrating LGBTQ+ culture, including Fabulous Dad, from Metronome Denmark, an emotional factual entertainment series where fathers of drag queens try to really understand the lives of their sons – by performing as drag queens themselves. Paper format dating shows created in Spain and the US, along with kids series, Ronnie, Reggie and Friends, about two gay penguins from London Zoo, are also recent additions to the Banijay catalogue.
This year the company officially launched Banijay Pride, the network for LGBTQ+ staff and allies, with a global event hosted by Conchita Wurst. Banijay Pride is active in 15 markets and counting and is collectively celebrating International Drag Day this month, with forthcoming collaborations later this year for Bi Visibility and Trans Awareness.