This week BBC Radio1’s hilarious podcast, Drag Queens’ Den, announces its return by popular demand! So what better way to celebrate than by speaking with the host himself, Glyn Fussell….
How did Drag Queen’s Den come about?
I used to have a highly unsuccessful show with Amy on Gaydar Radio (Rest in Peace). We never thought anyone was listening so we went wild and had a great time. We would do Sink The Pink on Saturday night, then a house party and then straight to glamorous Twickenham, the home of UK drag(!), to do the show.
So I had had experience but then last year the BBC asked, ‘Would you be interested?’ The funny thing is that Sink The Pink is still my baby, but I do less and less onstage now. It’s been the most marvellous experience but I need to try my own thing. I still need an outlet for creativity, I’m still a foolish twat, so I feel like the universe brought this opportunity to me. I said, ‘Absolutely.’
How was it coming back to radio again then after so long away?
I was unbelievably nervous. I went straight in, and the first episode was with Jodie Harsh. Jodie is my friend and it’s harder to do it in front of your friends because…
You care more about what they think?
A bit, yeah. It was a load of pressure. Radio 1 were there watching. Also I was nervous because the LGBTQ+ community had never featured on R1 before. That was quite a heavy burden on my shoulders. But once I got to Episode 2 I was thrusting around.
The idea for me was that you were capturing my favourite moment of drag, in the dressing room. You’re talking about all the things you’re not supposed to talk about. Did Radio 1 set guidelines? They said just go for it! I was waiting for the email that said, ‘We love everything you’re doing but….’ It never came!
Which guest have you been most surprised by in the studio?
I was surprised by how up for it all the straight Radio 1 presenters were. Greg James was great. Michelle Visage was super fascinating because she’s been there, done it. She was way more serious than I imagined. So I was very aware that I needed to steer the conversation to make it lighter. Michelle taught me to not have a preconceived idea of how an interview is going to go and just be open.
This is your first thing away from Sink The Pink. Were you nervous?
I was shitting it because we also did the whole series in two weeks. Plus I have a big company to run. I was trying to prove that I could do it all without impeaching on our working hours. I mean we did recorded one podcast at seven in the fucking morning.
But I removed myself from STP because Sink The Pink is a community and I wanted to let everybody else have a voice. Also I feel like their voice is more relevant now. I can be the head still but they need to be the voice.
It’s been quite affirming to me at this point in my life. Doing Drag Queens’ Den has reminded me that I am entitled to do something myself. I’ve earned this voice and I know what I’m talking about. I’ve still got a lot to say.
Who would be your favourite guest?
I love Cher so much. Aesthetically I really like hippy dippy Cher but musically I like ‘Strong Enough’, ‘Taxi Taxi’ and ‘All Or Nothing’ is one of my all time favourite songs. I moved to Australia when I was coming out and my friend had this convertible, it was a ute, but I’m the eternal optimist and in my mind it was a convertible. We were all in the back one morning after a late night, just pumping out ‘All Or Nothing’. I was like, ‘I’m living, Mum, I’m really living!’ I would like to get my Mum and Dad on the show too.
I feel that Drag Queen’s Den is the antithesis of RuPaul’s Drag Race. I really believe drag should not come with a set of rules and that when something becomes too slick, the rebellion gets more interesting. It feels a bit like we’re in a time that is reminiscent of the New Romantic era where the underground is coming into the mainstream. But let’s ride that fucking wave, why don’t we?!
Speaking of Drag Race. Who would you love to see as special guest judges for Drag Race UK?
Britain’s entertainment industry is peppered with moments of drag, camp and full out lunacy. I would like the judges to represent queer UK history. Julian Clary. Jane McDonald. Jessie Wallace. Lily Savage. Imagine if Joanna Lumley did it as Patsy. I would love Boy George to be on there.
Do you worry about millennials trolling Drag Queens’ Den?
No, I am thirty-eight and my skin is as thick as leather. I grew up worrying about what everyone thought about me. Now I don’t give a shit. No one is going to have power over how I feel about myself.
I love that. I am learning what parts of Loverboy are important to me. It used to be the traffic. But I refuse to measure Loverboy’s success that way anymore.
Exactly. Who cares? Success is only measurable by how you see it. Success for me is about being my authentic self, being happy and doing what I deem to be good work.
Lastly, we are obviously named after the infamous Mariah song, ‘Loverboy.’ What is your favourite Mariah song? It can’t be her Christmas song!
Good! I’m not that basic. I love ‘My All’. When I was a young angst-ridden homosexual, my parents would go play skittles, my sister would go to the clubs, my brother was an ASBO youth so I would be home alone. I would put on all those ‘He might be gay’ ballads, stare out the window into the back garden, feel all the love I wasn’t getting and cry!
Drag Queens’ Den Season 1 & 2 is available now via BBC Sounds and all Podcast apps.
Find out more at www.BBC.co.uk
Follow Glyn on Instagram.
