Canal Street is where I learnt the art of drag

ON a Tuesday night ten years ago in a misty basement on Bloom Street, the likes of Lady Gaga, Blondie, David Bowie and Steps were all booming out to the crowd at club night Poptastic.

- ADAM MAIDMENT

Leading the charge behind the DJ decks was drag performer Danny Beard. When not hurling sarcastic retorts at the crowd in a thick scouse accent, Danny would be lip-syncing, dancing and posing for photos until 5am each week.

While those days are now long gone - thanks to Danny's recent win on BBC Three's RuPaul's Drag Race UK - they look back on that time as a pinnacle moment for their drag career.

"Manchester's gay scene really has played a massive part in my life," said the 31-year-old, who is originally from Liverpool. "It was really where I learnt the craft of performing in drag."