The Vivienne funeral: Steps’ Ian Watkins, Kim Woodburn and Little Mix’s Jade lead mourners

For the funeral of Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne, mourners have begun to arrive, including Steps singer Ian “H” Watkins and TV personality Kim Woodburn.

The service for the TV star, real name James Lee Williams, who died earlier this month, is being held at a church in Denbighshire, North Wales. At the age of 32, the drag legend who rose to fame after winning the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK tragically passed away earlier this month.

The star’s representative confirmed the shattering news on social media on January 5. 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. Losing their son, brother, and uncle has devastated their families. They are so proud of what James accomplished throughout their lives and careers. No further information will be made available from us. Please allow James’s family the time and space they require to process and grieve.

The much-loved drag star will pass away today with the participation of several well-known faces. Watkins and comedian Jayde Adams, both of whom wore a bright green coat and trilby hat, walked toward the church while wearing a red tartan suit. Also in attendance was Celebrity Big Brother star, Kim Woodburn.

The church’s entrance was also visible as X Factor star Marcus Collins and Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall biding their long-lost love to the Drag Race legend. Jameson Stocks, a Michelin-star chef, also showed up in a green and navy tartan coat.

The Vivienne was a vibrant person, but it seems as though mourners decided to stick to the traditional black ensembles that are standard at funerals and instead chose to wear their most vibrant attire.

After winning the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Williams rose to greater fame. They placed third on Dancing On Ice in 2023 and made their seventh appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in 2022.

Friends of The Vivienne drew tribute earlier this month to The Vivienne in a moving vigil in Liverpool. Friends and fans gathered at St. George’s Hall to pay tribute to the actress in a nod to her role in the Wizard of Oz musical, “The Wicked Witch of the West.”

Danny Beard, a fellow drag queen, described The Vivienne at RuPaul’s Drag Con as “the night that tonight should be about… A celebration of someone who touched the lives of so many.”

They called The Vivienne “one of the world’s most recognisable drag queens, proper world class entertainer,” and referred to her as one of the world’s most well-known drag queens. And above all, a shining beacon in our lives, especially for the LGBT (community) they added. They applauded her for using her platform to spread joy, fight against prejudice, challenge stereotypes, and advocate for those in need.

Another friend remembered The Vivienne as a “legend” who was “always willing to experiment and push the boundaries of fashion, make-up and, of course, drag”. As the song For Good from the musical Wicked plays, balloons are released during the gathering’s videos.

The Vivienne, who finished third on Dancing On Ice in 2023, was honored on the skating competition’s debut series earlier this month.

TV host Holly Willoughby paid tribute, saying: “Many of you will have been saddened by the tragic news of The Vivienne’s passing last weekend. They now made up the majority of our show, making it to the 2023 final. They’ll be very sorely missed, and our thoughts are with The Vivienne’s loved ones at this time. So sad”.

The Vivienne previously revealed in 2019 that their brand was inspired by the famous fashion designer, saying, “Everyone called me Vivienne because I was head to toe in Westwood.

The drag star’s friend shared that their distraught father and step-mom found her dead. Police have previously confirmed they were 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”. Publicist and friend Simon Jones shared the news about Vivienne’s death on Sunday.

According to a source, “their devastated dad raised the alarm and believed they had passed away a day or two before being discovered.” “James was due to move to a £400, 000 house next week, and had a holiday lined up. They had everything to live for when they were organizing a tour.

The representative of The Vivienne, The Drag Race UK star, revealed how “proud” he was of The Vivienne and provided an insight into their close bond in a heartbreaking post following their passing.

“These are the words I’ve always wanted to write.” Viv was a close friend, a client and someone I loved very much. I knew when I first met them in 2019 that we could work magic together, so I took over as their manager. Their creativity was incredible, and the light they provided was incredible. In my life, Viv has never laughed as much as I have. Their quick wit and comical prowess were unparalleled.

“I’m so happy and proud that Viv has been a significant part of my life for the past five years. It’s tragic that their career was only just beginning. In musical theater, Viv and Viv found a place and a career they admired, enjoyed, and cherished. This news has me devastated and heartbroken. RIP my wonderful friend. You left us way too soon, “their agent wrote.

The Vivienne’s last public appearance came just a week before their death. They made their first appearance in Blackpool while playing The Childcatcher in the West End musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Bang. The actress also urged followers to make donations to charities in a post just days before her passing.

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Source: Mirror