When The Vivienne first sashayed onto British television in a glitter explosion back in 2019, audiences couldn’t get enough.
With razor-sharp wit, outrageous outfits, and spot-on impressions of everyone from Donald Trump to Queen Elizabeth II, the Liverpool-born drag star instantly became a household name after winning the first-ever season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
But behind the spotlight, something much darker was brewing—a quiet struggle that ultimately cost the man behind the glam, James Lee Williams, his life.
From Stardom to Silence
After his Drag Race triumph, The Vivienne quickly became a familiar face across reality TV.
From Dancing on Ice to Celebrity Mastermind, The Chase, and even The Great British Sewing Bee, his star was rising.
But then, without warning, it all went quiet.
On January 5, 2025, James was found dead in his bathtub at his home in Cheshire. He was just 32.
The Truth Behind the Tragedy
We now know the official cause: a drug-induced cardiac arrest.
A post-mortem revealed 1.9 micrograms of ketamine per millilitre in his blood, a level lower than the fatal dose found in Matthew Perry’s system in 2023.
But combined with 1.7 micrograms of norketamine—a metabolized form of the drug—it was enough to stop his heart.
Experts believe he passed away around two days before his body was discovered.
A History of Struggle
James had spoken openly about his past with addiction.
In a 2019 interview with RuPaul, he confessed to a four-year dependency on ketamine, admitting he once used it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
It was so serious that doctors warned him he wouldn’t live past 30.
He also revealed he’d been hospitalized multiple times during his early days performing in Liverpool clubs.
The Role of Love and Loss
His then-husband, David Ludford, played a major role in his recovery.
The two met in Gran Canaria in 2017 and married two years later. But in 2023, they divorced.
Friends now say that losing that emotional anchor may have triggered a relapse.
One close friend explained, “David was a big support to James… The divorce wasn’t easy, and fame brings a lot of distractions.”
Final Curtain Call
Just before his death, James had been performing as the Child Catcher in a touring version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
However, people involved in the production said he didn’t seem “clean” during the tour.
After it wrapped, he returned to his home in Chorlton-by-Backford near Chester, where he lived with his beloved dog, Panda.
The Final Hours
On Friday, January 3, James was messaging with friends and seemed upbeat.
He made plans with his neighbour Janine for the next day and chatted with his best friend, Bobby Musker.
Bobby later said he could tell James had taken ketamine that night—but it wasn’t obvious to everyone.
Even his father, who spoke with him around 9:30pm, thought he sounded fine.
The next day, James missed every plan he had.
He didn’t meet his sister Chanel or reply to Bobby’s messages.
By the time anyone realized something was wrong, it was already too late.
Discovery and Heartbreak
On Sunday, January 5, James’s PR manager couldn’t get in touch with him and reached out to Bobby.
Sensing something was wrong, Bobby called Janine, who had a spare key to James’s house.
She went over with her son Ryan, immediately noticing something was off—no footprints in the snow, but the lights were on.
Inside, their dog Panda bolted out, clearly having been trapped indoors for days.
Janine and Ryan searched the house.
When Janine reached the bathroom, she found James in the tub, appearing to be peacefully asleep.
She screamed for Ryan and tried to keep his face out of the water, still holding onto hope.
Emergency Response Comes Too Late
A paramedic arrived at 12:28pm, quickly confirming what Janine already feared.
Rigor mortis had set in. James had likely been dead for at least 48 hours.
Police arrived shortly after, and later, investigators found five empty drug bags in his bedroom and bathroom bin.
There was no sign of drowning—just ketamine-induced cardiac arrest.
A Misadventure, Not a Suicide
At this week’s inquest, coroner Jacqueline Devonish concluded that James’s death was a “misadventure.”
He had taken ketamine, but there was no indication that he meant to take his own life.
The evidence pointed to a fatal accident—another casualty of a drug that’s been quietly devastating communities like Liverpool’s.
A Star Who Wanted to Help Others
In his own words, The Vivienne once said, “Drag and the gay scene is riddled with drugs and abuse… I’d love to help people in my position.”
Sadly, the help he hoped to give came too late for himself.
But maybe his story, his honesty about addiction, and the tragic way his life ended will serve as a warning and a wake-up call.
The Bigger Picture
Ketamine use is on the rise, especially in Liverpool.
Local officials are now calling for it to be reclassified from Class B to Class A, citing how it’s “stealing the futures” of young people.
The Vivienne’s story, heartbreaking as it is, might be the catalyst for that much-needed change.