Iconic LGBTQ+ celebrity joins EastEnders as major episode is confirmed
Pride season is well and truly underway, and Walford is absolutely no exception, as EastEnders joins in the festivities, with a very special guest, no less.
Beloved drag queen La Voix will bring a tsunami of sequins and lashings of, well, lashes, as she arrives on Albert Square amid the communities pride celebration.
EastEnders last celebrated pride back in 2019, in an episode that was praised for its celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, while also showing the very violent and dangerous landscapes that still exists for queer people, when Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) was violently attacked by brutish homophobe, Jonno Highway (Richard Graham), after kissing his son, Callum Highway (Tony Clay).
Elsewhere, Bernie Taylor (Clair Norris), after months of accepting her sexuality, fully embraced it by marching in the parade.
La Voix has a pre-existing connection to the soap, being a treasured real-life friend of Harriet Thorpe, who portrays the unflinchingly glamorous and fearsome Elaine Peacock.
Having been a semi-finalist on Britain’s Got Talent, finishing in sixth place on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and later competed on Strictly Come Dancing.
Though an injury unfortunately forced her to withdraw from the competition, her turn on the dancing reality show made her into a household name and a national treasure.
At the time, she shared an emotional Instagram post saying: ‘I’m absolutely devastated to be withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing.
‘This isn’t the glittering exit I ever imagined, and it breaks my heart to feel like I’m letting people down. My spirit wanted to keep dancing but my foot has other ideas!
‘Thank you for every cheer, every vote, and every sparkle of support – it’s meant the world to me. This isn’t the ending I imagined, but I’ll cherish this forever.’
Expanding in the caption, she said: ‘Darlings, it breaks my heart to say this, but after all week of hoping, healing, and doing everything I possibly could, my injury simply hasn’t improved the way we prayed it would.
‘With the guidance of the medical team and a heavy, heavy heart I have to officially withdraw from Strictly Come Dancing.
‘This show has been one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life. To step onto that iconic dancefloor, to be welcomed so warmly by the judges, the pros, the crew, Tess & Claudia and of course the fabulous audience — it has meant the world to me.
‘My only sadness is that I won’t be able to continue the journey the way I so wished I could.
‘What upsets me most is feeling like I’ve let my wonderful partner, Aljaž Škorjanec, down. He has supported me, encouraged me, and believed in me from day one, and I so desperately wanted to keep dancing for him as much as for myself.
‘I’m devastated not to be able to continue the adventure with him, but I’m endlessly grateful for everything he’s given me throughout this experience.
To my fellow contestants — keep sparkling. To everyone who has supported me, voted for me, and sent such kind messages: thank you. Your love has lifted me more than you know.
‘This isn’t the ending I imagined, but I’ll cherish every moment I had on that dancefloor.
La Voix was more recently seen announcing the UK Jury scores for the 2026 Eurovision Grand Final.
‘I’m absolutely over the moon to be announcing the UK Jury scores at Eurovision 2026,’ La Voix said at the time.
‘It’s the one night where sequins are en masse, key changes are compulsory, and absolutely anything can happen – so naturally I feel right at home. I’ll do my best to behave… but no promises!’
