Cheryl Hole

Cheryl
Cheryl at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2023
Born
Luke Underwood

(1993-10-18) 18 October 1993 (age 31)[1]
Chelmsford, Essex, England
Other namesCheryl Hole
OccupationDrag queen
TelevisionRuPaul's Drag Race UK (series 1)
RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (series 1)
Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World (season 2)
SpouseHaydn Bleach (m. 2021)
Websitewww.cheryldragqueen.com

Cheryl, formerly known as Cheryl Hole (born 18 October 1993), is the stage name of Luke Underwood-Bleach, an English drag queen from Chelmsford in Essex who is known for being one of the first contestants on the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK (2019),[2] as well as the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2022),[3] and the second season of Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World (2024).[4]

Personal life

[edit]

Luke Underwood was born in 1993 and raised in Chelmsford in Essex.[5]

On the 24 September 2021, Underwood and his partner, Haydn Bleach, married; upon which their last names were double-barrelled to Underwood-Bleach.[6]

Career

[edit]

Underwood-Bleach began doing drag under the stage name "Cheryl Hole" sometime in the 2010s; his[a][7] act is based on former Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole.[8][9][10] On 3 April 2019, Underwood-Bleach and his then fiancé took part in the Comedy Central show Your Face Or Mine? hosted by Jimmy Carr and Katherine Ryan.[11][12]

On 21 August 2019, Cheryl Hole was announced as one of the ten contestants to be competing in the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.[13] In the sixth episode, she lip synched to Cheryl's "Call My Name" in front of guest judge Cheryl, eliminating Blu Hydrangea from the competition. He was eliminated in the seventh (and penultimate) episode after losing a lip sync to Baga Chipz to Amy Winehouse's "Tears Dry on Their Own" (2007).[14] Cheryl Hole placed fourth overall.[15]

On 28 November 2019, Cheryl Hole, alongside the cast of series one of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, embarked on a 12-gig UK tour,[16] hosted by Drag Race alum Alyssa Edwards.[17][18] In December 2019, Cheryl Hole was unveiled as Virgin Media's Christmas "fairy gift mother" for their Christmas campaign giving gift and surprises to Virgin Media customers.[19][20] In July 2020, Cheryl Hole started a new podcast called Girl Group Gossip produced by World of Wonder,[21] where she is joined by a co-host and a special guest related to the topic of that episode.[22][23] In November 2020, Cheryl Hole joined RuPaul's Drag Race UK series 1 winner The Vivienne on the UK version of the Netflix YouTube series I Like to Watch for three consecutive episodes.[24]

Cheryl Hole at RuPaul's DragCon LA, 2022

In January 2022, Cheryl Hole was announced as one of the nine contestants on the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World.[3] After falling into the bottom for his performance in the ball challenge, she was eliminated by Janey Jacké from the first season of the Dutch franchise, who won the lip sync against Canada's Drag Race season 1 contestant, Jimbo. Cheryl Hole was the second queen eliminated in the competition, ultimately placing eighth overall, and released her debut single "Need the Power" on 11 February 2022 after the aforementioned elimination.[25] The single was co-written by Cheryl Hole alongside the creative team behind fellow Drag Race star Priyanka's Taste Test EP.[26] Cheryl Hole released the song's music video the same day,[27] featuring numerous guests including fellow RuPaul's Drag Race UK stars Vanity Milan, River Medway, and Elektra Fence.[28] In March 2022, Cheryl Hole was announced to have been voted by his RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs the World castmates as the season's Miss Congeniality, sharing the title with Janey Jacké and Jujubee, with Pangina Heals and Blu Hydrangea casting their vote for Cheryl.[29]

In 2022, Underwood-Bleach made his West End debut in the play Death Drop.[30]

Underwood-Bleach appeared on the 16 August 2023 edition of BBC One's Celebrity MasterChef. Speaking to BBC News before the appearance, he highlighted issues facing the LGBTQ+ community and said the appearance of LGBTQ+ people on television was a chance to "have our voices and stories heard and show we're nothing to be feared".[31]

In 2024, Cheryl Hole returned again to compete on the second season of Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World.[4][32]

Discography

[edit]

Singles

[edit]

As lead artist

[edit]
Title Year Album
"Need the Power" 2022 Non-album single
[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[33]
US
Elec.

[34]
"Break Up (Bye Bye)" (Filth Harmony version)[35]

(with the Cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Season 1)

2019 35 45 Non-album single

Guest appearances

[edit]
List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Snatch" 2021 Priyanka Taste Test

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2018 BBC Breakfast Herself Guest
2019 Your Face or Mine? Herself Guest
RuPaul's Drag Race UK Herself Contestant (4th place); Series 1
2020 Celebrity Juice Herself Guest
2021 Celebs on the Farm Herself Contestant (runner-up); series 3
The Only Way Is Essex Herself Guest
Be Here, Be Queer Herself Netflix special[36]
2022 RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World Herself Contestant (8th place); Series 1
2023 Celebrity MasterChef Herself Series 18; Contestant[37]
2024 Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World Herself Contestant; Season 2

Web

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2020 God Shave the Queens Herself Produced by World of Wonder[38]
2020–21 I Like to Watch UK Netflix UK & Ireland[39]
2022 Bring Back My Girls Produced by World of Wonder[40]
2023 Binge Queens: UK5 Herself (Host) With Blu Hydrangea, Produced by World of Wonder[41]
Very Delta Herself

Podcasts

[edit]
Year Title Role Ref.
2020–21 Girl Group Gossip Host [42]
2022 Killers, Cults and Queens Host [43]

Music videos

[edit]
Year Title Artist Ref.
2020 "Always" Waze & Odyssey [44]
2021 "My House" Jodie Harsh [45]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ This performer identifies as a man out of drag and uses he/him pronouns, per several articles

