The fifth series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK began airing on BBC Three on 28 September 2023.

She's a bona fide gay icon and loves outrageous outfits, so she's perfect for Drag Race".

[10] Prior to the series, the show came under scrutiny for the contestants not receiving any cash prize compared to the other Drag Race franchises.

[11] Willam, who was a contestant on the fourth season of the American version, commented: "They need to pay the girls a prize.

"[11] Danny Beard, who won the previous series, said that they "could have bought a house", with the money spent preparing for RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

[11] On 30 August 2023, the BBC revealed the line up of guest judges and special guests for the fifth series including: Vorderman, Ellis-Bextor, Yasmin Finney,[12] Suranne Jones,[13] Kristen McMenamy,[14] Karen Hauer,[15] Aisling Bea, who appeared as a special guest in the previous series,[16] Joel Dommett, Edward Enninful, Alexandra Burke, Cush Jumbo and Daphne Guinness who previously served as a guest judge on the seventh season of the American version spin-off RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.

In this series, the equivalent version of the American Whatcha Packin', features series 4 winner Danny Beard and guest, typically a former contestant from British adaptation, discussing the recently aired episode, besides interviewing the most recently eliminated queen about their run on the show.

[17] It has been reported that an eleventh contestant was initially cast on the season, but was disqualified during filming due to alleged misconduct.

The contestant was edited out of episodes prior to her disqualification, and was not included in either the cast announcement or any other promotional material relating to the series.

Alexis Saint-Pete, Cara Melle, Ginger Johnson, Michael Marouli and Vicki Vivacious receive positive critiques.

It is then revealed that Cara Melle and Vicki Vivacious are the top two queens of the week and lip sync for the win.

Alexis Saint-Pete and Miss Naomi Carter lip sync to "Hot in It" by Tiësto and Charli XCX.

Miss Naomi Carter wins the lip sync and Alexis Saint-Pete is the first queen to sashay away.

For this week's main challenge, the queens write, record, and perform verses to "Don't Ick My Yum" in two groups.

For this week's mini-challenge, the queens pose and deliver a sticky tag line for "S.P.N.K Protein".

For the main challenge, the queens team up and deliver an inspirational seminar called "RuPaul's DisasterClass".

Cara Melle and Michael Marouli are deemed by RuPaul to have been the least funniest in the challenge and are announced as the bottom two, with DeDeLicious and Tomara Thomas being safe.

For the final challenge of the season, the queens write, record and perform their own verses to a remix of RuPaul's song "Spotlight".

Tomara Thomas is eliminated, leaving Ginger Johnson and Michael Marouli as the top two queens of the season.