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Charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent... and more!

Charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent... and more!

The creator of RuPaul’s Drag Race on a revolution in reality TV.

The Media Show · BBC Radio 4

February 15, 202327m 51s

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Show Notes

Meet one of the pioneers of reality TV; Fenton Bailey hung out with Andy Warhol in the 80s, launched RuPaul’s pop career in the 90s, and made what might be reality TV’s most successful show: RuPaul’s Drag Race.

His company, World of Wonder, has also made films about Monica Lewinsky, Britney Spears and the TV Evangelist Tammy Faye. And long before that, he brought the cult comedy duo Adam and Joe to Channel 4.

Fenton and Katie discuss an extraordinary career, how drag provides the perfect parody of celebrity, and why reality TV has always been camp.

Image credit: Lucille Flood, World of Wonder Productions.

Presenter: Katie Razzall

Producer: Helen Fitzhenry