Death of Drag Race star The Vivienne was misadventure, rules coroner

The inquest into their death heard that five drug snap bags were found in the property, including in a bedroom drawer and a bin in the bathroom.

Transcript

00:00The inquest into the death of the Vivian, the winner of the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, has taken place.

00:0732-year-old James Lee Williams died at a home in Chorlton by Backford, Cheshire on the 5th of January.

00:13In March, the Starr's family revealed the drag queen had died from the effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest,

00:19saying they wanted to raise awareness about the dangers of the drug.

00:23The inquest was heard at Cheshire Coroner's Court in Warrington.

00:28The Vivian was found dead in the bathroom of their home near Chester, the opening of the inquest was told.

00:35Police attended and confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.

00:39Williams grew up in Colwyn Bay before moving to Liverpool.

00:43They won the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2019 and came third in Dancing on Ice in 2023.

00:49The Starr performed as the Wicked Witch of the West in a UK and Ireland tour of the Wizard of Oz musical

00:55and reprised the role in the West End at the Gillian Lynn Theatre last year.

01:00They were due back on stage in March as the child catcher in a tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,

01:05a role they first played last year.

01:07Their funeral in Denbyshire was attended by RuPaul's Drag Race UK contestants Tia Kofi, Bag of Chips,

01:12alongside singers Ian H. Watkins and Aston Merigold, as well as Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney.

01:18Speaking on the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, the Vivian admitted having been a drug addict for four years.

01:25The government is seeking expert advice after illegal use of ketamine surged to record levels.

01:31In the year ending March 2023, it is estimated almost 300,000 people aged 16 to 59

01:38had reported use of the substance, which is controlled as Class B, according to the Home Office.

01:43In the year ending March 2023, it is estimated at the same time for the U.S.

01:48The U.S. of the U.S. of the U.S. of the U.S. of the U.S. of the U.S. of the U.S. of the U.S.