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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Paul McAuley

Who is Jinkx Monsoon? The American drag queen joining BBC's Doctor Who

American drag queen Jinkx Monsoon has been confirmed to appear in the upcoming series of Doctor Who.

The 35-year-old is due back on our screens in November, when she joins Sex Education’s Nctui Gatwa in the latest season of the Sci-Fi series. The performer said she was “honoured and thrilled” to be joining the show in a “major role”.

She added: “Russell Davies is a visionary and a brilliant writer - I can’t wait to get into the weeds with him and the crew. I hope there’s room in the TARDIS for my luggage.”

READ MORE: Olivia Pratt-Korbel's infectious laugh heard in newly released videos

But who is Jinkx Monsoon and how did she get to where she is today?

Jinkx Monsoon, the alter ego of Jerick Hoffer, is no stranger to TV having risen to fame after appearing on and winning the fifth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Throughout the series, the performer, who is originally from Portland, Oregon, opened up about their battle with narcolepsy - a rare long-term brain condition that can prevent a person from choosing when to wake or sleep.

Jinkx returned to the franchise to compete in an all-star season and won once again, making them the first person to win two seasons of the show across its iterations. Jinkx’s stand-out moments from the first-all-winners edition of the franchise included their impersonations of Natasha Lyonne and Judy Garland.

A few months after being crowned the winner and anointed with the title “Queen of All Queens”, it was announced Jinkx would join the Broadway company of the musical Chicago. The drag queen enjoyed a sell-out run of the show playing the role of Matron ‘Mama’ Morton.

Their debut on Broadway was a historic moment for the LGBTQIA+ community, as she became the first drag queen to play the role of Mama Morton, breaking box office records in her extended eight-week run.

Besides her acting career, Jinkx has also released music, hosted podcasts and toured the world as an entertainer including coming to the Everyman and Playhouse theatre on several occasions.

Fans of Jinkx Monsoon were thrilled to learn she will be back on their screens in November when Doctor Who returns.

Showrunner Russell T Davies said: “In a galaxy of comets and supernovas, here comes the biggest star of all. Jinkx Monsoon is on a collision course with the TARDIS, and Doctor Who will never be the same again.”

Doctor Who will premiere exclusively on the BBC for the UK with David Tennant reprising his role as the Fourteenth Doctor for three episodes to coincide with the show's 60th anniversary.

Ncuti Gatwa’s first episode as the Fifteenth Doctor will then air over the festive period.

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