'My heart is shattered': Tributes pour in for The Vivienne after their death aged 32
ITV News' Andy Bonner spoke to those who knew The Vivienne.
Friends, family, and fellow drag queens have paid tribute to a "warm-hearted and amazing" James Lee Williams, better known as The Vivienne.
The Liverpool-based performer, who won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and came third on the 2023 edition of Dancing On Ice, died aged 32 over the weekend.
As well as making appearances on a number of TV shows as well as the West End, The Vivienne was a passionate supporter of the charity Sahir House, which provides aid to Liverpool's LGBT community as well as people living with HIV.
John Hyland works for Sahir House, and was a close friend of The Vivienne.
He said: "I've known Viv for around 15 years, and it just doesn't feel like it's real. I'm just waiting to wake up, and I think that's how a lot of people in the community feel right now.
"I can't scroll through social media without seeing either Vivienne or James' face, which is lovely to see all the memories but also quite upsetting because we know there won't be anymore."
TV presenter RuPaul, the creator and host of RuPaul's Drag Race, paid tribute in post on Instagram.
The performer, whose full name is RuPaul Charles, said: “With a broken heart, I join the entire Drag Race universe in mourning the loss of The Vivienne — an incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being.”
Fellow drag queen Belinda Scandal described The Vivienne as "an icon" that helped bring drag into the mainstream.
They said: "It's not sinking in. It still doesn't feel real. She achieved everything that I wanted to achieve, and in such a small space of time as well. That's a proper testament to her talent and her character."
The Vivienne's ex-husband, David Ludford, paid tribute on Instagram by posting photos from throughout their six-year relationship, including their wedding day.
He wrote: “My heart literally sank when I got the call! My heart is shattered!”
Ludford, a wig hairstylist from Manchester, said Williams “changed my life so much” from the day they first met in in August 2017 in Gran Canaria.
He continued: “We literally clicked straight away and we knew we (were) going to be together for along time.
“He made me feel love and shown me what it was really like to love someone.
“We literally went through and did so much together, it was like a whirlwind and I wouldn’t have changed the time we spent together for anything in the world!”
Cheshire Police said officers had been called to an address in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester, at 12.22pm on Sunday following reports of a sudden death.
The spokesman said: "Police attended, investigated the circumstances of the death of the 32-year-old man and concluded there were no suspicious circumstances. A file will be prepared for the coroner."
Dancing On Ice judge Oti Mabuse remembered The Vivienne for being a “phenomenal entertainer” and “trailblazer”, while fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon said the star made a “mark in our hearts”.
The news of Williams’s death was announced by their publicist, Simon Jones, on Sunday evening, who wrote that Williams was an “incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person”.
Mr Jones added that Williams, who was born in Wales and later moved to Liverpool, would be remembered for their “immense talent”, adding “the light they brought to every room was astonishing”.
RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage paid tribute to Williams, writing that their death was “heartbreaking”.
Alongside pictures of them together, Visage wrote on Instagram: “We go back to when I started coming over here to the UK. You were always there, always laughing, always giving, always on point.
“Your laughter, your wit, your talent, your drag. I loved all of it but I loved your friendship most of all.
“You were a beacon to so many. Seeing you make your West End debut was amazing for me to witness your dream come true right in front of my eyes, I’m the lucky one to have known you and to have laughed together with you so many times.”
The Vivienne’s professional skating partner on Dancing On Ice, Colin Grafton, said the performer “brought light into every room they entered and gave so many people hope where there was none”.
The pair made history when Williams became the first drag act to reach the show’s finale and later placed third in the ITV skating competition.
“Viv was and is a true icon in every sense of the word, and inspired thousands of people far and wide with everything they did and accomplished,” American skater Grafton wrote alongside photos of the duo together.
He added: “I will always be so proud of what we accomplished. Viv, your spirit, strength, and kindness will always stay with me and with everyone you touched.
“I will forever cherish our time together on and off the ice, you will forever be my Mary Poppins.
“I promise to carry your memory with me in everything I do. You taught me so much about so many things, and I am eternally grateful. Your legacy lives on.”
Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To know...