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Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. The World slayed audience expectations in its series premiere on Friday, November 18. The cutthroat competition features a cast list of epic proportions, as queens from the US, the UK, and "Down Under" (Australia) take on the defending queens of Canada. A global battle royale, the show's winner rakes in 100,000, as well as a dazzling crown and scepter courtesy of Amped Accessories.

On the program's first edition (Drag Race UK vs. The World), the Brits take control of the crown, as Blu Hydrangea is sworn in as the first-ever, "Queen of the Mothertucking World." This year, The "True, North, Strong, and Fierce" Canadian contenders steal the spotlight, as they scratch and claw to defend the inaugural "Queen of the Mother-puck-ing World" title. Here is the 411 for those who missed the Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. The World season premiere.

Related: The International All-Stars Competing On Canada's Drag Race Vs.

He might not have held on to household name status the way, say, Morecambe and Wise have, but Danny La Rue is still respected for his long entertainment career. Adrian Noble is now planning a biopic of the man, who died in 2009.Martyn Hesford has written the script for the film, which will chart La Rue’s life and career, particularly his years as a female impersonator and comic across several decades.“What drew me to the project was Martyn’s brilliant and funny screenplay which tells two unexpected love stories in an unexpected way,” Noble tells Screen International. “Over the course of his life Danny stood at the fulcrum of a changing British society and his story is filled with potent images where a man could dress as a woman and rub shoulders with royalty and gangsters alike.”The big challenge, of course, will be finding someone who can...

Biopic currently in development with BFI Film Fund; aiming for 2015 shoot.

UK production outfits Blacklisted Films and Leopard Drama (both part of the Argonon group) have attached theatre director Adrian Noble to direct their Danny La Rue biopic.

Based on an original screenplay by Martyn Hesford, the film is currently in development with the BFI Film Fund and is expected to go into production in 2015.

Sir Danny La Rue, OBE was an British entertainer known for his singing and cross-dressing performances.

Noble, former artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, said: “What drew me to the project was Martyn’s brilliant and funny screenplay which tells two unexpected love stories in an unexpected way.

“Over the course of his life Danny stood at the fulcrum of a changing British society and his story is filled with potent images where a man could dress as a woman and rub shoulders with royalty and gangsters alike.”

Argonon’s most...

Adrian Noble, the famed former artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, is set to helm the Danny La Rue biopic for Blacklisted Films and Leopard Drama.

Sir Danny La Rue, OBE was an British entertainer known for his singing and cross-dressing performances. Noble says: "Danny stood at the fulcrum of a changing British society and his story is filled with potent images where a man could dress as a woman and rub shoulders with royalty and gangsters alike.”

Martyn Hesford penned the script and filming is slated to get underway next year. Blacklisted Films are also developing an adaption of Richard McCann's novel for "Mother of Sorrows" by Terence Davies, and the psychological horror thriller "The Willows".

Source: Screen...

Director of British comedy films in the tradition of saucy seaside postcards

During the 1970s, British cinema produced dozens of sex comedies, of which the director Bob Kellett, who has died aged 84, was something of a master. Kellett's films superseded the Carry On series, whose innuendo had become smuttier and less funny, and predated the more vulgar Confessions movies. They were in the tradition of Donald McGill's saucy seaside postcards, which George Orwell had extolled as being "symptomatically important as a sort of saturnalia, a harmless rebellion against virtue".

Kellett, who was born in Lancaster, went to Bedford school, where he was captain of the rowing team. After school, he had various jobs, including growing and selling orchids, selling encyclopedias, and writing for an advertising agency, before entering the film industry in the early 50s. After working on several features as script editor for the producer Ian Dalrymple at Pinewood Studios,...

Actor-director-producer's success among black audiences is sucking the air out of the African-American movie conversation

So Tyler Perry is in yet another terrible movie? Stop the presses! Adjourn Congress! Declare martial law! Or just go back to sleep. Perry has been called "the KFC of black cinema" and "the worst film-maker in Hollywood" (by MSNBC talkshow host Touré), and widely lambasted for building an empire of cash on a body of work filled with self-hating and retrograde racial stereotypes of African-Americans. No less august a figure than Spike Lee has been moved to note that, "We got a black president, and we going back to Mantan Moreland and Slap'n'Eat?" (two noted mid-century black entertainers). Yet Tyler Perry is about the richest and most successful African-American entertainment impresario around: Berry Gordy-rich, Quincy Jones-ubiquitous, and a 100%-down home. His work doesn't travel internationally, suggesting that it is far from universal,...

London – Former BBC high-flying producer Ruth Caleb is joining forces with independent production banner Argonon's drama arm Leopardrama. Caleb, whose resume boasts movies Pawel Pawlikowski's The Last Resort, Dominic Savage's Bullet Boy and TV's A Short Stay in Switzerland starring Emmy-award winner Julie Walters, will be working on Leopardrama's existing projects including a movie about the life of flamboyant Irish-born entertainer Danny La Rue, once billed as the world's most famous female impersonator. Caleb will also work on the much-anticipated Terence Davies movie, Mother of Sorrows, and will be tasked with developing new dramas for

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Martyn Hesford is penning the script for a biopic of late Irish-born drag performer Danny La Rue, once the world's most famous female impersonator says The Hollywood Reporter.

La Rue was famous for impersonations of Elizabeth Taylor, Zsa Zsa Gabor and others and hosted his own 1970's UK TV series. La Rue was also famous for his complex web of relationships that included his male manager and lover and his devoted female costume designer Annie Galbraith.

The British Film Institute will back the Leopardrama produced project. Hesford penned the BAFTA-nominated BBC4 telemovie "Fantabulosa" about "Carry On" comic actor Kenneth Williams.

