The Vivienne’s winning Drag Race moment remembered at star-studded funeral

Mourners including former Little Mix star Jade Thirwall, Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney, Steps singer Ian ‘H’ Watkins and TV personality Kim Woodburn were seen arriving for the funeral of Drag Race UK star The Vivienne.

The service for James Lee Williams, who died earlier this month aged 32, was held at a church in Denbighshire, north Wales, on Monday (January 27).

Watkins, wearing a red tartan suit, walked towards the church with comedian Jayde Adams, who wore a bright green coat and trilby hat, and other friends. Singer Jade and former X Factor contestant Marcus Collins were also among the mourners arriving, with many wearing green for the service and Vivienne Westwood badges worn on the lapels of some of the men’s suits.

JLS star Aston Merrygold, who starred alongside The Vivienne in The Wizard of Oz last year, was also seen making his way to the church, as well as former Brookside actress Jennifer Ellison and celebrity chef Jameson Stocks.

A horse-drawn carriage arrived outside the church for The Vivienne’s funeral, with a coffin inside topped with a white floral arrangement. Floral tributes in a hearse read “Vivienne” and “Son”. The crown and sceptre The Vivienne won on Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK were carried into the church ahead of their coffin.

Williams, known as The Vivienne, won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and placed third in ITV’s Dancing On Ice in 2023. During their career, The Vivienne also competed on an all-winners season of the RuPaul franchise in the US in 2022, the only UK contestant for that series.

Fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race UK contestants Tia Kofi, Baga Chipz and Cheryl arrived for The Vivienne’s funeral together. Winner of the show’s fourth series, Danny Beard, wore a jacket and trousers covered with Vivienne Westwood logos. He walked to the church with actress Hayley Tamaddon.

Williams, who was born in Wales, adopted their drag name as they were known for wearing Vivienne Westwood clothing. They also starred in BBC Three show The Vivienne Takes On Hollywood in 2020, and appeared on Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted For Stand Up To Cancer in 2022.

Williams performed as the Wicked Witch of the West in a UK and Ireland tour of The Wizard Of Oz musical and reprised the role in the West End at the Gillian Lynne Theatre last year. They were due to be back on tour next month performing in the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang musical in the role of the Childcatcher.

The news of Williams’s death was announced by their publicist, Simon Jones, on January 5, who wrote that Williams was an “incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person”. Mr Jones added that Williams would be remembered for their “immense talent”, adding “the light they brought to every room was astonishing”.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said on January 6 that officers had been called to an address in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester, at 12.22pm on Sunday following reports of a sudden death. The spokesman said: “Police attended, investigated the circumstances of the death of the 32-year-old man and concluded there were no suspicious circumstances. A file will be prepared for the coroner.”