Michelle Visage reveals hope for EastEnders guest role

Michelle Visage has revealed she has high hopes of appearing on the BBC soap opera EastEnders.

New Jersey-born RuPaul’s Drag Race judge, 54, was initially well known across the pond as a singer and has since continued to appear on UK radio and television.

Speaking on BBC’s The One Show, Visage revealed she’s been thinking of an EastEnders storyline in which she could play herself, telling presenters Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas: “I’ve tried Been trying to do this for about 5 years now.”

When asked by Jones, 45, where her efforts were going, Visage replied: “Nowhere.

“That’s great because you can’t go down. Things can only go up.”

Visage, who currently hosts BBC Radio 2 every Friday night, explains her thought process: “The idea for me was, I’m from New Jersey, basically the Liverpool of the United States.

“I think I wear leopards more than Kat Slater wears leopards. I’ve got everything leopard print.

“So I thought, why can’t I be Kat’s American cousin? I’ve been to town… I’m not looking for a permanent position, I’m not going to fake an East End accent.

“I will be me, from New Jersey, coming to be ‘Kat!’ and she hates me, which is even better.

“There was that situation for a week and then I went.”

Kathleen “Kat” Slater has been one of Albert Square’s most popular characters in recent years, played by Jessie Wallace since 2000.

Kat is known for her signature leopard print pieces, large gold earrings and red lipstick.

The character has been involved in a number of memorable and shocking storylines, including the infamous baby swap incident with Ronnie Branning – played by Samantha Womack.

Video of the day

Jenas, 39, is excited about the idea, saying: “We have to keep you going… I have a point.”

Jones added: “Okay, we’ve started the nationwide campaign.”

Visage entered the US drag queen RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2011 and has served as a permanent judge on the show since its third season.

She also sat on the jury of the UK version of the reality show, as well as RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.

The One Show airs weekdays at 7pm on BBC One.