Jason Reid’s Cabaret Interview: Jason has a festive catch up with Chanel Nº5

How are you, diva?

Hello my love! I’m well; already feeling festive and knuckled down for December.

Who’s not on your Christmas card list this year?

Ugly drag queens with flat wigs.

Do you want a list?

Seriously though, anyone who stands against progress for LGBT rights and equality.

How will you spend Christmas Day?

With a drink in hand, lots of good food, and some lovely company.

All Chanel wants for Christmas is?

All I want for christmas is…a rest! Christmas is always a super-busy time for me with private parties, brunches, Christmas shows etc. So by the end of the month I just want a sit down. My poor Christmas outfit always needs an exorcism by the end of the month.

What’s been your personal highlight of 2024?

There’s been so much that’s happened this year, so it’s hard to pick a favourite. Although the film I shot a few years ago going onto streaming was a definite highlight of this year. Even now I have people sending me photos of their TVs asking if that’s actually me.

Is there anything you’d really like to do in 2025 that you want to put into the universe?

I’d love to do more large-scale stuff, maybe some TV, but until that happens I’m happy to just keep riding the wave of travelling up and down the country singing for the gays.

You’ve become a great ambassador for Arch Clapham. What is it like being a resident artist there, and why should folk pay them a visit?

I’ve loved doing bingo every week at Arch! We hit 2 years at the end of August and have no plans of slowing down. So much so that we’ve got a packed December, which included our 4th birthday back on the 7th of December which had non stop cabaret, and a glamorous then we have a New Years extravaganza to close out the year.

Arch is a gorgeous little local LGBT+ space and in the 4 years it’s been there they’ve really managed to make themselves a must for any night out in Clapham — be it a cocktail or two at their camp weeknight events, or dancing til the early hours with a drag show and our fabulous line up of DJs.

Fave Chappell Roan song?

Ooh, a tough one, I LOVE Pink Pony club, for the obvious reasons: how it portrays the queer experience and what it means to the community. But, personally, one I always come back to is Kaleidoscope because I’m a sucker for a good sad song, and having seen it live, it gives me absolute chills.

Your vibe going into ‘25?

Keep on keepin’ on! Next year looks to be fantastic already, with lots of stuff in the pipeline, so you’ll have to wait and see!