References

[edit]
  1. ^ @CherylHoleQueen (19 October 2022). "Thank you to everyone who sent me so much love yesterday for my birthday! You all made me feel so special and I'm so grateful to have such incredible people around me 🥹 Here's to 29 and feeling FINE! 💅🏻" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Sassy Drag Superstar – Cheryl Hole". Drag Adventures. 16 May 2018. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b Nolfi, Joey (17 January 2022). "RuPaul's Drag Race UK Versus the World cast adds international all-stars to new competition". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b Peloza, Ivana (4 July 2024). "The Season 2 Cast Of 'Canada's Drag Race: Canada Vs. The World' Was Just Revealed And You'll NEVER Guess Who's Back". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  5. ^ King, Mel (7 April 2021). "Drag Race UK star Cheryl Hole shares devastation as beloved nan dies". Essex Live. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Cheryl Hole Instagram post after getting married". Instagram. 24 September 2021. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Meet the 9 Queens competing in Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs The World". Royal Television Society. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  8. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK full line-up revealed from Cheryl Hole to Baga Chipz". Metro. 21 August 2019. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Who is Cheryl Hole? Meet the Gals Aloud dancer and RuPaul's Drag Race UK queen". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Cheryl Hole promises "drama and conflama" on Drag Race UK". Gay Times. 23 August 2019. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  11. ^ "Your Face Or Mine Series 5 Episode 6". comedy.co.uk. 3 April 2019. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Your Face Or Mine Cheryl and Haydn". IMDb. 3 April 2019. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  13. ^ Smith, Reiss (21 August 2019). "The RuPaul's Drag Race UK queens are finally here". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  14. ^ "Cheryl Hole Met Cheryl Cole On This Week's Drag Race UK – But Some Fans Are Crying Foul". HuffPost UK. 18 November 2019. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  15. ^ Pearce, Tilly (14 November 2019). "RuPaul's Drag Race's Cheryl Hole tells Cheryl to 'call her' for ultimate collaboration after elimination". Metro. Archived from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  16. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race: UK Season 1 Tour". vossevents.com. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  17. ^ Crossley, Becki (13 September 2019). "Stars of RuPaul's Drag Race UK to tour in December, tickets on sale now". List. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  18. ^ Duke, Simon (29 November 2019). "Drag Race UK tour is fierce & fabulous as it begins in Newcastle". nechronicle. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  19. ^ "Now Thats Christmasing by RAPP". The Drum. 29 November 2019. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Competition winner stays at Richard Branson's safari lodge". warrington guardian. 4 March 2020. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  21. ^ "Girl Group Gossip". worldofwonder.com. 9 July 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  22. ^ "Cheryl Hole debuts new podcast Girl Group Gossip". werrrk.com. 10 July 2020. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  23. ^ "cheryl hole provides fans with something new on her girl group centric podcast". Gay Times. 16 July 2020. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  24. ^ "Drag Queens Cheryl Hole + The Vivienne React to The Crown | I Like to Watch UK Ep 5". YouTube. 19 November 2020. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  25. ^ Whyte, Woodrow. "Drag Race's Cheryl Hole reacts to Baga Chipz and Jujubee backlash on UK vs The World". PopBuzz. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  26. ^ "Our very own CHERYL HOLE has landed with her first single 'NEED THE POWER'". Gay London Life. 11 February 2022. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  27. ^ "Cheryl Hole – Need The Power (Official Video)". YouTube. 11 February 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  28. ^ Damshenas, Sam (11 February 2022). "Divalinas, assemble! Drag Race UK icon Cheryl Hole serves choreo in fierce debut music video". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  29. ^ Whyte, Woodrow. "Drag Race UK vs The World's Miss Congeniality winner revealed". PopBuzz. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  30. ^ "Drag Race UK star Cheryl Hole on heading to Dublin with a new Death Drop show". 18 January 2023. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  31. ^ McMenemy, Rachael; Milner, Leigh (16 August 2023). "Celebrity MasterChef: Cheryl Hole on why LGBTQ+ representation is important". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  32. ^ "Bam! Alexis Mateo is back on 'Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World' season 2 cast". EW.com. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  33. ^ "CAST OF RUPAUL's DRAG RACE UK | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  34. ^ "EDM Music & Dance Songs Chart – November 16, 2019". Billboard. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  35. ^ "Drag Race UK's girl group episode was the best in years, including America". 31 October 2019. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  36. ^ "Drag Race UK's The Vivienne, Tia Kofi and more discuss drag in the UK in new Netflix film". Attitude.co.uk. 30 December 2021. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  37. ^ "BBC One serves up sizzling new Celebrity MasterChef line-up for summer 2023". BBC. 15 June 2023. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  38. ^ Barraclough, Leo. "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Producers Greenlight Two Docu-Series for SVOD (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  39. ^ "Drag Queens Cheryl Hole + The Vivienne React to The Crown I Like to Watch UK Ep 5". YouTube. 19 November 2020. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  40. ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs. the World".
  41. ^ "Binge Queens - RuPaul's Drag Race UK Series 5, Meet The Queens". YouTube. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  42. ^ Cheryl Holes Girl Group Gossip episodes, archived from the original on 25 November 2020, retrieved 19 November 2020
  43. ^ "Killers, Cults and Queens". audioboom.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  44. ^ George Michael (21 May 2020), Always (Drag Stars Official Video)), archived from the original on 22 May 2020, retrieved 21 May 2020
  45. ^ Jodie Harsh (5 March 2021), Jodie Harsh – My House (Official Video), archived from the original on 12 March 2021, retrieved 21 March 2021
[edit]