London – Flamboyant Irish-born entertainer Danny La Rue, once billed as the world's most famous female impersonator, is to be the subject of a movie. The project is being developed and will be produced by London and New York-based indie label Leopardrama and has secured development funding from the BFI Film Fund. The script for the feature will be penned by Martyn Hesford, whose writing resume already boasts the BAFTA nominated film for the BBC, Fantabulosa!, about the British comic actor Kenneth Williams. La Rue, who died in 2009, was a familiar face to millions in the U.

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Maleficent has found its prince in Aussie Brendon Thwaites. But can the young Home and Away star hold his own against an evil queen played by Angeline Jolie?

Director James Burrows, who executive produced Will & Grace for the entire run, has joined with David Kohan and Max Mutchnick again for Partners. Burrows directed the pilot, and will stay on with the series. He's considered the premiere director for multicamera comedy.

The California senate has passed the bill outlawing reparative therapy for underage people. If it makes it through the house and the governor signs it, California will become the first state to outlaw sexual orientation change therapy for minors.

Slate proposes that comic books are the perfect place for same-sex characters and romance, since most superheroes lead double lives to begin with, and this provides a natural jumping off place for gay characters.

Sky Atlantic is set to show a...

Scottish drag act Barbie Buckfast has hit out at Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, saying that she’s trying to be the next Simon Cowell.

Simon was replaced during the audition stages of the ITV show by newcomers David Hasselhoff and Michael McIntyre and as the stars learned the ropes, Holden has admitted that she took the lead.

However, her new role didn’t go down well in Scotland, where wannabes seemed to take exception to her new bossy side.

At a recent press screening, Holden admitted that she didn’t enjoy the Glasgow auditions, except for the time she spent in the hotel afterwards and Barbie Buckfast – real name George Lyall – says the Scots didn’t take to her either.

The Kilmarnock-born bingo worker told The Daily Record:

“She’s there trying to be Simon Cowell, sitting in the middle and saying, ‘I rule the panel.’ “She...

Celebrities have joined friends and family to pay tribute to Danny La Rue at his funeral. Ronnie Corbett, Barbara Windsor, Barry Cryer and Joe Pasquale were among the stars who attended the private ceremony at the Catholic Church of the Transfiguration in Kensal Rise, London, the BBC reports. Windsor read a poem written for La Rue by his late manager and partner Jack Hanson, who passed (more)...

A host of British entertainers turned out to pay their respects to legendary drag queen Danny La Rue, who was buried in London on Tuesday.

U.K. veteran performers Barbara Windsor and Ronnie Corbett turned up to mourn the passing of the entertainer, who died last month at his home in Kent, England following a battle with cancer.

He was best known for impersonating stars including Elizabeth Taylor and Zsa Zsa Gabor, as well as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

La Rue was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II in her 2002 Birthday Honours List.

Celebrity friends have paid tribute to late female impersonator Danny La Rue, who passed away yesterday. The 81-year-old drag artist, who was originally a sailor from Cork, died aged 81 after a battle with cancer. EastEnders star Barbara Windsor, who appeared on stage with La Rue when she was 18, claimed that he was protective over her during her early years in showbiz. She also revealed that he was still as flirtatious and cheeky as ever when she met him three weeks ago. "He was such a handsome-looking man. He looked so gorgeous. He was quiet, which is very un-Danny. He got himself all nice for me," she told the BBC. During their last meeting, La (more)...

Legendary drag queen Danny La Rue has died at the age of 81.

The entertainer - real name Daniel Patrick Carroll - passed away on Sunday night at his home in Kent, England following a battle with cancer.

A spokeswoman for the star confirmed the news, saying, "Danny died peacefully in his sleep just before midnight last night after a short illness.

"His beloved companion Annie Galbraith was with him at their home in Kent."

La Rue shot to fame in the 1960s for his act as a female impersonator, performing on the London stage. He went on to become one of Britain's most highly paid entertainers, landing roles in a string of films including 1965's Every Day's a Holiday and Junfans Escape in 1968.

He was best known for impersonating stars including Elizabeth Taylor and Zsa Zsa Gabor, as well as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

The veteran performer was awarded an OBE (Order of British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II in her 2002 Birthday Honours List.

Legendary drag queen Danny La Rue has died at the age of 81.

The entertainer - real name Daniel Patrick Carroll - passed away on Sunday night at his home in Kent, England following a battle with cancer.

A spokeswoman for the star confirmed the news, saying, "Danny died peacefully in his sleep just before midnight last night after a short illness.

"His beloved companion Annie Galbraith was with him at their home in Kent."

La Rue shot to fame in the 1960s for his act as a female impersonator, performing on the London stage. He went on to become one of Britain's most highly paid entertainers, landing roles in a string of films including 1965's Every Day's a Holiday and Junfans Escape in 1968.

He was best known for impersonating stars including Elizabeth Taylor and Zsa Zsa Gabor, as well as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

The veteran performer was awarded an OBE (Order of British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II in her 2002 Birthday Honours List.

A drag act and a DJ are among the performers aiming to impress on this week's Britain's Got Talent. 46-year-old Daniel Kahn is a former fork lift truck driver who now performs as Tia Anna. Khan says that he wants to follow in the footsteps of Danny La Rue, Dame Edna Everage and Lilly Savage by playing the Royal Variety Show. "I have put in hours and hours of work for what will be just three or four minutes, every hour is going to count," he says. However, Kahn's performance of Mariah Carey's 'Without You' divides the panel. Kelly and Piers back the singer, but Amanda and Simon describe him as "pants". Meanwhile, Anthony Ghosh attempts to win the panel's approval as DJ Talent. Ghost, who works at his dad's (more)...