Jade Thirlwall, Ian ‘H’ Watkins and Kim Woodburn among mourners at funeral of The Vivienne

Eleanor Barlow and Kerri-Ann Roper PA Reporters & Catriona Rigney
·4-min read
Mourners have begun to arrive for the funeral of Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne
-Credit:PA


Mourners including Jade Thirlwall, Steps singer Ian “H” Watkins and Kim Woodburn attended the funeral of Drag Race UK star The Vivienne. The service for the star, real name James Lee Williams, who died earlier this month aged 32, was held at a church in Denbighshire, north Wales.

Ian 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. Jade Thirlwall and former The 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.

Jade Thirlwall and Marcus Collins (second left) arrive for the funeral of The Vivienn
Jade Thirlwall and Marcus Collins (second left) arrive for the funeral of The Vivienn -Credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire
Jayde Adams (left) and Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins (second left) arrive for the funeral of The Vivienne
Jayde Adams (left) and Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins (second left) arrive for the funeral of The Vivienne -Credit:PA
Kim Woodburn was also among the mourners
Kim Woodburn was also among the mourners -Credit:PA

Fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race UK contestants Tia Kofi, Baga Chipz and Cheryl arrived for the 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.

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Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney also attended, along with radio presenter Pete Price. Also attending the funeral was JLS star Aston Merrygold, who co-stared with The Vivienne in a stage production of The Wizard Of Oz in London last year.

Aston Merrygold arrives for the funeral of The Vivienne
Aston Merrygold arrives for the funeral of The Vivienne -Credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire
Danny Beard and Hayley Tamaddon
Danny Beard and Hayley Tamaddon -Credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire
Claire Sweeney was also among the mourners paying their respects at the funeral of The Vivienne
Claire Sweeney was also among the mourners paying their respects at the funeral of The Vivienne -Credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Former Brookside actress Jennifer Ellison and celebrity chef Jameson Stocks were also among the mourners.

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”. Another floral tribute was made up of purple flowers in the shape of a witch’s hat. The Vivienne 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.

The crown and sceptre The Vivienne won on Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK were carried into the church ahead of their coffin. After the funeral, six doves were released as mourners left the church. The birds flew out of baskets in the church grounds.

The coffin was loaded back into the carriage, pulled by horses with green feather plumes and the cortege was escorted by a police car as it travelled away from the church.

A horse-drawn carriage carrying the coffin of The Vivienne arrives at a church in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire for their funeral
A horse-drawn carriage carrying the coffin of The Vivienne arrives at a church in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire for their funeral -Credit:PA
The Drag Race UK star's coffin arrived to the church by horse and carriage
The Drag Race UK star's coffin arrived to the church by horse and carriage -Credit:PA
The coffin of The Vivienne is carried into St Margaret's Church in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire
The coffin of The Vivienne is carried into St Margaret's Church in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire -Credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire

The Vivienne won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and placed third in ITV’s Dancing On Ice in 2023. They were honoured on the ITV skating show as the latest series started earlier this month. Host Holly Willoughby hailed The Vivienne as a “huge part” of the show and said they would be “very sorely missed”.

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. 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, who was born in Wales, adopted their drag name as they were known for wearing Vivienne Westwood clothing.

One of the floral tributes in the hearse read “Vivienne”
One of the floral tributes in the hearse read “Vivienne” -Credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire
The crown and sceptre The Vivienne won on Ru Paul's Drag Race UK is carried into the church ahead of their coffin
The crown and sceptre The Vivienne won on Ru Paul's Drag Race UK is carried into the church ahead of their coffin -Credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire

A spokesperson for the star confirmed the sad news of their death on 5 January. In a statement, they said: "It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams - The Vivienne, has passed this weekend.

"James was an incredibly loved, warm- hearted and amazing person. Their family are heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother and uncle. They are so proud of the wonderful things James achieved in their life and career. We will not be releasing any further details. We please ask that James's family are given the time and privacy they now need to process and grieve."

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