Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard on Strictly editing out 'Protect the Dolls' T-shirt: "Shouldn't be something we need to debate"

Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard has delivered their verdict on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing editing controversy, which saw last weekend's inclusion of contestant Bethany Antonia's "Protect the Dolls" t-shirt erased from broadcast.

Speaking exclusively to Radio Times at the Sky Arts Awards 2026, Beard said of the incident: “I think when you've got Strictly blurring out 'Protect the Dolls', which shouldn't be something we need to politicise or debate.

"We're often having debates about queerness or transness without these people in the room.

"And it just feels like a lot of the time certain people are pandering to homophobes, to transphobes, to people who are anti-LGBTQ+ and I don't know about you, but I'm tired. Then, they top it off by releasing a two-part documentary on JK Rowling.”

Beard continued: “Queer people have been around forever. And listen, I love the BBC. Everyone I know who works at the BBC is queer, too. But what I'd say to queer youth is it really does get better, you'll find your community, you'll find the people, your tribe who you belong to. And listen, the world's not cut out for us.

"We've always had a fight on our hands. I think maybe for a period of time, maybe it got a little bit cushty, but, you know, fight. We might get to party in the streets for Pride here, but it doesn't look like that round the world. So, you know, we need to really fight for our rights and fight for our seat at the table, and that's what I'll always do in my career and my personal life and that's what you need to do, honey.”

In relation to the Strictly editing controversy, the BBC responded to shots of the T-shirt being edited, telling Radio Times in a statement: “As is standard practice on any entertainment show on the BBC and in line with our editorial guidelines, appropriate steps are taken to reduce the inclusion of any overt branding or slogans that may be present, regardless of the wording or statement in question.”

On the day of the Sky Arts Awards this week, it was also announced that the BBC would be releasing a documentary series about JK Rowling, with the two-parter not only focusing on her rise to Harry Potter literary success, but also "as she steps out from behind her creation and becomes an increasingly powerful political voice", as per the synopsis.

The series comes from Rogan Scotland and will "trace Rowling’s dramatic rise, cultural influence and contested legacy".

Rowling has faced backlash in some quarters due to her views on transgender rights. In 2020, she published a lengthy statement detailing her stance on sex and gender debates – the essay was criticised and disputed by LGBTQ+ charities including Stonewall.

Rowling has also shared her views on social media, including in a 2024 post on X (formerly Twitter), in which she insisted that "there are no trans kids" and opposed the idea that a child can be "born in the wrong body".

In May 2025, Rowling set up the JK Rowling Women’s Fund, which describes itself as offering legal funding support to "individuals and organisations fighting to retain women’s sex-based rights".

Harry Potter actors including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, have distanced themselves from Rowling's views and have issued statements supporting the transgender community. Others, including Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter and Jim Broadbent, have defended the author from the criticism she has received.

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Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 17 October on BBC One and iPlayer.

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