The Vivienne’s final TV appearance filmed before death drops on ITV
The Drag Race star died aged 32 in January.
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Previous Page Next PageThe Vivienne is making a post-humous appearance in an episode of ITV comedy series G’Wed that airs tonight.
Her cameo role as a fabulous Liverpool nightclub owner in the second season of the drama is already available to watch on ITVX.
In it, the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star spots Ted’s (Dominic Murphy) comedic potential and offers him a spot comparing their drag night.
During her brief appearance, The Vivienne fires off witty one-liners in her trademark style of humour.
After Ted jokes about what her ‘special request’ entails, she shoots back: ‘Please, I wouldn’t ask you to do that again. I’ve had better head from a blow-up doll.’
When he later shares concerns over hosting the drag night, The Vivienne quips: ‘What’s the worst that can happen? You bomb so hard that you become a shell of a man and so traumatised that you never leave the house.
The Vivienne plays a Liverpool nightclub owner in G’wed (Picture: ITV) She contacts Ted and asks him to compare a drag night (Picture: ITV) The Vivienne filmed her cameo role last summer (Picture: ITV)As The Vivienne hangs up the phone while Ted giggles, she remarks: ‘Because, I’ll tell you what, if you do bomb, I’m never speaking to you again.’
The performer, who was born James Lee Williams, filmed the cameo last summer before her ‘sudden’ death at her home in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester,aged 32 in January.
ITV previously said the episode was be dedicated to The Vivienne and would air ‘with the blessing of the family honouring their special talent’.
‘All the cast and crew were so saddened by the passing of The Vivienne and the first episode will now be dedicated to them,’ executive producer Mario Stylianides said.
G’wed became ITV’s biggest comedy in 2024(Picture: ITV) The show’s executive producer said the tribute had been done ‘with the blessing of the performer’s family’ (Picture: David Fisher/ Shutterstock)‘The Vivienne was a trailblazing icon and we were truly honoured when we found out they were a fan of G’wed and equally excited when they agreed to appear in the first episode of the new series. They will always be in our hearts and forever part of the G’wed family.’
G’wed follows teenagers from Liverpool as they go about their lives, with the first season hitting screens a year ago.
It became the biggest comedy on ITVX in 2024 with its six episodes streamed 7.2 million times and on linear TV, it launched with 2.1 million viewers.
Fans of the series have been told the second season will ‘continue to tackle life’s big themes with a funny lens whilst keeping Liverpool’s distinctive voice and spirit at its heart’.
One of their last major TV appearances was on Dancing on Ice in 2023 (Picture: Jonathan Brady/ PA Wire)‘Expect more sharp wit as our Scouse gang navigate new challenges, from age gap relationships and consent to acceptable ways to make money while still in school,’ the broadcaster added.
After The Vivienne’s death, hundreds of people gathered in Liverpool to celebrate The Vivienne at a vigil, which included speeches, musical performances and a poignant moment when attendees spontaneously released balloons into the sky.
Former Emmerdale actor Liam Fox, who starred alongside Williams in theatre show Chitty Chitty Bang Bang paid his respect at the event and told Metro: ‘It was so beautiful. She was so loved by all who knew her which makes it all the more tragic to have lost her so young when there was so much more ahead for her.’
In January, she was laid to rest at a funeral attended by the likes of Ian ‘H’ Watkins and Jade Thirlwall.
G’wed is available to stream on ITVX.
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